Lancia D50

As raced at the1955 Monaco GP by Alberto Ascari, this finely detailed 1:6th scale model  comes with a complete chassis, engine, gearbox and suspension and include the low slung drivers seat and the very unusual 90 degree V8 engine.  This model is scratch built from aluminium, brass and white metal parts, as well as many hand turned sections, and consequently the model is a very accurate scale recreation of the original racing car.

In 1953, Vittorio Jano designed a very innovative first apparition of the Lancia D50, which was quite advanced for its time; the engine was an integral part of the chassis, adding to the overall stiffness of the car. It joined the main frame surrounding the driver and extending backwards for the rear-mounted gearbox and suspension to the front smaller frame carrying the radiator and part of the front suspension. The other very modern concept was to keep most of the mass within the wheelbase of the car and make it far more agile and smaller than the more conventional other formula one. One result of this concept was the so characteristic fuel tanks position between the front and rear wheels. One other interesting point was the driver’s position, seated very low in the cockpit, this thanks to the engine being set at an angle to the mid-line and the propeller shaft running diagonally beside the driver.
Ascari quickly proved the qualities of the D50 only during qualifying but without any success on race day, as in Monaco, when he shared pole position with Fangio only to end up in the harbour waters. Sadly, four days later, Ascari died at Monza in a practice crash and Lancia, extremely depressed by Alberto’s death and facing a very difficult financial crisis, gives up racing.