The curious Honda F1 that costs 25,000 euros but is not what it seems

The Japanese firm Honda made its F1 debut in 1964, competing in the German Grand Prix with a car known as the RA271. Initially, the team went largely unnoticed, but as the vehicle gained experience, the results began to appear quickly and intensely.

Honda's first Formula 1 victory came just a year after its debut, at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. With Richie Ginther at the wheel, one of the Japanese brand's cars not only won, but did so with authority, leading every single lap of the race. It's worth noting the significance of this triumph for the Asian brand.

Honda had only been manufacturing cars for the general public for two years when this victory came, so it was not only a first-timer in racing, but also in the market. This year, 2025, therefore, marks the 80th anniversary of that anniversary, and to celebrate, the company has just unveiled a new model that won't be roadworthy but is sure to catch the attention of some collectors.

These are two scale models of the winning 1965 car, the RA272 chassis no. 103. Both were developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and hand-built by Amalgam Collection, a specialist in model cars. The products took approximately 4,500 hours to develop, and each model requires 450 hours to assemble its 1,600 parts.

Honda says it used digital scans of the actual car, as well as hundreds of photographs taken in 1965, to create this design. There's no doubt the car's level of detail and craftsmanship are impressive, from the painted livery that matches that used during the Mexican GP to the V12 engine that propelled it to victory.

Both variants will be produced in 1:8 and 1:18 scale. Both will be limited editions and not exactly cheap for miniatures. The most surprising in this regard is the first, as it will cost the same as a real car. The price of the 1:8 scale version, of which only 30 units will be manufactured, will be around 25,000 euros.

There's no doubt it's designed for collectors and Honda enthusiasts with ample funds. A much lower price point will be the second, smaller 1:18 scale version, which will cost almost €1,500 and will be produced in a larger number of units, up to a total of 300.

Each model of both versions will include a custom-made display case, a certificate of authenticity, and a commemorative brochure signed by Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation.