1952-54 Exoto Tipo 500 F2 & 500/625 F1 Archives | Exoto

Pole, 1952 Grand Prix of Switzerland | Giuseppe “Nino” Farina with Driver Figurine

MRDavidson — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 23:27:29 +0000

The 1952 pre-season confirmed that the Scuderia was sure to dominate Formula 1, and so the decision was made to run the 1952 World Championship to Formula 2 regulations. Though there was stronger competition, the Italian team was well-equipped to win in F2 with the lovely Tipo 500!

Giuseppe “Nino” Farina had migrated from Alfa Romeo for the 1952 season, having grown dissatisfied with being overshadowed by the younger Juan-Manuel Fangio at the Milanese team. His time at Alfa Romeo had not been all bad, however: Farina will forever be known as the first Formula 1 World Champion, earning that title in 1950 driving a factory 158 Alfetta.

The first Championship Grand Prix of 1952 was held at the Bremgarten circuit in Switzerland, and Farina, nephew of Pinin Farina, continued to shine. He put the #28 Short Nose 500 F2 on pole with a stunning qualifying time that was a full 1.4 seconds faster than the fastest race lap set by eventual race-winner, Taruffi, in the #30 Tipo 500 F2.

Farina led easily until, just 16 laps in, misfortune struck and the 500 F2’s magneto failed. In support of the team leader, Andre Simon was brought in to surrender the third factory-entered 500 F2 to Farina, as was common practice in the day. Farina had the #32 into second place before once again suffering a failure that ended his race prematurely. But still, it was a good day for the team, with Farina on pole, Taruffi victorious, and Rudi Fischer’s Ecurie Espadon entered 500 F2 in second place!

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Winner, 1952 Grand Prix de Pau driven by Alberto Ascari – with Driver Figurine

MRDavidson — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 02:23:59 +0000

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1954 Aintree International 200 | Reg Parnell

MRDavidson — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:09:52 +0000

Reg Parnell was a successful racing driver, both before and after WWII. Never a factory team driver, he was a talented privateer nonetheless, actually scoring a third at the 1950 British Grand Prix. The British driver typically raced on home ground. In 1954 he piloted an updated Type 500/625 for Scuderia Ambrosiana at the British Grand Prix, in which he suffered technical difficulties. More impressively, he scored outright victories in no less than five non-Championship F1 Grands Prix… all on British soil! Exoto’s replica features Parnell’s Type 500/625 as it appeared at a wet Aintree circuit in 1954 for the Aintree International 200!

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