[Dickie]

Just arrived today from Pendle's, along with 3 other Ferrari's, was this , how do you say, UGLY beast of a car. A Carrera Ferrari Mille Miglia.

When I saw pics of this thing, I knew I was going to have to get one somehow, even if I do live on the states. So my thanks to Sean for getting this to me.
It's even uglier in person, but that only made me more happy to have it. I just love the unique hood tie-down system. Is this where the idea of seatbelts came from?

Racers back then must have thought those motors were worth more than themselves

I'm one of those guys who just has to run a new car before dissecting it, so out of the box it came, and onto the track it went. A couple easy laps of running, and I'm looking at the nice round top it has. Well, that oughta be good for some barrel rolls

Ok, open it up, let's see how it goes. Hey, this thing goes pretty good. I'm now doing faster lap times than I get with the new Carrera Mopars. Right there with their new red Mustang. Then it happens. A little too hard into a right hander, and sure enough, it barrel rolls outta the slot. And it continues to barrel roll over to and right over the guardrail. Guess what's after the guardrail? Nothing but air all the way too the floor. I can see you all cringing your faces as you imagine it hitting a concrete floor

Well, don't. I have a carpet floor (not as ugly as Moped's though

) Car's fine, thank you

Ok, run it about 40-50 laps, better take it apart to make sure it's been oiled from the factory. Turn it over, and start taking out 2 screws in plain site. Hmmm, wait a minute, that's only going to remove the new magnet. Tighten those back up. Ok, where's the chassis screws? Look...look...look....

Did I find the screws? Yep, the 2 rear ones are "under" the exhaust tips

Must be a way to remove them in order to get to the screws. Looking...looking...looking...hmmm, don't tell me there's no way to the screws!

That's right, no way to the screws other than by pulling the tips to the side (and praying you don't snap them off) and inserting the screwdriver down by them. Whew! Got them out without breaking anything. All right, let's see what's inside this baby! Hmmm, front seems to be stuck. Could there be? (pull guide up) Yep

There's a screw hidden "under" the guide

Hoorah!! Got the body off!

Inside the axle bushings and where the gears meet were well lubed up. But since I had it open I relubed it and also lubed to motor bushings. The inside is typical Carrera. Mess of wires thanks to the reversing switch. But it seems they also added of couple more green thingies to the motor. You know, those green things that make a bunch of smoke when they let go. They really want it to look like a real Ferrari when it blows an engine, huh?

So there you have my version of the Carrera Mille Miglia Ferrari. A blast to run, and it runs good. Just hope you don't have to work on it. But then again, I don't want to have to work on anything to make it go. I just want to take it apart

 

[Swissracer]

Hey Dickie!

Thanks for cheering me up with a laugh first thing in the morning !

Nice write up on a very quirky car.

I do have to correct you on one point... If only to stop you breaking those cute little exhaust pipes.
They ARE designed to pop out when access to the screws is required. You need a little side to side pressure like this...

Hope this helps

 

[BEEJAY7]

Thank Dickie for your review.

This is a great car and will be added to my stable soon. Carrera must be apauded for providing models of unusual older vehicles for us Classic Collectors. If it wasn't for them and Ninco I would have to scratchbuild everything!....

The bonnet straps predate over-centre catches on "Sporty" and/or competition cars and are still available today from specialist suppliers, so I guess you could retrofit one to a Vectra if you were so inclined!.

I still think the Ferrari looks better in red tho'...........

Cheers

Alan

 

[thomas]

...nice report Dickie, caused me laughing - and nice to see, that other slotters start to discover Carrera!

 

[Dickie]

QUOTE They ARE designed to pop out when access to the screws is required. You need a little side to side pressure like this...

(hanging my head in shame) Thanks Swiss

I thought about pulling up on them like you said, but I figured if I did, I'd break them off. Now that you showed us, I tried it, and it works

Ok, I'll feel better now

 

[Swissracer]

Dickie, I take the 'bull in a China shop approach' which usually works OK, but rest assured if I HAD broken the exhausts off trying that - you guys would NEVER have heard about it!

 

[Scott B]

QUOTE I just love the unique hood tie-down system.

I gather, because I'm too young to know myself, that long after perfectly acceptable bonnet/hood catch mechanisms were in production makers still had leather straps across the bonnet/hood as a sign of power and g- fasterness, just as we had black bonnets/hoods then spoilers.

Scott