Vintage 1/12th Scale Imai Matra F-1 MS-11 Collectors Guide

This is one of several guides created to assist both Collectors, and Builders, of "Big Scale" plastic model car kits. This is the first guide to be done on the very rare Imai series of Motorized 1/12th Scale F-1 cars.  As a "side" hobby of my Automotive interests at the Woodward Avenue Garage, I've amassed a substantial collection of "Big Scale" Automotive and Motorcycle kits over the years. I've also learned much about these kits. Especially the earliest releases. None of the information provided in this guide is available in any other forum (that I am aware of), and so I've created this entire series of guides to assist collectors and hobbyists. Emphasis is always on Kit History, Identification, Features, ect. Because these guides are oriented more toward collecting, as well as the rarity of many of the kits featured, less information is provided for the actual construction process. Of course, any "build" information forwarded to me will be gladly included in this guide. Feel free to email with any comments, corrections, requests, or inquiries.

** Vintage 1/12th Scale Imai Matra F-1 MS-11 (Fully Motorized) Car Kit Collectors Guide (Copyright Unknown c.1970?) **

IDENTIFICATION: This Imai kit is so rare, the kit being used for this guide is the only example I've ever seen. I have no information on a Copyright date, or a date of manufacture. An educated guess is that the kit dates from 1969 to the early 1970's. With a kit as rare as this, refer to the photos for identification. As far as I know, this kit was probably only produced one time, and due to it's rarity, was only produced in small numbers. The kit was produced by Imai Kagaku Co, Ltd. The box art depicts a Matra MS-11, #17 driven by J. P. Beltoise. This is the very first version of this car as driven at Monaco or the Dutch Grand Prix in 1968, and this car has no Nose Wings, Rear Wing, Side Pontoon Fuel Tanks, or External Oil Cooler mounted above the engine. Kit number is 3207 - 1500. The 1500 in the kit number was the price when new (in Japanese Yen) and was standard practice by Japanese kit manufacturers to include the (Yen) price in the kit number. As an additional note, the kit being referenced for this guide still retains a separate 1,500 Yen price decal on one end of the box. The kit box is labeled in English (see photo), but all details, specs, and instructions are in Japanese. On the top/side panel of the box, Imai shows all 3 Cars in it's "Imai Grand Prix Series" of F-1 Cars. The 3 cars were; The Honda F-1, Lotus 49 Ford F-1, and the Matra F-1 MS-11. The internal contents and packaging of this kit is incredible. At first glance, the kit is definately not packaged the way early Bandai, Bandai/AHM, AHM, AHM/Imai, and lastly, Imai kits were typically done. Photos are of the contents;

This kit looks like a Vintage Tamiya 1/12th Scale kit in the way packaging for the parts trees and blisters was accomplished. The Mabuchi RE-14 motor and battery contacts are in a separate loose bag. Tires are Rubber-Like Dunlops with period correct tread pattern and come in an attractive slotted box. This was an improvement over the earlier 2 Imai F-1 kits that had solid hard rubber tires. Hardware, Hoses, Wire, Gearbox, and Main Body parts are contained on a large blister card. Decals are for a single car, the #17 driven by Beltoise. The kit is Fully Motorized, with the electric motor and gearbox building up inside the highly detailed Matra V-12 engine. Rear Wheels are driven in a scale manner through half-shafts to the rear wheels. The battery box is accessed through a door located on the forward underbody, and is well hidden. The on/off switch is located in the battery compartment door. The electrics and mechanicals appear well engineered, and do not sacrifice the scale or detail of the kit. Although not included, a scale Driver Figure will easily fit in the cockpit. Steering is functional through a working steering wheel with rack-in-pinion steering. Suspension is sprung with scale working shock absorbers at all 4 corners. All hoses, plug wires, clear fuel lines, and metal (spring) hoses provide over the top detailing on the V-12 engine. The well illustrated instructions are in Japanese. The instructions also include a very detailed parts list with illustrations. Parts trees are individually bagged, and are stapled shut with a paper label (ala-Tamiya). Overall, this Imai F-1 kit really defies description. Parts, packaging, and the subject car, The very first version of a Matra MS-11 make this a real stand-out in early 1/12th scale F-1 kits. The Matra kit most often seen, is the Tamiya kit (see photo).

That kit is of the late 1968 car, and reflects many of the on-going developments that took place in the 1968 Formula One Season. Aerodynamic improvements added winglets to the sides of the nose. Various rear wings were used by Matra throughout the 68' season, and due to poor fuel consumption by the thirsty Matra V-12, Saddle (pontoon) fuel cells were added to the sides of the body very early in the season. The Tamiya kit is a very good kit, but has several flaws. The kit depicts the Matra/Tyrrell car driven by Jackie Stewart, that was powered by the Ford/Cosworth V-8. The actual Tamiya kit is of the Matra V-12 car! It's a tough subject to model Formula 1 cars from the 1968 season. Cars were changing for each and every race, and the (2) Matra teams were driving (2) very different cars with (2) different powerplants. Matra used a wide assortment of wings, added an external high mounted oil cooler, and even tried 4 wheel drive in 1968. The Imai kit in this guide is of the very 1st Matra MS-11 in 1968. The kit has no winglets on the nose, No rear Wing, No External Oil Cooler, and no External Saddle Tanks for additional Fuel. Imai would have had to design this kit early in 1968, to model the car that they did. As far as the limited information for this Matra kit will allow, it's almost certain that it is the only issue/version ever produced. Probably only released to the Japanese home market. The 1,500 Yen price dates it to the late 1960's to early 1970's. We won't even try to discuss modern value or prices. There are most likely so few of these kits out there, that there is no way to judge values. If you do come across an unbuilt and complete kit, and it is for sale, pay the price. You won't be disappointed........

** 1/12th Scale Imai Matra F-1 MS-11 Kit History **

Imai 1/12th Scale F-1 kits were a result of earlier Bandai, AHM, AHM/Imai, and lastly, Imai kits. In the 1960's, "Big Scale" Formula 1 Kits were few and far between. All were motorized, and all came from Japan. Companies came and went, partnerships were made, and molds were passed around. The first two 1/12th Scale kits from Imai were of the Honda F-1, and Lotus 49 Ford. These two kits were not originally developed by Imai, but were released under the AHM/Imai, or Imai name. The 1/12th Scale Imai Matra F-1 MS-11 kit in this guide is a totally different kit from the first two releases. This kit was apparently released by Bandai and Imai, and it is clear that they wanted to compete with Tamiya. Given the time period when this kit was made, Bandai/Imai knocked the ball out of the park! It had every feature you could get at that time. It's obvious by it's rarity, that the kit was not produced in large numbers. I have been informed that the Bandai release of this kit used the same box art, but have not seen a kit or even a photograph. It is possible that Bandai and Imai lost money at 1,500 Yen, and abandoned the 1/12th scale market. For whatever reason, it's a shame that Imai did not produce more 1/12 kits. As for the subject car in this kit, it is of the Matra MS-11 F-1 from the early 1968 Formula One season. Matra was a French Automotive and Aerospace firm, and had received a substantial sum of money from the French Government to go racing in F-1. Matra had a successful F-2 and F-3 program, and used their F-2 chassis and newly developed V-12 engine to enter the 1968 F-1 season. The resulting car was the MS-11, the subject of this kit & guide. As a side note, Matra had a rising star driver in Formula 2 by the name of Jackie Stewart. In a Matra team deal with British Car Builder Ken Tyrrell, Matra supplied Chassis' and driver Jackie Stewart for a second Matra Team car that would be powered by the Cosworth/Ford V-8 engine. These two Matra teams, One V-12 powered, One Ford V-8 powered, carried the French flag in Formula One for the 1968 season. The Matra/Tyrrell Cosworth Ford has never been accurately modeled in 1/12th scale. The Matra MS-11 V-12 car being the subject of this guide, was driven by French Driver J.P. Beltoise. The Matra designed V-12 was underpowered, and had many mechanical problems, but the MS-11 chassis using French Aerospace Technology, made up for power by being one of the lightest cars in the 1968 F-1 field. As a result, The Matra V-12 powered car had limited success in 1968. For the 1969 F-1 season, Matra did not run a V-12 powered car. Instead, they developed an all-new car for the 1970 season. In the mean time, The Matra/Tyrrell Cosworth car driven by Stewart was a different story. Stewart had several wins in 1968, finishing 2nd in the points standings. In 1969, as the only Matra team (powered by Ford), Stewart won the F-1 Championship outright! As mentioned earlier, Formula one cars for the 1968 season were changing on a race by race basis. Wings added and removed. Several attempts were made at 4 wheel drive with no success. Matra even used an active rear wing, operated by an electric motor, that was activated by the brake pedal. Usually, any Model kit of an Formula One car from this period is a compromise. That is not the case in Imai's MS-11 F-1 kit in this guide. This kit is of the very first Matra MS-11 before any running developments that occurred during the 1968 season. It's a unique kit for several reasons, but by being a 1/12 scale MS-11 in it's purest form makes it an even more interesting kit. It would be feasible to build one, add photo etch details, ect, but with the rarity of the kit it would be hard to justify. One can still give the subject some thought......

** Kit Features **

** Fully Motorized with Mabuchi RE-14 Motor and Gearbox

** Operating Independent Suspension At All Four Wheels

** Steerable Front Wheels Through An Operating Steering Wheel and Rack-In-Pinion Steering

** Fully Detailed Matra V-12 Engine With All Hoses, Wires, and Hardware

** 100's Of Parts, Molded in Blue, Gray, Black, Chrome, and Clear

** Kit Pro's And Cons **

Let's start with the Pro's. A landmark Formula One kit from Imai (and Bandai ?). The only kit ever produced of a pure undeveloped Matra MS-11 in 1/12th Scale. 100's of parts, molded in 5 colors, and produced to the highest quality of it's day (late 1960's). Fully motorized, with working steering and suspension. Plenty of detail with a large supply of hoses, wires, tubing, and hardware. A rare kit, that if built, would be a centerpiece of any collection. Ditto if unbuilt and in as-new condition. Plenty of room to add details due the large scale of the kit. Well illustrated instructions and parts list make construction easy. A one-of-a-kind kit from Imai....... With a kit this scarce, it's hard to find faults. Especially if the kit is unbuilt with sealed parts.

Cons. A kit so rare, that if you do happen to locate one, you would never build it (you will want to none the less). Decals will always show age, even though they are packaged inside a parts bag. New decals could probably be used from the Tamiya kit (they include decals for Beltoise' #17 car). If a partial kit was located, replacement parts would be impossible to find. Instructions are in Japanese, and inevitably something will be "lost in translation".

Hope this guide has been helpful in identifying this rare kit from Imai. At the very least, it will let the collector's and hobbyist's know that it does exist. If you have found it informative, take a moment to vote below. As always, I welcome input and comments. Look for more guides in the future (2 more in the works on Imai kits).