1/43 Quartzo Lotus 49B Gold Leaf, 1968 US Grand Prix signed by Mario Andretti
This model is Quartzo #4009. It's of Mario Andretti's U.
Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, NY, USA, pole-winning Lotus 49B. It was sponsored by Gold Leaf cigarettes, a color scheme that remains iconic in F-1 history. This was Andretti's first-ever Formula 1 race and he put it on pole and led the race until the nose cone came loose. Andretti would finally go on to join Lotus full-time in 1976, winning the last race of the season, then finishing 2nd in the series in 1977 and winning the F-1 World Driving Championship in 1978 in the all-conquering Lotus 79. Mario did all the set-up and mechanical adjustments to the car, using lots of lessons learned in stock car and Indy car racing, including staggered wheels.
The idea that Peterson was faster and would have won the championship if allowed to is complete rubbish. Mario Andretti was voted not long ago the most famous driver in motor sports history- the top driver of the 20th century. He won the Indy 500 in 1969, the Daytona 500 stock car race in 1967 for Holman-Moody Racing, won the Indy car championship multiple times, raced sprint cars, USAC stock cars- if it had wheels he raced it. Mario autographed the top of the acrylic case for me a good 20 or more years ago. He signed it with a brand-new black Sharpie pen.
There are no cracks on the case and the model is perfect. This model is from a smoke-free, pet-free home so it has no odors on it. It was never display in sunlight so the acrylic case has no yellowing.