Carrera Panamericana Mexico

And in minute 1:30 of this video you can see the longitudinal stripe on the 550 was either blue or -more likely - green, definitely not red: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOzMe5r85ms

 

In the 356 photo you can also see that the can painted on the sides of both this car and the 550 corresponds to this Bardahl one without the LIFE tag: http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mIs6VTfrhUyjNSaZ9D634Ng.jpg

 

That photo I found via a friend in Mexico who knew the Salvador Lopez Chevez family. It also showed more of the rear of the car than I had seen before. I have still not found a directly rear shot of the Canada Shoes 356 pre A. The 550 was even more pretty with a gold almost copper color body and what looked like black but was body color wheels. Maybe the spare tires had black rims??

 

I think the stripe is black, but it could be dark blue or dark green. Did you figure out what the small lettering on the lower nose says??
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The lettering between the America and ANA logos reads "??????? DISTRIBUIDORA ??? DE OCCIDENTE S.A. Guadalajara Jal."
Under the America word I would say "La ???? ???? del Mundo"

 

The stripe was definitely not black, here you can see the difference in shade with the number on the engine cover.
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Not sure about definitely not black. We have to find a better color photo, and I do believe there is one out there from the 1954 Pan Am race as the person shooting Kodachrome at the start photographed most of the main cars. I think the 550 spare wheels were black also. The beginning of the race press photo shows them being metalic looking and most likely body color(darker than the stock silver). I am sure they had many wheels of all different colors for the 550 including silver, black and gold as this was a long race.


When you figure out what that front side sticker on the 550 says you should get an award for your effort
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It's a Bosch sticker, enlarge this photo and you'll see the letters: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nRqnUFjOehk/TjL7AyH3XcI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/ZntrghYpbws/s1600/Porsche%2B550.JPG

In the same photo you'll see why I say the stripe was certainly not black.

 

I guess it was something similar to this:
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Very good!!! When you finish these 550 and 356 decals I sure would like a set in 1/24th and 1/43rd scales so I can correct the mistakes on my BBR model and do another model in 1/24th scale

Can't remember if you knew this but it should be Guadalajara below the Canada on the door.

 

Thanks, Tom. The 356 decals are not in the list for the moment and the 550 ones are for a customer, so you'll have to buy them to him not to me, but I'm sure he'll sell them to you gladly, Ill warn you when they'll be ready.

 

A few more photos available as large art prints(at great cost!!):


Mexico Carrera
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I took this second and third photo from the other Pan Am forum website. They are still fighting about the color of the Mercedes logo on the 1952 Pan Am number #4 300SL!! This is the sister car, wich shows the BLUE logo rather well. The Museum started this discussion I think due to their error. They put vents on the 300SL also, so not very accurate.


On the 1952 Jaguar photo it looks Champagne or light brown metalic/gold. Anyone know the real Jaguar color code for this number #18 Pan Am car?? Also the wire wheels look darker than silver on the other black and white photos I have seen, maybe painted body color?
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The color on #0008's logo was green. This is a color photo from the event.
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Thanks Boudewijn...Coming from you I expect that is the correct answer!! I have a model of it with a green logo so I don't have to fix it then.

 

We all have a #4 300sl model with a green star, the question is whether it is correct. I believe a b/w picture is a better and more honest evidence than an over or under exposed color picture of the fifties.
#3 had blue star blue stripes,
#6 had blue star white stripes,
#4 had blue star green stripes.
The distinction is on the stripes not the stars, the Mercedes star was and is blue.

 

That makes sense but I am not sure about that due to the Mercedes museum. Maybe they know something you don't?? What color do you think the Jaguar is by the way? I do not think it is silver, maybe Champagne.

 

The museum is not the most reliable source of information, just turn to page 113 of the above mentioned book and read the caption. I believe the Jaguar is silver.
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The color photo looks Champagne and this black in white picture and all the others I have seen look darker than silver.
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It surely makes sense when looking at b/w photos.
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AFTER MANY YEARS OF RESEARCH I DECIDED TO MAKE THE COMPLETE VW TEAM THAT RUN IN THE LAST CARRERA PANAMERICANA 1954 SO SUCCESSFULLY, SEVEN STARTED SEVEN FINISHED WITH THEIR ENGINES SEALED. NOT EVEN AN OIL CHANGE.
THREE O F THE SEVEN CARS HAVE BEEN MODELED BY TOY COMPANIES LIKE RIO, SCHUCO AND VITESSE. THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING QUIZ TO SPOT THE MISTAKES IN EACH ONE. E.G. THE VITESSE #261 IS A VERY GOOD REPRESENTATION OF THE CAR WITH A VERY BIG MISTAKE, IT WAS NOT AN OPEN ROOF ONE & THAT LEADS TO AN OTHER MISTAKE, THE OMISSION OF THE RACE NUMBER ON THE TOP.
THE SEVEN CARS WERE THREE VW TEAN CARS AND FOUR WERE GIVEN TO MEXICAN PRIVATEERS. THERE WERE THREE SEDANS AND FOUR WITH OPEN ROOF.
I SEND YOU PICTURES OF MY EFFORT UP TO NOW, PLEASE FREE TO COMMENT.
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Beautiful collection and great research job, Apostolos!

 

That's great!

Thanks for the pics, agori!!!

 

Very well done research. I could only figure out 3 or 4 of the cars colors from the films I have seen let alone what every car said!! You have some rare pictures. I saw that when you did the non factory Alfa 1900's. I wish someone would do another book with some of those color photos that have surfaced in the last few years. Maybe do artist side profiles of the cars with the information we now know.
I know a guy who would do that for a good price if someone wants to start publishing.

 

Great news, Carlos Duran will offer all the following decals to order in 1/43rd, 1/32nd and 1/24th scales!!!

Ferrari 375 Vignale Spyder, nº 45, IV Carrera Panamericana 53
Ferrari 375 Plus, nº 19 y 24, V Carrera Panamericana 54
Jaguar mkVII, nº 47 , Cantinflas-el 7 machos, II Carrera Panamericana 51
Porsche 550 Coupe, nº 152, IV Carrera Panamericana 53
Osca MT4, Schenley, nº 157 , IV Carrera Panamericana 53
Osca MT4, Montecarlo, nº 54, V Carrera Panamericana 54
Osca MT4, Pemex, nº 62, V Carrera Panamericana 54
Ferrari nº 20 Phil Hill , V Carrera Panamericanna 54
Porsche 550 Calzados Canada, nº 51, V Carrera Panamericana 54

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