Rothmans Service vans

Its been a while since I put up posts about my ongoing Rothmans collection. I am always interested in any rare Rothmans rally photos you may come across. I have seen all of the usual suspects any number of time and nobody wants the forum flooded with Rothmans photos.

However if anyone has photos of the Rothmans service areas particularly the Irish ones back in the days of the Metro,Legacy,Manta,Ascona,M3, etc I would be very interested. In particular Prodrive used a bus for which I cannot find any photos apart from one Rallyretro shot from the Cork 20. Stuff like the Rothmans Manta 00 cars, Prodrive Mercedes vans etc . Likewise photos of the Al Hajri Rothmans Sierra and the Cullen and Clarke versions from Donegal.

On a much longer shot has anyone come across photos of the Red Mills/BP Bill Connolly ex Prodrive VWLT service van ?

Just to keep the Rothmans thread alive I have just got confirmation that the following one off Rothmans models are just about ready:
1 Volga estate chase car for Ferjancz.
2 Renault 5 GT Turbo
3 Nissan Pulsar.

A french modelmaker has done the cut down Rothmans Range Rover from the Rally of the Pharaoes and is doing the Rover Vitesse SD1 bodied Audi Quattro.

In addition Piotr in Poland has sent me a photo of the Polish Rothmans Galant VR4 he has just done.

Finally some of you may recall a long and very enjoyable thread we indulged in, a few years back, on the old forum about the Rothmans Bus and whether it was in order for a "rally" forum to be discussing buses. The good news is that the Rothmans Ikarus bus is in the process of being built !!

I am always on the lookout for photos of Rothmans decalled rally cars so don't be afraid to let me know.

For the newer members on here I make a very "brave" and maybe foolhardy claim that I have every commercially available 1/43 Rothmans rally model in my collection. Hence the request for photos of the more obscure cars and at this stage Service vans and trucks.

Thanks
James

HI James,

I don't think you need worry about discussing buses or barges here - they're all part of the rally scene and after all, the cars couldn't compete without the attendant vehicles. The fact that they are often in the same/ similar livery as the race cars gives an extra dimension of interest.

I have two vans in my own collection (which is anything BMC/ BL/ Austin Rover/ Rover Group/ MGR in 1/43) so have a white LDV 400 van and the Morris van that's part of the 'Italian Job' collection. The latter is the one whose doors were meant to be blown off!

Haven't got any Rothmans-flavoured photos, sorry to say, but I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Cheers, Steve

I have a sherpa highroof currently being painted in Rothmans colours to go with the Rothmans 6R4.

JOB wrote:I have a sherpa highroof currently being painted in Rothmans colours to go with the Rothmans 6R4.  

Very nice, James! Great idea. Will the Sherpa have a tralier with the mounted 6R4 on it? That would be neat!!!

Do let us see it when it's ready.

Cheers, Steve

Where did you get a high roof Sherpa model?

My LDV 400 (high roof) model was a find through eBay. It was made by SMTS and was given to each factory worker at LDV as the 400 model was launched.

To be fair, the model is 1/48 scale, so very slightly smaller than it would have been as 1/43. I forgot earlier that I also have a Sherpa model, in it's original format, but this started off life as the grey panel van with roof rack and ladder and a kicked in driver's door and Egyptian number plates, as per the James Bond film. Once I'd removed the plastic pieces including roof rack, filled the holes, filled the driver's door dent and sprayed it back up, the model looks excellent. However, it's nt a high roof Sherpa.

Come on James, tell us about your one!

Cheers, Steve

daivideo wrote:Where did you get a high roof Sherpa model?

Ebay. It is a limited production model. There was a thread on here before about them. Comes in British Post Office red. I think its a Rowley model.
Edit Thats it Roxley Models.  There was someone not too happy with a sliding door on the wrong side but my motto is that beggars can't be choosers. Have it maybe 6 months.

Ah! If that was on eBay a month or so ago, I remember seeing it there.

Would be very interested to see it in it's final livery.

So, having revived a sleepy thread, it's more than sparked into life today, James!!! :-)

Cheers, Steve

Roxley models did a lot of Sherpa / LDV van mainly Post Office and Telecom vechicles. I think they are actually still available. £40-50 i think. Will have a look.

those feckers at roxley never replied to me

Mighty additions James

Just taken delivery of the biggest 1/43 model I have ever seen - the 8 wheeler MAN Rothmans Paris Dakar truck. An absolutely amazing model with superb workmanship. Will get photos up.

Thanks Juha. Sorry about the quality of the photos.

That's one big model but looks great.

Looks like its built like a tank

Any use James?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rare-1-43-VW-LT-200-ASSISTANCE-RALLYES-ROTH-MANS-1984-1986-/201615072893?hash=item2ef131de7d:g:qzsAAOSwxndXTrjk

Thanks but it has been about for a while.

I'd no camera with me but there was a very nice Rothmans MK2 Escort and transit service van at Kilbroney show in Rostrevor a couple of weeks ago, I've not seen it at a show before, does anyone know more about it?