Exterior Features, Quality:
Launched in 1983, the Porsche 959 changed the supercar world forever, becoming a legend in motorsport, winning famous races like the Paris-Dakar rally, and advancing the technology of exotic cars tremendously. The 959 was a test bed for Porsche and a signal of things to come. Today, it is as revered as it is coveted, and Motorboxs recent release of this legendary supercar was long-awaited, as well as long overdue.
Perhaps I should clarify who or what Motorbox is. Motorbox was created in 2001 as a sister brand to Exoto, its purpose to provide cheaper models to a wider audience. The 959 is the second release in the series. The paint on this model is just gorgeous, with an amazingly realistic metallic quality and flawless distribution. Panel gaps are quite tight, although not remarkable. The complex muscular shape is carried out well, except for one major flaw that Exoto had already tried to cover up by the time the silver cars came out, namely the vents located just behind the doors. In the later releases, this area was painted over to appear like there is an opening, but in fact, there is not. In the first releases, there was no paint added to make up for this shortcoming. This is a major disappointment, especially coming from a parent company like Exoto.
However, we must move on to the actual details, and see if it gets any better. Well, for one, the front lights are quite well done, with a very nice finish and firm placement. The license plate is neatly applied and looks good. Vents below the headlights are actually perforated, which is a nice touch. Wheels have decent detail, although tires are not marked. Brake discs are nicely detailed, while the calipers could be a bit better defined. Side turn markers are painted on, instead of being separate pieces. The Porsche logo at the front of the model is a sticker, and not a separate piece, but is well applied and looks good. Windshield wipers are simple, but are correctly scaled and seem appropriate. There is, in fact, only one rearview mirror on the model, and its done very well, not flimsy at all. The mirror decal looks very high quality. The rear engine vent, underneath which is the engine is perforated and looks awesome. The rear lights are very detailed and realistic, but they are not attached very well to the bodywork. Exhaust pipes are not hollow, unfortunately. While it looks excellent from the outside, the Motorboxs exterior detail and quality is in fact pretty bad by my standards.
18/25
Interior Features, Quality:
Now that's better. The 80s style seats are definitely eye-catching, painted in different shades of gray, going from white to dark gray. They have a rubbery feel to them, much like the seats found in the Kyosho Acura NSX model. The floor is not exactly carpeted but textured, which is fine. The strange-looking steering wheel is nicely done. The dash could use more detail, but after looking at a few pics of the 959s interior, it was not particularly exciting in the first place. Gauges are represented by stickers, while stereo and air conditioning controls are replicated as moldings of various colors and shapes, still accurate. Rear seats are excellent, with the same soft quality as the fronts, and the textured floor extends to the rear seat area as well. Overall, very nicely done, although more detail would have been appreciated.
25/25
Features:
The 959 features an opening front compartment, doors, and engine cover. The front compartment has a textured floor much like the interior, and looks superb. The gas cap is colored red and has definite shape and is replicated well. Doors have thick windows, which is great, but are hung on thick hinges, which have been practically abandoned by the market at this price range, even by budget modelmaker Maisto. The engine is roughly the best part of the model, with actual “dirt” effect, wiring, plumbing, with appropriate decals placed around the engine bay, and sharp detailing. It really is a joy to look at and one of the best engines that can be found in this price range. Again, very nicely done, Motorbox.
25/25
Value:
Much as Exoto models sold out fast, Motorbox seems eager to break the record, with 959 models being retired within a month of their release. The silver model reviewed here has been retired for a while and prices have already climbed. The value is certainly there, with quite good detail and a reasonable price. Furthermore, with very limited production runs, one can be assured that the 959 will at least hold its value over the long run. Motorboxs 959 is truly the first 1/18 replica of the legendary exotic, if you dont count Polistils old 1/16 replica, which cannot compare to what is offered here. Colors released and retired so far are silver, red, white, black, and most recently, Standox Catalunya Splash, with other recent but not retired colors being Pearl White, Mineral Blue Metallic, and Palisander Metallic. Many are limited editions, although this silver one was not limited to a particular number.
25/25
Overall:
This is, in fact, an excellent model, but one that has more than a few shortcomings which put it behind Autoart and Kyosho models in realism and execution. For one, the painted side vents are completely unacceptable, and various quality control issues should have been sorted out before this one left the factory. Still, its an excellent model of an outrageous car, with superb detailing, especially in the engine compartment and interior. I definitely recommend this one to all collectors, not just Porsche fans. Just the subject matter should entice you to get one, if you haven't already.
