The Toleman TG184 ran just twelve Grands Prix in 1984, from Dijon to Estoril, yet it produced some of the most talked-about moments of the turbo era. This 1:18 scale model from Tecnomodel's Mythos Collection captures car #20 as it appeared during practice at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza on 9 September 1984 — a specific session that very few manufacturers have chosen to represent, and for good reason: the story behind it is as compressed and dramatic as anything that season produced.
Rory Byrne's Carbon Dart: The TG184
Designed by Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds as a development of the TG183B, the TG184 was built around a carbon fibre monocoque with a rear subframe, double wishbone suspension front and rear (pull-rod front, push-rod rear), and a 2,800 mm wheelbase. Power came from the Hart 415T — a 1,459 cc turbocharged straight-four producing around 600 bhp in race trim, boosted further in qualifying specification. The car ran on Michelin tyres and Agip fuel, with internally ventilated disc brakes and a Hewland five-speed gearbox. A double rear wing was a distinguishing aerodynamic feature throughout the season.
Monza 1984: The Race That Never Was for #20
The circumstances that put Pierluigi Martini in car #20 at Monza are inseparable from one of the most notorious contract disputes of the decade. Toleman suspended Ayrton Senna after he disclosed his signing with Lotus for 1985 without first informing the team — the news broke at the Dutch Grand Prix. Stefan Johansson, recently freed from Tyrrell following their disqualification, took #19. Car #20 went to Martini, the reigning Italian Formula Three champion, partly at the direct request of title sponsor Candy, who wanted an Italian driver at the home race. Martini had reportedly not sat in the car before the event. He qualified 27th and last, his best lap in Q2 a 1:35.840 — 9.256 seconds off pole — and did not start the race. Johansson, meanwhile, finished fourth in #19. The Italian GP that weekend became the first all-turbo Formula One race in history, won by Niki Lauda from Michele Alboreto and Riccardo Patrese.
Tecnomodel Mythos Collection: Mixed-Media Construction
Tecnomodel is an Italian specialist known for limited and numbered short-run models built from resin, white metal, photo-etched parts and plastic components. This 1:18 model is part of the Mythos Collection, which applies that multi-material approach throughout: resin forms the primary bodywork, white metal handles structural details, and photo-etched brass covers the finer two-dimensional elements. The Candy livery — blue bodywork with white and red accents — is reproduced in practice trim as it appeared at Round 14. A display showcase is included. This variant does not include a driver figure, which is covered by a separate reference.
The Fourth Piece: Completing the Tecnomodel TG184 Set
At 1:18, the model measures approximately 25.0 cm in length, requiring a shelf depth of at least 12 cm and a clear run of around 27 cm to account for front and rear wing overhangs. Tecnomodel produced four TG184 variants in this series: Senna at the British GP, Senna at the Portuguese GP, Cecotto at the US GP, and this Martini Monza entry. For collectors assembling the complete set, this is the final piece. It also pairs naturally with Tecnomodel's broader 1984 season coverage and with any 1:18 representation of Martini's subsequent career, beginning with Minardi in 1985.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:18 scale model?
The Toleman TG184 measured approximately 4,500 mm in overall length. Divided by 18, the model comes to around 25.0 cm. Allow a clear shelf run of roughly 27 cm to account for the front and rear wings, plus a minimum shelf depth of 12 cm. The included showcase sets the footprint for you.
Does the model have opening parts?
Tecnomodel Mythos Collection models are resin-bodied and sealed — there are no opening panels. Detail is concentrated on the exterior surfaces: the Candy blue livery with white and red accents, the double rear wing aerodynamic package, and the photo-etched and white metal components throughout the bodywork.
What materials does Tecnomodel use in the Mythos Collection?
The Mythos Collection combines resin for the main bodywork, white metal for structural components, photo-etched brass for fine flat details, and plastic for smaller parts. The result is a mixed-media construction aimed at high surface accuracy in a numbered limited edition.
Why does the title say 'Practice' rather than 'Race'?
Pierluigi Martini qualified 27th and last at the 1984 Italian Grand Prix, with a best Q2 time of 1:35.840 — 9.256 seconds off pole — and did not start the race. The model represents car #20 as it ran during that practice and qualifying session at Monza, not the Grand Prix itself. It was his only Formula One appearance in 1984.
