Norev Porsche 911 S 1972 - Slate Grey 1:12 model car

Norev 1:12 diecast model of the 1972 Porsche 911 S in Slate Grey. This is the car that Steve McQueen drove in the opening three minutes and 40 seconds of the iconic Le Mans movie. Steve actually owned a slightly earlier 2.0 S, in Slate Grey. The film was produced by Steve's own production company, Solar productions, and his initial thinking had been to fly his own car to Europe, but the logistics proved too complicated, and so Porsche delivered the later 2.2 model to the set. The 2.2 S is a fantastic car. There are those who are more drawn to the earlier, shorter wheelbase two litre cars, whilst some prefer the extra power and torque of the 2.4, but those in the know think that the 2.2 hits the sweet spot, and certainly the 180 bhp 'S' variant was the one to have. The 2.4 might have been quicker and faster, but the 2.2 was livelier and more fun. After the filming of Le Mans, which kind of brought to an end McQueen's love affair with the movie business, he shipped the 2.2 car back to California to replace his other Slate Grey Porsche, that he sold. Norev is not normally one of those brands that cares too much about getting the detail right. (Their 1:12 Bullitt Mustang, for example, was a dog's dinner). But with Steve's Le Mans car they really haven't done such a bad job. They have equipped the car with the correct yellow fog lights. And the correct chrome trim that ran down the side of the car and around the wheel arches. The eyebrow headlight trims are as they were on the film car. And they have the right 2.2 sticker in the rear window. The model doesn't, however, feature the rather ugly rear valence that ran beneath the bumper. The steering wheel should have been a Momo Prototipo. And they have left in the car the sports seats that they had in their 1:12 2.4, even though McQueen's car was equipped with the company's comfort seats. But that is to be picky. This is a large and imposing replica (it measures 34 cm in length). To all but the most anal, it's a fine replica of the car that Steve piloted throughout the film. And at just £169.99, it represents amazing value in today's market. This is a lovely replica of not just one of Stuttgart's finest, but of a car that achieved iconic status through its co-starring role in one of the most memorable motor racing films of all time.