FIA Diecast 1962 to 1965

From 1962 to 1965, the FIA called the top series the International Championship for GT Manufacturers. The schedule was expanded to include several events for the GT-class only. Prototypes still raced at the longer traditional events such as Sebring, LeMans, Nurburging, and the Targa Florio. But the GT series carried the prestige of being the "World Championship", and Ferrari proudly dominated with their 250 GTO.

The GT class had several subclasses for different engine sizes, and for the overall championship the top class was for cars over 2.0 liters. Many events had further divisions, especially for 3.0 litre cars. While these extra subdivisions would be awarded class wins, the overall championship points were for all cars above 2.0 liters.

1962

Daytona Continental

Bill France staged a southern-fried World Championship event using the infield road course, thus inventing the "roval". Despite the cultural void between the somewhat-prissy Europeans, the event was well received, and would evolve into the famous 24-hour event.

Lotus 23 excluded from Le Mans

The Lotus 23 failed scrutineering at the last minute when it was discovered that the front and rear wheels had different bolt patterns. An enraged Colin Chapman left in disgust, vowing never to return...

This event is oddly relevant to the history of Can-Am racing. During these years the "Protoype" class was completely dominated by Ferrari, and much has been said about their ability to influence politics. The prototype class also had peculiar design requirements that mandated trunk space, spare tires, and other elements that did not necessarily increase performance.

So faced with a hostile environment in Europe, Lotus designed their next two-seater racing car to NOT comply with intenational prototype rules. This car was the Lotus 30, and while it had its own problems, its presence and availability gave a huge boost to the concept of "Sports Racers".

Ferrari Dino

Enzo had a huge distaste for rear-engined cars, and was so reluctant to produce one that he called this first series 'Dinos' rather than Ferraris. This was to hedge against any potential failures. It all worked out, as these cars scored back-to-back wins at the Targa Florio, plus a win at the 'ring in 1962.

Porsche-Abarth Carerra GTL

This car was a rebodied Porsche 356B, and was Porsche's GT car of choice until the arrival of the 904 in 1964

International Championship for GT Manufacturers 1962
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Model	Ref. #	Image
Daytona
1	Lotus 19B Climax Dan Gurney	96 S 2.5	Spark	S0256
			Top Model ('Gold')	030
2	Ferrari Dino 246 SP Phil Hill Ricardo Rodriguez	1 S 2.5	Art Model	ART068
4	Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale Stirling Moss	18 GT 3.0	Bang	7195
Sebring
2	Ferrari 250 GTO Phil Hill Olivier Gendebien	24 GT 3.0	Fabbri ('Ferrari Racing')	(Issue #11)
			Box	8432
			Bang	432
28	Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale Ed Hugus George Reed	28 GT 3.0	Bang	7198
DNF	Ferrari Dino 246SP Pedro Rodriguez Ricardo Rodriguez	34 S 3.0	Art Model	209
Targa Florio
1	Ferrari Dino Willy Mairesse Ricardo Rodriguez	152 S 3.0	Art Model	ART021
2	Ferrari Dino Giancarlo Baghetti Lorenzo Bandini	120 P 3.0	Art Model	ART022
4	Ferrari 250 GTO Giorgio Scarlatti Pietro Ferraro	86 GT 3.0	Box	8408
N/C	Ferrari 250 GT SWB Giuseppe Crespi Alberto Federici	96 GT 3.0	Bang	7353
Nürburgring
1	Ferrari Dino 246 SP Phil Hill Olivier Gendebien	92 S 3.0	Art Model	ART034
DNF	Lotus 23 Ford Jim Clark Trevor Taylor	84 S 2.0	Spark	S0251
Le Mans
2	Ferrari 250 GTO Jean Guichet Pierre Noblet	19 GT 3.0	Box	8464
			Kyosho	05121A
			Solido	2403
			Bang	464
			Altaya
3	Ferrari 250 GTO "Eldé" "Jean Beurlys"	22 GT 3.0	Bang	7226
			Kyosho	05121B
4	Jaguar E-Type Briggs Cunningham Roy Salvadori	10 GT 4.0	Best	9022
			Box	8450
			Kyosho	03064A
			Spark	S2101
9	Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale Ed Hugus George Reed	21 GT 3.0	Bang	7197
13	Morgan Plus 4 Super Sports Chris Lawrence Richard Shepherd-Barron	29 GT 2.0	Vitesse (Limited Edition)	L151
DNF	Ferrari Dino 268SP Giancarlo Baghetti Ludovico Scarfiotti	27 EXP 3.0	Art Model	212
DNF	Ferrari Dino 246SP Pedro Rodriguez Ricardo Rodriguez	28 EXP 2.5	Art Model	042
DNF	Ferrari 250 GTO Innes Ireland Masten Gregory	20 GT 3.0	Box	8402
			Bang	402
DNF	Ferrari 330 GTO Mike Parkes Lorenzo Bandini	7 EXP 4.0	Bang	7354
DNF	Jaguar E-Type Maurice Charles John Coundley	8 GT 4.0	Spark	S2103
			Best	9161
DSQ	Lotus 23 Ford Jim Clark Trevor Taylor	47 EXP 1.0	Spark	S0252
DSQ	Lotus 23 Climax Les Leston Tony Shelly	48 EXP 850	Spark	S0253
DNF	Jaguar E-Type	9	Spark	S2102
			Best
Tourist Trophy
1	Ferrari 250 GTO Innes Ireland	15 GT +2.0	Bang (Promo)	521
4	Jaguar E-Type Spider (Hard Top) Roy Salvadori	11 GT +2.0	Best	9035
6	Jaguar E-Type (Coupe) Dick Protheroe	14 GT +2.0	Box	8443
			Best	9016
DNF	Ferrari 250 GTO John Surtees	6 GT +2.0	Box	8404
Montlhéry
1	Ferrari 250 GTO Pedro Rodriguez Ricardo Rodriguez	1 GT +2.0	Bang	7095

1963

1963 saw the arrival of the Shelby Cobra, the quintessential American sports Car.

Chevrolet also got into road racing by developing the Corvette 'Grand Sport'. While it looked like a normal corvette, this car was actually one of the first GTP's. It had little in common with the production version, and GM sold the 5 cars to top-level privateers.

International Championship for GT Manufacturers 1963
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Model	Ref. #	Image
Daytona
1	Ferrari 250 GTO Pedro Rodriguez	18 GT 3.0	Redline	RL185
23	Shelby Cobra Skip Hudson	97 GT 5.0	Bang	7293
Sebring
1	Ferrari 250P John Surtees Ludovico Scarfiotti	30 P 3.0	Art Model	ART119
9	Porsche 356B Abarth GTL Don Wester Bob Holbert	44 GT 2.0	Best	9375
29	Shelby Cobra Dan Gurney Phil Hill	15 GT +4.0	Box	8414
			Bang	414
DNF	Jaguar E-Type Spider Ed Leslie Frank Morrill	23 GT 4.0	Best	9396
Targa Florio
5	Porsche 356B Abarth GTL	76	Best	9357
12	Porsche 356B Abarth GTL	62 GT 1.6	Best	9437
21	Jaguar E-Type	122 GT +3.0	Best	9367
DNF	Ferrari 250 P	172 P 3.0	Art Model	ART152
DNF	Ferrari 250 GTO Kalman von Csazy	106 GT 3.0	Bang (Limited Edition)	1015
Nurburgring
1	Ferrari 250 P John Surtees Willy Mairesse	110 P 3.0	Art Model	126
6	Ferrari 250 GTO David Piper Ed Cantrell	47 GT 3.0	Bang	7165
DNF	Jaguar E-Type Peter Lindner Peter Nöcker	67 GT +3.0	Best	9037
DNF	Ferrari 250 P Ludovico Scarfiotti Mike Parkes	111 P 3.0	Art Model	214
Le Mans
1	Ferrari 250 P Lorenzo Bandini Ludovico Scarfiotti	21 P 3.0	IXO ('Le Mans Winners')	LM1963
2	Ferrari 250 GTO "Jean Beurlys" Gerard Langlois von Ophem	24 GT 3.0	Bang	7146
			Kyosho	05121C
3	Ferrari 250 P Mike Parkes Umberto Maglioli	22 P 3.0	IXO	LMC070
4	Ferrari 250 GTO Pierre Dumay Leon Dernier	25 GT 3.0	Solido	2404
7	Shelby Cobra Ninian Sanderson Peter Bolton	3 GT +3.0	Box	8438
			Bang	438
			Spark	S1181
9	Jaguar E-Type Briggs Cunningham Bob Grossman	15 GT +3.0	Best	9151
			Kyosho	03063A
10	Lotus Elite Climax Pat Fergusson John Wagstaff	39 GT 1.3	IXO	LMC120
DNF	Ferrari 250 P John Surtees Willy Mairesse	23 P 3.0	IXO	LMC071
DNF	Alpine M63 Bernard Boyer Guy Verrier	50 P 3.0	Top Model	TMC 261
DNF	Shelby Cobra Ed Hugus Peter Jopp	4 GT +3.0	Box	8420
			Spark	S1182
			Bang	420
DNF	Porsche 356B 2000 GS GT Heinz Schiller Ben Pon	30 GT 2.0	Spark	S1966
DNF	Porsche 356B 2000 GS GT Gerhard Koch Carel Godin de Beaufort	29 GT 2.0	Spark	S1967
DNF	Alpine M63 René Richard Piero Frescobaldi	49 P 3.0	Top Model	TMC 260
DNF	Alpine M63 José Rosinski Christian Heins	48 P 3.0	Top Model	TMC 259
DNF	René Bonnet Aérodjet LM6 Jean-Pierre Manzon Jean Rolland	52 P 3.0	Bizarre	BZ446
DNF	Jaguar E-Type Paul Richards Roy Salvadori	16 GT +3.0	Best	9205
DNF	René Bonnet Aérodjet LM6 Roger Masson Pierre Monneret	51 P 3.0	Bizarre	BZ449
Tourist Trophy
1	Ferrari 250 GTO Graham Hill	11 GT 3.0	Box	8409
			Bang	409
5	Ferrari 250 GTO David Piper	16 GT 3.0	Box	8403
Tour de France
1	Ferrari 250 GTO José Behra Pierre Noblet	165 GT +2.0	Bang	7291
DNF	Jaguar E-Type Georges Cardi Victor Klukaszenwski	177 GT +2.0	Best	9342

1964

Porsche 904

The Porsche 904 was run early in the season in the Prototype class. Later it was homologated, and was then able to run as a GT car. It scored a crucial overall win at the Targa Florio, which broke Ferrari's longtime domination of major events.

This represents a major gap for collectors, as there have been few versions of these cars. Vitesse issued some nice Le Mans units, but went went out of business shortly thereafter. Ebbro released an item from the 1964 Japan GP, but there are many other more famous variations that would be more collectable. Minichamps has had a 'Daytona Continental' version listed for years, but so far there has been no sign of an actual model.

International Championship for GT Manufacturers 1964
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Model	Ref. #	Image
Daytona
2	Ferrari 250 GTO David Piper Lucien Bianchi	35 GT +2.0	Bang	7141
Sebring
13	Alfa Romeo TZ1 Jim Kaser Chuck Stoddard	53 GT 1.6	Best	9190
18	Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Roger Penske Jim Hall	4 P +3.0	Eagle's Race	2010
21	Ford Cortina Lotus Mk I Jim Clark Ray Parsons	59 GT 1.6	Minichamps	400 648259
23	Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport A.J. Foyt John Cannon	2 P +3.0	Eagle's Race	2001
32	Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Delmo Johnson David Morgan	3 P +3.0	Eagle's Race	2002
Targa Florio
3	Alfa Romeo TZ1 Roberto Bussinello Nino Todaro	58 GT 1.6	Best	9067
8	Shelby Cobra 'Goodyear' Dan Gurney Allan Grant	146 GT +3.0	Bang	423
			Box	8423
9	Ferrari 250 GTO Ulf Norinder Picko Troberg	112 GT 3.0	Bang (Automobilia Promotional)	512
DNF	Shelby Cobra 'Goodyear' Phil Hill Bob Bondurant	142 GT +3.0	Bang	7310
DNF	Shelby Cobra Zourab Tchkotoua Tommy Hitchcock	152 GT +3.0	Bang	7352
DNF	Shelby Cobra 'Goodyear' Masten Gregory Innes Ireland	148 GT +3.0	Bang	7339
Nürburgring
9	Ford GT40 Phil Hill Bruce McLaren	140 P +3.0	Bizarre	BZ269
23	Shelby Cobra Jo Schlesser Richard Attwood	99 GT +3.0	Spark	S1185
DNF	Ferrari 250 LM "Jean Beurlys" Pierre Dumay	134 P +3.0	Box	8435
			Best	9009
Le Mans
1	Ferrari 275P Jean Guichet Nino Vaccarella	20 P +3.0	Art Model	154
2	Ferrari 330P Graham Hill Jo Bonnier	14 P +3.0	Art Model	200
3	Ferrari 330P John Surtees Lorenzo Bandini	19 P +3.0	Art Model	166
5	Ferrari 250 GTO '64 Lucien Bianchi "Jean Beurlys"	24 GT 3.0	Jouef	1002
7	Porsche 904 GTS Robert Buchet Guy Ligier	34 GT 2.0	Vitesse	VCC99006
8	Porsche 904 GTS Ben Pon Henk van Zalinge	33 GT 2.0	Vitesse	VCC99052
10	Porsche 904 GTS Gerhard Koch Heinz Schiller	31 GT 2.0	Vitesse	VCC99031
11	Porsche 904 GTS Herbert Müller Claude Sage	35 GT 2.0	Vitesse	VCC99063
DNF	Ford GT40 Phil Hill Bruce McLaren	10 P +3.0	Bizarre	BZ271
DNF	Ford GT40 Richie Ginther Masten Gregory	11 P +3.0	Bizarre	BZ272
DNF	Ford GT40 Richard Attwood Jo Schlesser	12 P +3.0	Bizarre	BZ273
DNF	Ferrari 330P Pedro Rodriguez Skip Hudson	15 P +3.0	Art Model	148
DNF	Alfa Romeo TZ1 Jean Rolland Fernand Masoero	40 GT 1.6	Best	9068
Reims
2	Ferrari 250 LM John Surtees Lorenzo Bandini	8 P +3.0	Best	9187
Goodwood Tourist Trophy
12	Lotus 30 Jim Clark	1 SR/P +1.6	Spark	S2210
Sierre Montagna
4	Shelby Cobra 'Goodyear' Bob Bondurant	176 GT +3.0	Bang	7342
Monza
7	Alfa Romeo TZ1 Antonio Nicodemi	7 GT 1.6	Delprado ('World Racing Car Collection')
Tour de France
1	Ferrari 250 GTO Lucien Bianchi Georges Berger	172 GT 3.0	Box	8458
			Bang	458
			Kyosho	05121D
7	Alfa Romeo TZ1 Jean Rolland Gabriel Augias	150 GT 1.6	Best	9074
13	Ferrari 250 GTO Claude Dubois Philippe de Montaigu	175 GT 3.0	Solido ('Racing' Series)	1902
14	Ferrari 250 GTO '64 Annie Soisbault Nicole Roure	170 GT 3.0	Jouef	1037
Bridgehampton
DNF	Ferrari 365P Ludovico Scarfiotti	80 SR/P +1.6	Art Model	201

1965

The year 1965 was the end of the classic GTIII era. Shelby took the championship over Ferrari, who had abandoned the GT class to concentrate on prototypes. It was also the last year of the legendary Reims 12 hours, which began at 11PM and lasted through the night. The ruins of the pits, scoreboard, and grandstands are still on the side of the same country road in the beautiful Champagne reigon of France. The GT cars were road-legal, displayed license plates, and drove themselves to the event.

Prototypes also ran at Monza, and the manufacturers interest shown by Ford, Porsche, and Chevrolet prompted the FIA to include prototypes at all events in 1966.

Prototypes and Sports Racers...

Around this time, many American and British constructors began making two-seat cars that did not have the required design elements (trunk space, spare tires) that were required by the FIA "Appendix C" regulations. The American events had separate classes for the "Sports Racers" that would go on to be the backbone of Can-Am.

International Championship for GT Manufacturers 1965
Place	Car Sponsor	Car # Class	Model	Ref. #	Image
Sebring
3	Ferrari 250 LM David Piper Tony Maggs	31 P 4.0	Best	9244
12	Ferrari 275 P Ed Hugus Tom O'Brien	32 P 4.0	Art Model	211
14	Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport George Wintersteen Peter Goetz Milton Diehl	2 P +4.0	Eagle's Race	2007
23	Ferrari 275 P Willy Mairesse Mauro Bianchi	81 P 4.0	Art Model	159
34	Ferrari 330 P Bob Grossman Skip Hudson	26 P 4.0	Art Model	175
37	Ferrari 330 P Pedro Rodriguez Graham Hill	30 SR	Art Model	188
DNF	Ferrari 330 P Charlie Kolb John Fulp	27 P 4.0	Art Model	221
Targa Florio
7	Alfa Romeo TZ1 Lucien Bianchi Jean Rolland	70 GT 1.6	Best	9062
25	Alfa Romeo TZ1 Giorgio Benini G. Frola	60 GT 1.6	Best	9061
30	Ferrari 250 GTO Luigi Mosca Tullio Sergio Marchesi	112 GT 3.0	Bang	7290
DNF	Ferrari 275 P2 Ludovico Scarfiotti Mike Parkes	202 P +3.0	Best	9268
Spa
DNF	Ferrari 250 GTO Gerard Langlois von Ophem	31 GT 3.0	Box	8444
			Bang	444
Nürburgring
1	Ferrari 330 P2 John Surtees Ludovico Scarfiotti	1 P +3.0	Box	8448
			Best	9020
16	Ferrari 250 LM David Piper Tony Maggs	8 P +3.0	Best	9054
DNF	Ferrari 275 P2 Graham Hill Jackie Stewart	4 P +3.0	Best	9144
	Ferrari 250 LM	19	Best (Nurburgring Set)	97-030
Le Mans
1	Ferrari 250 LM Jochen Rindt Masten Gregory	21 P 4.0	Best	9173
			IXO ('Le Mans Winners')	LM1965
			Altaya
2	Ferrari 250 LM Pierre Dumay Gustave Gosselin	26 P 4.0	Box	8436
			Best	9010
6	Ferrari 250 LM Dieter Spoerry Armand Boller	27 P4.0	Box	8457
			Best	9025
7	Ferrari 365 P2 Pedro Rodriguez Nino Vaccarella	18 P5.0	Box	8449
			Best	9021
13	Triumph Spitfire Jean-Jacques Thuner Simo Lampinen	60 GT 1.15	Spark	S1413
14	Triumph Spitfire Jean-François Piot Claude Dubois	54 GT 1.15	Spark	S1414
DNF	Ferrari 330 P2 Jean Guichet Mike Parkes	20 P 4.0	Best	9140
DNF	Ferrari 330 P2 John Surtees Ludovico Scarfiotti	19 P 4.0	Best	9181
DNF	Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Peter Harper Peter Sutcliffe	59 GT 5.0	Kyosho	03051F
DNF	Ferrari 365 P2 Jo Bonnier David Piper	17 P 5.0	Box	8459
			Best	9026
DNF	Ferrari 250 LM Lucien Bianchi Mike Salmon	23 P 4.0	Best	9085
DNF	Triumph Spitfire David Hobbs Rob Slotemaker	52 GT 1.15	Spark	S1415
DNF	Triumph Spitfire Peter Bolton William Bradley	53 GT 1.15	Spark	S1416
Reims
5	Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Bob Bondurant Jo Schlesser	26 GT +3.0	Kyosho	03051C
Bridgehampton
8	Ferrari 250 LM Richard Holquist	69 P +1.6	Box	8445
			Best	9017