Toyota GT-ONE 3.6L Turbo V8 #3 2nd 1999 24h Le Mans in 1:12 scale w/ Showcase
This is the Toyota GT-ONE 3.6L Turbo V8 #3 2nd 1999 24h Le Mans in 1:12 scale w/ Showcase by Top Marques.
The Toyota GT-One (TS020) #3, fielded by Toyota Motorsport Europe, finished second overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with drivers Ukyo Katayama, Keiichi Tsuchiya, and Toshio Suzuki. Katayama was a veteran of Formula One in the 1990s, Tsuchiya became a legend of Japanese motorsport and drifting culture, and Suzuki was a respected sports-car racer in endurance competition. The 1999 race was particularly dramatic because Toyota appeared poised to win its first Le Mans outright; however, the leading GT-One suffered a tire failure late in the race while leading, forcing it to retire and leaving the #3 car to finish second. The GT-One itself was unique for its extreme aerodynamics and controversial GT1 regulations, being essentially a prototype disguised as a road-based car, making the 1999 Le Mans one of the most memorable near-victories in Toyota’s long pursuit of overall success at the legendary endurance classic.
Top Marques produces high-end 1:18 and 1:12 scale model cars that are generally regarded as premium collector pieces. Most of their models are resin replicas, which allows for very sharp body lines, accurate proportions, and high-quality paint finishes that closely replicate the real vehicles. Their larger 1:12 scale models especially showcase extensive detailing, sometimes including removable parts and carefully reproduced engines, while many of their 1:18 models are sealed display pieces designed primarily for visual accuracy rather than opening features. Produced in limited editions, Top Marques models are often sought after by collectors for their craftsmanship, rarity, and focus on historically significant racing and exotic cars.
The Toyota GT-One (TS020) #3, fielded by Toyota Motorsport Europe, finished second overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with drivers Ukyo Katayama, Keiichi Tsuchiya, and Toshio Suzuki. Katayama was a veteran of Formula One in the 1990s, Tsuchiya became a legend of Japanese motorsport and drifting culture, and Suzuki was a respected sports-car racer in endurance competition. The 1999 race was particularly dramatic because Toyota appeared poised to win its first Le Mans outright; however, the leading GT-One suffered a tire failure late in the race while leading, forcing it to retire and leaving the #3 car to finish second. The GT-One itself was unique for its extreme aerodynamics and controversial GT1 regulations, being essentially a prototype disguised as a road-based car, making the 1999 Le Mans one of the most memorable near-victories in Toyota’s long pursuit of overall success at the legendary endurance classic.
Top Marques produces high-end 1:18 and 1:12 scale model cars that are generally regarded as premium collector pieces. Most of their models are resin replicas, which allows for very sharp body lines, accurate proportions, and high-quality paint finishes that closely replicate the real vehicles. Their larger 1:12 scale models especially showcase extensive detailing, sometimes including removable parts and carefully reproduced engines, while many of their 1:18 models are sealed display pieces designed primarily for visual accuracy rather than opening features. Produced in limited editions, Top Marques models are often sought after by collectors for their craftsmanship, rarity, and focus on historically significant racing and exotic cars.
[cancel]