Porsche 911 SC Team Lopes Correia No. 43 Gonçalves Oliveira Rally of Portugal 1979 Trofeu 1:43

Trofeu — the die-cast specialist founded in 1989 and based in Espinho, Portugal — occupies a unique position in rally modelling: it reproduces exactly the kind of privateer entries that period photography captured but wider-market manufacturers have always overlooked. This piece is one of those releases. The white-and-blue Porsche 911 SC of Team Lopes Correia, car #43, started WRC Round 3 of 1979 in Estoril and ran through 23 special stages before an accident ended its rally on SS24.

The Porsche 911 SC: G-Series Rally Weapon

Introduced for model year 1978, the 911 SC (Super Carrera) replaced both the 911 S and the Carrera within the wider G-series bodyshell. Its 3.0-litre Type 930/03 air-cooled flat-six — 2994 cc, Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, 180 bhp at 5500 rpm in road trim — was a de-tuned derivative of the 930 Turbo's normally aspirated unit, which gave it a reputation for structural robustness and considerable tuning headroom. The overall body length of 4291 mm and a 2272 mm wheelbase made the SC a physically substantial competitor on the mixed tarmac and gravel of WRC events.

WRC Round 3, 1979: Forty-Five Stages and a Nocturnal Itinerary

The 1979 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto ran 6–11 March from Autódromo do Estoril across approximately 737.5 competitive kilometres split over 45 special stages. Of 88 starters, only 16 reached the finish — Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz taking overall victory in a Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII. The rally's overnight sections, departing Estoril Park Fermé at 22:00 and running past 05:00, gave the event a particular reputation for attrition. José Gonçalves and co-driver Miguel Oliveira — a pairing that competed together from 1978 through 1980 under Team Lopes Correia — carried registration plate HG-39-89 and were classified 4th in class among 10 class starters before their retirement on SS24.

The Night Version Designation

Trofeu applies the "night version" sub-series designation to models depicting cars in the context of the rally's nocturnal stages. It is a product-series attribute identifying the overnight-stage configuration, and it reflects the atmospheric and historically significant conditions under which these Portuguese rounds were contested.

The 1:43 Scale Model: Trofeu Die-Cast Construction

Trofeu constructs its 1:43 range in die-cast metal mounted on a plastic chassis — a traditional construction format that suits the density and precision required at this scale. The model reproduces car #43 in its documented white-and-blue livery. Opening parts are not confirmed for this model; surface and livery accuracy is where Trofeu concentrates its fidelity at 1:43. Production is strictly limited to 150 units, with delivery scheduled for Q3 2026.

In the Display Cabinet

At 1:43 and approximately 10.0 cm in length, this model fits naturally into a standard single-shelf rally cabinet. The obvious companion pieces are the sibling Trofeu night-version releases from the same 1979 Rally of Portugal: the Porsche 911 Carrera RS Coupe of António Diegues (#24, orange livery) and the Opel Kadett GTE of Anders Kullang (#6). Together they reconstruct a credible slice of the 1979 WRC field. For collectors focused on the air-cooled 911 G-series, this piece bridges the road-car collection with a documented, event-specific rally entry.