Review by CoMod Lotus of Carrera DIGITAL 124 the Maserati 4CL-1500 'No. 38', Tripoli 1939 (23749)
What can you write about a car when you have no information about it?
Two pictures on the internet—that’s all I’ve found about the Maserati 4CL 1500 Stromlinie. One view from the front, one from the back. Along with that, the information that the car started in the 1939 Tripoli Grand Prix and was in the lead with Luigi “Gigi” Villoresi at the wheel, but then retired due to engine problems. Incidentally, the same thing happened to two of the three other Maserati 4CLs that started the race (though those didn’t have streamlined bodies).
Apparently, this body was used in only one race, and the car was likely re-bodied immediately after the race. Now, of course, one could pad out this post with a general account of the streamlined cars of the 1930s and the dominance of the Auto Union and Mercedes race cars. But I’ll spare you that and refer you to CoMod Jörg’s excellent report on the two Silver Arrows mentioned. There’s no better way to summarize the history of pre-war motorsports.
So let’s say a few words about the model itself.
The Maserati is the third model in the Streamlined Series and complements the two German cars mentioned above in every respect. The car looks very well rendered, as far as one can tell from the limited photographic material available. The only thing is that, in my opinion, the driver sits a bit too high.
The wheel covers are also removable here, though they have a different locking mechanism than the Silver Arrows. What I particularly like are the accurately detailed, treaded tires. The '38' features the new 124 chassis with internal magnets (which can be easily removed if necessary), the new swing arm with an increased swing angle, and the fully enclosed chassis.
The vehicle weighs 179 gr, including the magnets. The weight is well distributed, allowing for a very smooth ride. However, it’s important to realize that this streamlined Italian car handles quite differently from, say, the new Porsche 911. The Zuffenhausen model practically sticks to the track, while the 4CL requires a bit more effort to drive. But that’s exactly what makes this car so much fun!
Even though the 4CL never won a pre-war race against the Mercedes and Auto Union in real life, on theCarrera track it’s a worthy opponent!
CoMod
Lotus***********************
**************Review by CoMod martinmm on theCarrera DIGITAL 124 Maserati 4CL-1500 'No. 38', Tripoli 1939 (23749)
For the fast race track in Tripoli, Maserati had fitted a 4CL in the 1.5-liter Voiturettes category with a streamlined body. In 1939, the race had been opened up at the last minute to include smaller cars as well. Luigi Villoresi was behind the wheel and reached a top speed of 170 miles per hour in this car. However, the Maserati did not cross the finish line due to a broken piston. In addition, high-speed tests were conducted with the Maserati on the highway near Florence.
Technical Specifications:
The vehicle is equipped with the same new chassis design as the two silver streamlined cars. The track width is nearly the same, while the wheelbase is slightly longer.
Appearance:
The 1.5-liter Maserati 4CL, which is actually quite dainty, appears quite large due to its distinctive streamlined body, though it is still considerably smaller than the Mercedes W125 or the AutoUnion. The narrow wheels are practically bicycle-sized. The driver’s head, with its leather cap, is very finely detailed. Overall, the driver appears a bit too small. Removing the front wheel covers
drastically changes the car’s visual appearance, which I personally prefer.
Driving Performance:
Driving with a full set of magnets is almost identical to driving the two silver streamlined vehicles. The Maserati is actually a bit more responsive, which is likely due to its 30g lighter weight. For a direct comparison, I removed the rear magnet and the middle one of the three center magnets, and also placed an additional 10g of weight behind the swing arm. Despite its thin tires
, the car has surprisingly good grip and handles very nimbly through both tight and wide turns. A very exotic car that was used in this form only once in a race. It also looks great in a display case, though its superb handling naturally means it belongs on the track.
CoMod martinmm
What can you write about a car when you have no information about it?
Two pictures on the internet—that’s all I’ve found about the Maserati 4CL 1500 Stromlinie. One view from the front, one from the back. Along with that, the information that the car started in the 1939 Tripoli Grand Prix and was in the lead with Luigi “Gigi” Villoresi at the wheel, but then retired due to engine problems. Incidentally, the same thing happened to two of the three other Maserati 4CLs that started the race (though those didn’t have streamlined bodies).
Apparently, this body was used in only one race, and the car was likely re-bodied immediately after the race. Now, of course, one could pad out this post with a general account of the streamlined cars of the 1930s and the dominance of the Auto Union and Mercedes race cars. But I’ll spare you that and refer you to CoMod Jörg’s excellent report on the two Silver Arrows mentioned. There’s no better way to summarize the history of pre-war motorsports.
So let’s say a few words about the model itself.
The Maserati is the third model in the Streamlined Series and complements the two German cars mentioned above in every respect. The car looks very well rendered, as far as one can tell from the limited photographic material available. The only thing is that, in my opinion, the driver sits a bit too high.
The wheel covers are also removable here, though they have a different locking mechanism than the Silver Arrows. What I particularly like are the accurately detailed, treaded tires. The '38' features the new 124 chassis with internal magnets (which can be easily removed if necessary), the new swing arm with an increased swing angle, and the fully enclosed chassis.
The vehicle weighs 179 gr, including the magnets. The weight is well distributed, allowing for a very smooth ride. However, it’s important to realize that this streamlined Italian car handles quite differently from, say, the new Porsche 911. The Zuffenhausen model practically sticks to the track, while the 4CL requires a bit more effort to drive. But that’s exactly what makes this car so much fun!
Even though the 4CL never won a pre-war race against the Mercedes and Auto Union in real life, on the
CoMod
Lotus***********************
**************Review by CoMod martinmm on the
For the fast race track in Tripoli, Maserati had fitted a 4CL in the 1.5-liter Voiturettes category with a streamlined body. In 1939, the race had been opened up at the last minute to include smaller cars as well. Luigi Villoresi was behind the wheel and reached a top speed of 170 miles per hour in this car. However, the Maserati did not cross the finish line due to a broken piston. In addition, high-speed tests were conducted with the Maserati on the highway near Florence.
Technical Specifications:
The vehicle is equipped with the same new chassis design as the two silver streamlined cars. The track width is nearly the same, while the wheelbase is slightly longer.
Appearance:
The 1.5-liter Maserati 4CL, which is actually quite dainty, appears quite large due to its distinctive streamlined body, though it is still considerably smaller than the Mercedes W125 or the AutoUnion. The narrow wheels are practically bicycle-sized. The driver’s head, with its leather cap, is very finely detailed. Overall, the driver appears a bit too small. Removing the front wheel covers
drastically changes the car’s visual appearance, which I personally prefer.
Driving Performance:
Driving with a full set of magnets is almost identical to driving the two silver streamlined vehicles. The Maserati is actually a bit more responsive, which is likely due to its 30g lighter weight. For a direct comparison, I removed the rear magnet and the middle one of the three center magnets, and also placed an additional 10g of weight behind the swing arm. Despite its thin tires
, the car has surprisingly good grip and handles very nimbly through both tight and wide turns. A very exotic car that was used in this form only once in a race. It also looks great in a display case, though its superb handling naturally means it belongs on the track.
CoMod martinmm
