Vintage 1/12th Scale Tamiya Porsche 910 Carrera 10 Kit Collectors Guide

This is the second in a series of guides created to assist Collectors and Builders of Tamiya's "Big Scale" series of plastic model kits. 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. Along the way, I've learned much about these kits. None of the information I am providing is available in any other forum (that I am aware of), and as such, I have created this series of guides as a way of assisting Collectors and Hobbyists. Emphasis is on Kit History, Identification, Features, ect. Ebay has become "The" place for collectors of vintage model kits and I hope this guide will be a useful reference on the particulars of this kit. Feel free to email me with comments, corrections, and any requests or inquiries.

** "The Original c.1968 1/12th Tamiya Big Scale Kit #3, Porsche 910 Carrera 10 (Motorized)" **

IDENTIFICATION: Prior to the release of this kit, Tamiya's Big Scale series of cars consisted of the Honda F-1, and The Lotus 49 F-1 cars. Both were open wheeled Monoque Chassis vehicles, and both were motorized. The release of the Porsche 910 Carrera 10 was Tamiya's first "full bodied" Sports Car. In addition to being "Motorized", this kit added "Working Taillights" to a long list of features. There were two initial releases (at the same time?) of this kit from Tamiya. One was apparently for the home Japanese market, and the other was an export kit. The graphic illustration on the front of both boxes are identical, so in order to do a quick check to find out which kit you are identifying, you should look at the left endpanel of the box. The Japanese kit will have Japanese print below the Porsche 910 name. On an export kit, all text on the left endpanel (and the entire box) is in English. Also, the export kit will have a Black and Gold Foil "Model Racing Classics" decal that you will find on all Tamiya Export kits from this era. The other differences are inside the kit. At first glance, both kits look identical. The instructions for the Japanese kit will have a "glossy" appearance (export is dull), and all text is in Japanese. Also, the photos and illustrations in the History are different from the Export kit. The build sequence is identical between both kits, but the instructions in the export (English) kit show a few revisions used to clarify assembly. Parts appear identical in both kits with the following exception; The Japanese kit will have it's Mabuchi FA-13 Motor in a small box that also contains an unused metal bracket, and a small bag containing an assortment of gears. The export kit (if it is a very early release) will have the same boxed motor. If the export kit is a later (1969) kit, the motor will be in a loose packed plastic bag, and the small light green gear for the motor will be sealed inside one of the clear "blisters" along with the tires and other kit hardware. Both kits will carry the kit number BS1203-1800. The 1800 is not part of the kit number, but is the kit's price (in Japanese Yen) when new. Another identifier for the age of all Tamiya kits is the company Name & Address on the box. In the case of this kit, the name on the box will be Tamiya Mokei Plastic Model Company. After 1968/69, Tamiya dropped the "Mokei" from their name. Additionally, the address on the box will be 915 Oshika, Shizuoka-City, Japan. Tamiya has changed addresses 4 times, and until they moved for the first time in 1969, this was their address. Later re-issues of this kit are very easy to identify. The graphics on the front of the box are whiter and the car is shown from a frontal view rather than the side. Internally, the re-issue kit differs quite a bit from an original kit. Re-issues are not motorized or lighted, and are "Static Display" only kits. That required a re-write of the instructions and build sequence. Also, the new body deleted the slots in the belly pan for the two position electrical switch. Packaging is different with tires and hardware bagged, instead of being contained on a parts blister card. Prices vary depending on condition, with re-issue kits normally going in excess of $100.00. An original Tamiya Mokei kit in unbuilt and complete condition is very rare today, and an exact value is hard to estimate. The original 1968 kit in my collection still bears it's original $14.95 price label from Model's Hobby! That was a premium in a time when the average Model kit sold for under $2.00.

** 1/12th Tamiya Porsche 910 Carrera 10 Kit History **

When Tamiya released this kit in 1968, it was a big departure from the few 1/12 scale kits available at that time. Tamiya, Bandai, and Imai had very limited lines of 1/12 kits and all were all of open wheel Formula 1 Cars. Very few American made kits were available in this big scale. A few examples were the AMT Cord kit and Monogram's just released Big Red Baron. This Porsche kit hit the shelves with features and detail that the modeling world had never seen. For starters, the kit had over 200 parts. Parts were molded in White, Black, Gray, Chrome, and Clear.  The kit contained materials for Spark Plug Wires, Clear Fuel Lines, Real Wire Mesh Screens for the Grill, a Mabuchi FA-13 Electric Motor and Gearbox that built-up inside the engine, a "working" Steering Wheel that operated functioning Rack and Pinion Steering, (2) Red Wheat Bulbs for "working" Tail Lights, Coil Over Shocks and "Working" Front Double Wishbone and Rear Multi-Link Suspension, and a Full Detailed Chassis and Interior. The kit even had a full sized spare tire in the trunk! This kit had it all, including an astronomical price of $15.00 that was unheard of in 1968.

The Tamiya kit is modeled on the Porsche 910 Carrera 10 as it made it's debut in 1967. It was a very limited production car built to the International Sports Code set by the FIA. It was classified as a Group 6 car produced especially for racing purposes and built to be sold in the (racing) market with a minimum of equipment for driving on public highways. It was intended to be re-classified to Group 4 when over 50 cars were produced, but a modern day estimate is that as few as 15 were ever built. The Carrera 10 was the successor to the 1966 Carrera 6. It had a steel tube frame, fiberglass body, a state of the art double wishbone front suspension, and a F-1 (multi-link) type independent rear suspension. It was powered by a Flat 6 Webber Carburated Porsche 1991cc (2 Litre) Engine of 220 hp. The car weighed only 600 kg and was very competitive, even against cars with much larger engines. Bear in mind that Porsche was competing against the Ford GT 40 and Ferrari 330 P4 at this time! The Porsche was crude, but it was very light and state of the art. In some races at this time you would have found 5 or 6 different models of Porsche and they were all competitive. This kit comes with decals to build either the # 28 car that raced in the 5th Japan Grand Prix race of 1967, or the # P 17 car that won the 1967 Nurburgring 1000km race. There are numerous choices available in aftermarket decals for this kit, and a builder has many choices in finding a subject to model. The kit has incredible detail, even by today's standards, and the experienced builder can really go to town on this kit.

** Kit Features **

**Over 200 parts molded in 5 different colors.

**FA-13 Mabuchi Motor fits into a Super Detailed Webber Carburated Porsche Flat Six Engine.

**Steering Wheel works through a "Rack and Pinion" Steering System.

** Full Detailed Working Suspension with Operating Coil Over Shocks.

**(5) Semi-Pneumatic Rubber Like Tires (Dunlop) With Realistic Tread Pattern.

**(2) Red Functioning Tail Lights.

**Opening Front Trunk and 'Tilt" Rear End to reveal Internal Parts.

**Full Detailed Interior, Instruments, and moving Shift Lever.

**Detailed Jack to display Car with Tires Removed.

**Kit Pros and Cons**

Let's start with the Pros. What more can be said about the kit that permanently raised the standards of all 1/12th Big Scale kits? Looking at this kit today, even with the introduction of Photo Etched parts and all of the other detail items we take for granted, this is "Still" an impressive kit! Sure, there is room for technical accuracy, but when you think back to the "Old Days" of 1968, you can't help but shake your head in amazement at what Tamiya accomplished. Kit can be built without electrics, and no sacrifice is made to accuracy. High quality fit and finish, even by 21st Century standards. Definately a "Milestone" kit for any Automotive kit collection.

Cons. It's hard to believe, but this kit is 40 years old! Good luck finding a "Mint" kit. If one does change hands, 95% of the time it's mixed state with any number of condition issues. Over 200 parts are hard to keep track of over the years, and many of them do not age very well. Chrome is subject to fade, decals deteriorate, and the infamous "Tamiya Tire Fairy" has flattened many tires, even on well kept and stored kits. Original Tamiya Decals are not too tough to locate (for now), and tires can be obtained from a re-issue kit. If you do find a nice kit, it's cost prohibitive to use as a builder. Luckily, Non Motorized Re-Issues are still available on the site and prices are still within reach. Building the kit, one thing that stands out is that the doors do not open. With all of the functioning features of the kit, this omission by Tamiya really stands out. Too bad they did'nt go the extra mile as they did with the soon to be released Lola T70 MkIII. 

I hope you've found this guide informative, and I welcome input and comments. If you found some useful information, take a moment to leave a vote for this guide below. Check back from time to time. I'll be putting up many more guides as time allows. Let me know if there is a particular 1/12th or 1/6th Scale kit you would like to see a "guide" for.