# Surtees TS20 No. 18 René Arnoux USA GP 1978 Spark Model 1:43

The Surtees TS20 represents the final chapter of an independent constructor founded by 1964 World Champion Jack Surtees. Spark Model's resin 1:43 captures car No. 18 in its orange livery, exactly as it appeared on the Watkins Glen grid on 1 October 1978 — one of the most historically charged afternoons of the decade, with the drivers' championship decided that afternoon.

## The Last Surtees Formula 1 Car

The TS20 was an evolution of the TS19, retaining an aluminium monocoque construction standard for late-1970s privateer teams. Power came from the Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0-litre V8, the customer engine that underpinned the independent constructor movement throughout the decade. The Surtees team struggled financially across the 1978 season and did not complete the full calendar, making each of their race entries a relatively rare historical data point.

## Watkins Glen, 1 October 1978

The 1978 United States Grand Prix was the race where Mario Andretti secured the World Championship. René Arnoux qualified and started No. 18 for Surtees on that grid — a minor entry in championship terms but a significant one in his own career narrative. Arnoux drove for the team at selected rounds during 1978 before signing with Renault as a works driver for 1979, going on to become a Grand Prix winner. The TS20 at Watkins Glen therefore marks the precise point before his trajectory changed entirely.

## Spark Model: Resin at 1:43

Spark Model produces 1:43 scale resin Formula 1 models covering historically significant entries that mainstream diecast manufacturers have not catalogued. The TS20 No. 18 is finished in the team's characteristic orange livery. As a resin model, the body is a sealed one-piece construction; the accuracy is concentrated in the external aerodynamic surfaces, the period-correct Cosworth DFV airbox profile, and the correct race number and livery application.

## In the Display Cabinet

A 1:43 single-seater from the late 1970s typically occupies around 10–11 cm of shelf length. The orange Surtees stands out against the dark liveries of the Lotus 78 or Wolf WR1 from the same era, and pairs naturally with other 1978-season Spark models such as the Tyrrell 008 or Ensign N178. It forms a coherent thematic group alongside Arnoux's subsequent Renault and Ferrari 1:43 models, tracing his career from privateer obscurity to factory recognition.

## Details

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

## Variants

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

## Images

- Surtees F1 Ts20 1978 1:43 scale model car by SPARK MODEL — Vroomi
- Surtees F1 Ts20 1978 1:43 scale model car by SPARK MODEL — Vroomi

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> Source: [Vroomi](https://vroomimodels.com/products/surtees-f1-ts20-n-18-usa-gp-1978-rene-arnoux-orange)
> Updated: 2026-10-15