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Topic starter
11/03/2021 11:59 am
1902 Renault Type K 14 CV Paris-Vienna Race Winner by SAFIR.
Here is one of the first two issues, the 1902 Renault Paris-Vienna Race Winner, introduced in 1962 as No. 7 in their range.
Town-to-town races were all the rage at the turn of the century. This Type K won Renault its first major overall victory, in the 1902 Paris-Vienna race.
Right from the outset, the Renault brothers were all too aware of the promotional value of motor sports. They started competing in the voiturette category, winning many of the town-to-town trials that were so popular in the early years of the twentieth century.
But the 1902 Paris-Vienna race marked a step up into a different league for Renault, which had entered three Type K “lightweight cars” alongside four smaller voiturettes. The event was a very tough ordeal, with a crossing of the Alps at the Arlberg Pass, at an altitude of 1500 metres. Wrapped in their leather overcoats, the courageous drivers braced themselves against the strong winds, braved the elements, and skilfully negotiated the rough mountain tracks. Overwhelmed by Count Zborowski’s big powerful Mercedes and Henry Farman’s Panhard, few onlookers had even noticed the little Type K. But the nimble lightweight Renault proved ideal for the steep, twisting roads, and Marcel Renault finished first, completing the 1300 km at an incredible average of 62.5 km/h!
From now on, Renault would be a very serious contender in motor sports at all levels.
History of Safir Models, France
In 1952, a French company called Jadali was started by Léon Gouttman and his son Jacques-Henri Gouttman. It was an acronym of Jacques, Daniel, and Linette, the names of Gouttman's three children. Jadali made a variety of toys, including cars and trucks, space man, and cowboy pistols that were often D.C.M.T. (Lonestar) or Matchbox retoolings, done under license.These toys were first made near Paris.
In 1955–1957, Léon Gouttman moved toy production to Barcelona, Spain. In 1957, the son, Jacques-Henri Gouttman, meanwhile, had established a diecasting business in Langeac in Haute-Loire in southeastern France.
In 1959 Jean-Henri started production of two 1:43 scale vehicles: a Ford Model T and a 1902 Renault Paris-Vienne racer. In 1960, Jaques-Henri enters an agreement with a plastic moulding and diecasting company called Safir. Safir is an acronym for Société Anonyme de Fabrication d' Injection et de Recherches.
From this time, Jadali provided Safir with zamac metal parts for a new range of classic vehicles. Among the offerings are the designs of the original Model T and 1902 Renault – now with plastic parts.
Gradually Jadali drifted to other diecasting products and Safir concentrates on plastics. Safir continued production of vehicles until about 1978.
11/03/2021 12:35 pm
I always liked how SAFIR added the gold radiators on the sides! Is it mostly plastic or diecast metal?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mullevoorde/4563891271
11/03/2021 1:14 pm
I have that one too David - my one and only Safir. Karl - the body and chassis are metal, wheels, seats, radiators, etc. are plastic. Mine was missing the spare tire from the start though. The number is "7" on my box and in the catalog.
11/03/2021 1:48 pm
David, I enjoyed your history of Safir, and it sent me on a little search into the older parts of my collection. Here's the one that I remembered:
And then I remembered another, an all-metal Model T:
Thanks for reminding me of these two, and sorry that I don't have the racing car. Enjoy! David H
11/03/2021 3:04 pm
I have two - and only two - Safirs in my collection. Here they are: an 1896 Peugeot and a 1901 Decauville. Both are in pretty good shape, except both have their tillers broken off somehow over the years.
Skip Johnson
Tonawanda, New York
Topic starter
11/03/2021 3:29 pm
Hi Skip,
These are really nice models. The way Safir makes the spoked wheels out of clear plastic was state of the art back when these were made.
I have the No.4 Peugeot but not the No.5 Decauville. Thanks for showing these two.
Hi David,
Love that 1918 No.101 Gregoire Triple Berline. It was quite elaborate for the time. I wish I had that one too. In storage, I have the No.8 Model T Ford. At one point I was trying to collect all the Model T variations in 1/43 but the numbers got out of hand. I like the Corgi Classics 1964 series of these best.
John Kuvakas and John Kuvakas reacted
11/03/2021 4:09 pm
You all are giving me a lot of fun today; my search this time resulted in a near twin to David Green's Renault racer by Safir. And more. Here's mine: (click on picture to enlarge.)
11/03/2021 8:32 pm
Minialuxe made some great 1/43 French plastique! I love their ...
... Skiff!
12/03/2021 10:16 am
@karl I had an early Minialuxe P&L Skiff in blue and brown. It had the clear plastic "wire" wheels like those Skip posted.
Karl Schnelle and Karl Schnelle reacted