MMK Maserati 151

Until now, the only Maserati 151 I could find was this 1/24 one, salvaged from the trash can of history:


But now, MMK of France has released a limited production, hand built Maserati 151 in 1/32 scale, a fine model:


I obtained mine from Electric Dreams. Here, an East New York mechanic inspects the body work. Decals are good, and flaws in the finish are few.


What's inside? A standard Mabuchi, a slightly off center brass pinion, and a medium-quality crown gear. The motor is loose in the cast-resin chassis, and a few dabs of Goop are needed to ensure a solid mount and optimal gear alignment. The guide shoe fractured where the leads are inserted, necessitating a quick change to a blue Scalextric guide (same size as original). The axles and wheels seem true, and the tires are appropriately grippy on my painted wood track:


Now down to business. The car competes successfully in "NC1" class, against the other early-'60's types. In real life, the Ferrari 250 GTO was the intended target of the big Maser. Racing showed that the real Maser could not compete, although it was fast in a straight line. The MMK model is a pleasant drive, and holds its own due to its good balance between power, weight, center-of-gravity, and traction. Although the mechanical parts are not first rate, they are entirely adequate, with a little tuning. Is it worth $165? Sure, if you want a Maserati 151 bad enough!