# Lotus 49B Gold Leaf Team Lotus No. 2 Jochen Rindt Winner USA GP 1969 Spark Model 1:43

> A 1:43 scale model capturing Jochen Rindt's pole-to-win drive at the 1969 US GP — the Gold Leaf Lotus 49B that helped write one of Formula 1's most defining chapters.

On 5 October 1969, Jochen Rindt started from pole position at Watkins Glen and led 84 of the race's laps to win the United States Grand Prix for Gold Leaf Team Lotus. Spark Model's 1:43 resin model fixes that specific moment in miniature — car number 2, red and gold livery, the high-mounted rear wing of the 49B all accounted for. It is a document as much as a display piece.

## The Lotus 49B: Chapman's DFV Platform Refined

Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe's Lotus 49 made its race debut in 1967, introducing the Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0-litre V8 — an engine that would ultimately win 155 Grands Prix. The 49B variant, introduced in 1968, brought revised aerodynamics including a high-mounted rear wing and wider track, improving the car's stability and downforce balance. The DFV produced approximately 408 bhp at 9,000 rpm, and the Lotus chassis exploited it as thoroughly as any team of the period.

## The Race That Mattered: Watkins Glen, October 1969

Rindt's victory at Watkins Glen was part of a campaign that would define his career. Gold Leaf Team Lotus had, since 1968, carried the red, gold and white colours of John Player's Gold Leaf cigarette brand — the first commercial sponsorship livery in Formula 1 history, replacing British Racing Green entirely. The 49B in that livery became one of the era's most recognisable racing cars. Rindt himself would become F1's only posthumous World Champion, claiming the 1970 title after his death at Monza, lending every 1969 victory an additional historical weight.

## Spark Model's 1:43 Resin: Precision in a Small Footprint

Spark Model renders this car in resin at 1:43, the scale that dominates serious single-seater collections for its combination of detail and cabinet efficiency. Spark's standard production process for this range incorporates photo-etched metal detail parts, which allow finer surface resolution than diecast at equivalent scale. The model represents car number 2, the Gold Leaf red-and-gold livery, Rindt's winning specification from the 1969 United States Grand Prix.

## In the Display Cabinet: Context and Companions

At 1:43 and approximately 9.5 cm in length, the model fits comfortably on a standard single-seater shelf. It pairs logically with the Matra MS80 — Jackie Stewart's 1969 championship-winning car — for a direct season comparison, or with the Lotus 49 in British Racing Green for a before-and-after livery study. For collectors focused on Rindt specifically, it represents a key 1969 data point ahead of the 1970 Lotus 72 season that brought him the title.

## Details

- **Price:** 87.9 EUR
- **Vendor:** SPARK MODEL
- **Type:** RACING CARS
- **Tags:** 1:43, ai-foto, ai-published, F1, LOTUS, RACING CARS, SPARK MODEL

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 87.90 EUR | In stock |

## Images

- Lotus F1 49b 1969 1:43 scale model car by SPARK MODEL — Vroomi
- Lotus F1 49b 1969 1:43 scale model car by SPARK MODEL — Vroomi

---

> Source: [Vroomi](https://vroomimodels.com/products/lotus-f1-49b-n-2-winner-usa-gp-1969-jochen-rindt-red-gold)
> Updated: 2026-10-15