All diecast 1:43 scale cars that have raced and placed at Bathurst

Thanks to 'Tim' I am able to offer a complete list of all existing 1:43 scale diecast cars raced at Bathurst since 1963 that have achieved a podium place. If it's raced there, had a placing, and is in 1:43 it should be in this list!. Tim supplied the original list in a spreadsheet format, but I have converted it to a PDF document. It's an impressive piece of research. 

All 1:43 scale diecast cars that have raced at Bathurst

If you see an error, or know of a car that should be there - please leave a comment below. 

That list is a little long and complex, hence the PDF. I also have a much shorter list of 1:43 scale 'castings' from various diecast manufacturers of cars that have raced at Bathurst. I did not create this list, and found it at the Biante forum. 

1:43 scale castings of cars that have raced at Bathurst

1960 - Vauxhall Cresta - Vanguards 

1961 - Mercedes 220 - Australian Motoring Minatures

1962 - XL Falcon - Australian Motoring Minatures

1963 - Cortina - Australian Motoring Minatures

1964 - Cortina - Vanguards / Classic Carlectables

1965 - Cortina - Classic Carlectables / Dinkum

1966 - Mini - Vanguards / Biante 

1967 - XR Falcon - Classic Carlectables / Trax

1968 - HK Monaro - Biante (Autoart) / Trax

1969 - HT Monaro - Biante (Autoart) / Trax

1970 - XW Falcon - Biante 

1971 - XY Falcon - Biante / Classic / Trax

1972 - LJ Torana - Dinkum / Trax

1973 - XA Falcon - Biante (Autoart) / Dinkum

1974 - XA Falcon - Dinkum

1975 - LH Torana - Biante (Autoart) / Dinkum

1976 - LH Torana - Biante / Classic / Dinkum

1977 - XC Falcon - Biante / Dinkum

1978 - LX Torana - Biante (Autoart) / Dinkum / Australian Model cars / Automodelli

1979 - LX Torana - Biante (Autoart) / Dinkum / Australian Model cars / Automodelli

1980 - VC Commodore - Dinkum / Classic

1981 - XD Falcon - Biante (Autoart) / Dinkum

1982 - VH Commodore - Dinkum

1983 - VH Commodore - Classic / Dinkum

1984 - VK Commodore - Dinkum / Biante 

1985 - Jaguar - Biante / Dinkum 

1986 - VK Commodore - Biante / Dinkum

1987 - VL Commodore - Biante / Dinkum

1988 - Sierra - Dinkum / Model Cars Australia / Automodelli / Apex (Coming)

1989 - Sierra - Dinkum / Model Cars Australia / Automodelli / Biante (Coming)

1990 - VL Commodore - Biante / Dinkum

1991 - Skyline - Biante / Dinkum 

1992 - Skyline - Biante / Dinkum / Apex (Coming)

1993 - VP Commodore - Dinkum / Galaxy

1994 - EB Falcon - Dinkum / Galaxy / Biante(Coming)

1995 - VR Commodore - Dinkum / Galaxy

1996 - VR Commodore - Classic / Dinkum

1997 - BMW 320 - Onyx 

1997 - VS Commodore - Classic 

1998 - Volvo S40 - Onyx 

1998 - EL Falcon - Classic 

1999 - VT Commodore - Classic 

2000 - VT Commodore - Classic 

2001 - VX Commodore - Biante 

2002 - VX Commoore - Biante 

2003 - VY Commodore - Biante 

2004 - VY Commodore - Biante 

2005 - VZ Commodore - Biante 

2006 - BA Falcon - Classic

2007 - BF Falcon - Classic 

2008 - Hogster - Classic 

2009 - VE Commodore - Classic 

2010 - VE Commodore - Classic  

Biante 1:43 - Dick Johnson Tru Blu XD Falcon 1980 Bathurst

In 1980 Dick Johnson went to Bathurst in a roaring snorting 351 cubic inch powered XD Falcon Sedan, sporting his famous number 17, and a map of Queensland on the roof,  to have a crack at the greatest trophy in Australian motor sport. Biante have reproduced this famously unsuccessful car with great success in 1:43.

Sadly for Dick Johnson in the 1980 race, someone rolled a rock onto the track, which he hit, destroying this car, the famous Tru Blu XD Falcon, and his chance of winning. 

From this disaster, something very special happened. He generated enormous good will and importantly - cash. Ford announced they would match dollar for dollar any donation. He raised 70 thousand dollars, and attracted new sponsors and official Ford factory support. This placed Johnson in the big time, up there with Brock and Moffat. It made his career. 

The diecast scale model is very nice. Biante have reproduced the famous DJR Ford Falcon XD Tru Blu in 1:43 in their Motor Racing Legends series. It is an outstanding model, with excellent detail and accurate racing livery. The interior is detailed with racing seats, roll cage and even the harness. 

The base plate is highly detailed, with the advanced XD leaf spring suspension, the racing drop tank and enormous fire snorting side exhaust. The tyres and wheels are reproduced in fine detail. 

How do you display this car, it has so many excellent angles. The roof features the famous map of Queensland that was on all Dick Johnson racing cars, with the famous number 17. 

The packaging is plain, but the car is not. This model is essential in any collection of Australian Motor Sport cars, not because of its lack of success, but because of the future it created.

Biante - Dick Johnson Racing XD Ford Falcon - 1980 Bathurst

Quality  9

Design    9

Colours   6

X-factor  9

Rating: 33/40

You can read more about Dick Johnson at Wikipedia.

Into the garage - VY SS Ute, Moffat XB GT, Superkings Transporter

After selling a few diecast cars on Ebay, I decided to restock the garage. Two purchases occurred at Fisher Discounts, and one from Ebay.

The first purchase is a Classic Carlectables, 1/43 Holden VY SS Utility - with Canopy (factory). Effectively, a VY SS Panelvan.  I have only seen a handful of these on the road, and was quite taken with the 1/43 version.

The casting is very good, and the fine detail is captured accurately. None of the doors open, but this is rare in 1/43. The interior is very good, with multicoloured and patterned seats, and a nice dash. The body colour is called 'Phantom'.

The wheels are nicely cast, not too 'chromey' and capture the sheen of the real cars rims accurately. You can also see tiny brake calipers on the disc brakes if you squint. Best of all, this car was on special - and cost $25. As one of only 1250 produced, this is quite a scarce model. I am not a big Commodore fan, but this is a nice example of design, and is a little different to your normal Commodore.

The second car was a very attractive Biante/AutoArt 1/43 Ford XB Falcon GT, as raced by Allan Moffat in the 1976 Bathurst 1000.

This is a beautifully rendered version of the XB Coupe. The body shape is accurate, the colour scheme is accurate, and the racing wheels and interior are accurately represented. This was also on special at Fisher Discounts, at $45.

The limits of my photographic skill dont truly capture how well presented the interior of this car is. You can see a racing seat and various racing modifications which are different from the road version. In this scale, its impressive.

The underside is also different. The front wheels actually turn! The suspension and underbody look accurate, and notice the racing pipes. Apart from the fact its clean, and there is a dirty big hole that a screw goes into to hold it on a baseplate, it could be a real car flipped on its side.

This shot nicely shows the beauty of the racing paint scheme. I wish more people would paint  their road cars in more interesting paint schemes than the factory monocolour offerings. After driving a car painted in flames for 20 years, its definitely easier to find your car in a parking garage, among other advantages.

My final photo. Those are tiny clip on plastic covers over the headlights. On the real car, there were little angled curves on the inner edges, directing air into the radiator. Its the only inaccuracy I can find. Dont XB Coupes look good from the front ? Rhetorical question.

Final purchase, from Ebay, was this Matchbox Superkings K7 Racing Car Transporter. I already own one of these, but it was in 'much played with' condition, and I lost the racing car when I was a child. Box ? Also gone. I have no idea what the scale of this vehicle is. It could be 1/87.

A total fantasy design, not based on any real car, this was a childhood favourite. I saw this on ebay and even though it was without its box, i decided to bid anyway. It is in excellent condition with only a few very small chips, and the plastic car cover is unmarked. There was also a white version of this model produced. I've never seen it though.

This model came with the No 24 'Team Matchbox' 1:75 F1 Racing Car. Also in excellent condition. The stickers are in excellent condition. As a toy and not a model, like the other cars reviewed in this post, the paint quality is different, and it has thick stickers, not tampo printed or decals for detail. The paint colour screams 'Shell' to me. but it has 'Firestone', 'STP' and 'Team Matchbox'.

I like the gullwing doors. The rear door lowers, and the tray that the racing car rides in also pulls out to form a ramp. The design itself dates from 1972. Im not sure when this actual model was produced. By entering the garage it replaces the much played with version. I plan to update my Superking collection piece by piece. Id prefer boxed versions, but an unboxed version in this condition is fine by me.

Ratings

Classic Carlectables 1/43 VY SS Ute with Canopy

Quality   8

Design    8

Colours   8

X-factor  6

Rating: 30/40

Biante/AutoArt 1/43 Ford Falcon XB GT Moffatt-Schuppan 1976 Bathurst

Quality   9

Design    8

Colours   9

X-factor  9

Rating: 35/40

Matchbox Superkings K7 Racing Car Transporter

Quality   7

Design    9

Colours   6

X-factor  9

Rating: 31/40