Matra 620 n°42 driven by Jo Schlesser

Reproduction in scale 1/18th of the Matra 620 of the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car is designed and built to participate in the legendary endurance race. It faces the Ferrari/ Ford duel made famous thanks to the film by James Mangold "LeMans 66".

Even if none of the three 620 entered by Matra Sport in 1966 finished the race, it was the beginning of what is now called the Matra saga which ended in 1974 with three consecutive victories at Le Mans. The 620 encounters teethings troubles : Matra builds more than a car, a team and a path to success.

Jean-Pierre Beltoise takes the start on 620 n°41. He finished the first hour in an honorable 20th place behind Jo Siffert’s 906 2L Porsche n°30 and Udo Schnütz’s n°32. Until midnight, the Matra with the yellow eye oscillates between 22nd and 24th place, but gradually loses contact. The driving is disturbed by exhaust gases that fill the cockpit due to a broken pipe. The problems then add up to give up after 112 laps.

The Matra 620 was the first race car to participate in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jean-Luc Lagardère, then CEO of Matra, decided to launch himself into motor racing. The launch of the construction of a 620 in 1965 was not intended to win but is an opportunity to build a team capable of competing with brands that dominate endurance.

Henri Pescarolo’s 620 was the first Matra to be given up following a series of minor breakdowns after only 38 laps.

Hand-painted 1/18 resin figurine representing a newspaper seller at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

His bag contains the associated newspapers and posters. He wears a uniform consisting of a jacket and pants as well as a paper hat in the colors of Maine Libre. Joseph is also equipped with a coin collector in charge of sorting the money. He sells the Maine Libre edition of June 18, 1966, which headline is "Ford à l'assaut de Ferrari" (Ford attacks Ferrari).

Hand painted resin figurine in scale 1/18th of a man simply dressed in navy blue trousers and a sky blue shirt. It can be self-sufficient.

But it actually completes a little sketch of three characters who made the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. Indeed his arm in the air can welcome the shoulder of Mr. Ken the driver and position himself near Joseph, the seller of the edition of the Maine Libre of June 18, 1966 whose one "Ford to the assault of Ferrari" already says a lot about the race that was going to be played that year.

Hand painted figurine in scale 1:18 cast in PU resin of M. Ken like. 

The insiders can recognize Ken Miles, famous and skilled British driver immigrated to the US who was associated with Carroll Shelby to win Daytona and Sebring in 1966 with Ford MK II. He strongly contributed to Ford’s victory over Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans of the same year.  

He dies in August 1966 when driving the prototype of the Ford GT40 MKIV (J-car) to replace the Ford MKII.