Bburago Ferrari 308 GTB Group 4 Rally Car 1:24 Vintage 1980s Diecast #9148 Boxed

Rare and hard to find model from Bburago’s 9000 series in superb boxed condition with a full sheet of unapplied decals. Circa 1983 made 1:24 diecast metal model of the Renault Fuego raced in the 1982 French Touring Car Championship by Pierre De Thoisy, in Rexona/Avia racing livery.

Bburago’s 9000 series were lower-priced versions of existing models with little to no chrome plated parts, (often with bare yellow plastic wheels and very thin red steering wheels/gear levers), an absence of accessories and plain paint colours. Some were boxed as “+Decals” with decals to apply. They are harder to find in good condition as they were more likely to end up as toys rather than models and haven’t survived in as many numbers.

Beautiful black paint with white, red and green race livery, Rexona Homme & AVIA sponsor logos and race number 14. Black front bumper and grille, clear glazed headlights/indicators, windscreen, rear side windows and rear hatch glass, black plastic rear bumper and exhaust pipe. Opening doors revealing a detailed grey interior - floor, handbrake, pedals, seats and boot, detailed black dashboard and centre console, red gear lever, black 4-spoke steering wheel. The model rolls on 6-spoke yellow star pattern wheels with grooved plastic tyres. Underneath is a black plastic base attached to the diecast metal body by 2 crosshead screws.

The model comes in its original red and yellow “+DECALS” window box attached to its white polystyrene plinth with an unused sheet of decals.

The French Production Championship began in 1976, then was later called SuperProduction, and is now SuperTouring. Fuegos (based on the TX 2-litre model) began racing in 1981 and also competed in 1982.

The Renault Fuego (Fire in Spanish) is a sport hatchback that was manufactured and marketed by Renault from 1980 to 1986, replacing the Renault 15 and 17 coupés of the 1970s.

The Fuego became the best selling coupé in Europe during 1980 through to 1982. Variants included: 1.4 L TL, 1.6 L economy tuned GTL (LHD only); 1.6 L TS and GTS (manual and automatic transmissions); 2.0 L TX and GTX (manual and automatic transmissions). The TX was a downgraded version of the GTX, but differences varied by country. This model deleted alloy wheels, electric windows, central locking, air conditioning, fog lights, headlight wipers, etc. depending upon the market. A manual-only 2.1 L turbo-diesel was also produced for LHD European markets in the 1982-1985 period. This model was differentiated by the "bulge" in the top of the bonnet, extra vents in the front bumper, and "Turbo D" badging on the grille, side and rear hatch glass.

The Fuego Turbo (1.6 L/1565cc with a manual transmission) was added in 1983 to coincide with the facelift. This facelift included a revised front grille, plastic trim on the bumpers, revised dashboard on LHD models, wheel design, interior trim and fabrics - sepia (coffee brown) with dark brown/white striped velour seats; or ash (grey) with black/red striped velour seats for the Turbo, and ash or sepia for the other models sold with European specifications. Interior colour now depended on exterior colour, eliminating the large choice of customised options of the previous models.

Renault sold the Fuego in the UK aiming it at the market segment occupied by the Opel Manta and Ford Capri. It became the top-selling coupé during 1981 and 1982. The available trims beginning in 1980–81 with the TL, GTS, and GTX, before increasing to the TL, TS, GTS, GTS Automatic, TX, and GTX manual in 1981–82; TL, TS, GTS, GTS Automatic, TX, GTX, GTX Automatic in 1982–83; TL, GTS, TX, GTX Automatic, and Turbo in 1983–84, and down to just two (GTS and Turbo) during 1985 and 1986 as sales declined.

The Fuego was one of the first cars to offer a remote keyless system with central locking, available from September 1982, using a system invented by Frenchman Paul Lipschutz — marketed as the "PLIP" remote in Europe. The Fuego was also the first to have remote steering-wheel-mounted controls for the audio system (European LHD GTX and Turbo from September 1983).

🚛+🛵+✈️+🏎️=1x📦 Combined shipping is available for all items (even if you’re not in the UK). Please add each item to your 🛒 basket or request an invoice before paying. If Ebay’s Global Shipping Programme is trying to charge you shipping per item, I can create a unique listing from you with all your items combined. For offers with instant payment on acceptance, any overpaid postage will be refunded. Items will be carefully and safely packed for shipping ensuring that the box and its contents are well protected.