Biante 1:18

Brabham / Moss

Holden Torana

Limited Edition

On paper, it was a brilliant public relations exercise. Take two former Formula 1 stars, put them together in a Torana for the biggest race of the year at Bathurst and sit back and watch the fans and media lap it up.

That was the case in 1976 as three-time Formula 1 World Champion Jack Brabham, and perhaps the greatest driver never to win the World Championship, Stirling Moss, teamed up together for the Hardie Ferodo 1000. Between them they had a total of 192 Formula 1 Grands Prix starts, 30 F1 GP wins, 29 pole positions and over 400 World Championship points, but neither had raced at Bathurst in a touring car.

It would be Moss’ first race since the terrible accident at Goodwood in 1962 that nearly killed him and coincided with his insurance company terminating its ban on him racing. Having turned 47 a month before the race the big question was whether he and Brabham could match the touring car regulars who were so well versed at competing on slick tyres in big heavy cars on the famous Mount Panorama circuit ever year.

Backing for the venture came from Blues Union, Esmonds Motors and Sydney radio station 2SM but it almost all came unstuck very early in the weekend in practice as Brabham survived a hairy ride down the escape road at the end of Conrod Straight due to total brake failure. He was able to manhandle the out-of-control L34 Torana, avoiding the back of the similar Craven Mild car of Allan Grice and major damage to stop the car at the end of the wild ride.

His practice time of 2m30s neat put the duo 10th on the grid as Allan Moffat’s XB GT Falcon swooped to pole position on 2m25.0s. When the Australian flag dropped to start the 163-lap marathon, there was instant disaster for Brabham. ‘Black Jack’ was left hurriedly working away at his gear lever, desperate to get the car moving again as the rest of the field streamed away towards Hell’s Corner.

With a gearbox that had selected two gears at once, he was a sitting duck and had barely moved an inch when the Triumph Dolomite of John Dellaca which had started 36th on the grid, had nowhere to go and rammed into the back of the stationary Holden.

It was a complete and total disaster, with the damage to the two cars enough for them both to be dragged to the back of the pits by the ARDC recovery crews so repairs could be affected. After so much pre-race hype and build-up, there would be huge efforts go into repairing the Brabham/Moss car to a level to at least get it onto the track and into the race for the fans to see.

In fact, race organisers the ARDC (Australian Racing Drivers Club) waived the rules to allow the car to rejoin the race so the fans could see the two legends at work, however its run was to be short-lived as engine failure meant it only lasted another 37 laps. To top it off, Moss didn’t endear himself to the local racers by driving a full lap back to the pits with smoke and oil pouring from the bowels of the Torana! It may not have been a memorable result, but the 1976 start line incident and ill-fated assault by Brabham and Moss remains one of the most well-known stories in Bathurst 1000 history.

This 1:18 scale model will have brand new features using the new mould and tooling and will be coming in a ‘double pack’ which includes a 1:18 scale Biante display case with the model. This model will feature fuel lines, brake lines, accurate hinges, metal etch parts, working bonnet pins and also feature five stud removable wheels to name a few.

Included in this double pack will be a premium Certificate of Authenticity signed by both of the great men, Sir Jack Brabham and Sir Stirling Moss.