Round 10 of the 1968 Formula 1 World Championship took place at Watkins Glen, New York, on 6 October 1968. Among the Scuderia Ferrari entries that afternoon was car number 7, assigned to a young Derek Bell — a driver better known to posterity for his five Le Mans victories than for his brief works Ferrari single-seater outings. This 1:18 resin model by Tecnomodel documents precisely that moment, before sponsorship graphics transformed the sport's visual identity.
Ferrari 312/68: Maranello's Front-Line Weapon
The Ferrari 312 served as the Scuderia's primary F1 challenger from 1966 through 1969. The 1968 specification brought a revised iteration of the 60-degree, 2989 cc naturally-aspirated V12 — designated Tipo 220 — producing approximately 390 bhp. Later-season cars received Lucas fuel injection, and aerodynamic development accelerated mid-year with the introduction of a rear wing. At 4,200 mm in length, the 312/68 was a direct evolution of the 1967 car rather than a clean-sheet design, but it remained competitive across the championship calendar.
Derek Bell at Watkins Glen: A Crossover Career Moment
Derek Bell made his Formula 1 debut at the 1968 Italian Grand Prix and followed it with the Watkins Glen round later that autumn, again in Scuderia Ferrari colours. Number 7 was his assigned entry; he qualified, started, and ultimately retired from the race, which was won by Jackie Stewart in the Matra MS10. It was one of only a handful of times Bell sat in a works Ferrari F1 car — a footnote in his single-seater record that looms large for collectors who track the arc of a career defined by endurance racing. The car wore the uncluttered Scuderia Ferrari red livery with the yellow Prancing Horse nose badge and white race number on a white background, representative of the pre-sponsor era.
Tecnomodel's 1:18 Resin Model: Construction and Scope
Tecnomodel produces its 1:18 Formula 1 models in resin, a material that allows fine surface and cockpit detail not easily achieved in diecast at this scale. This release reproduces Bell's car with race number 7 as it appeared at Watkins Glen on 6 October 1968, and is supplied with a driver figure. The subject — a specific Watkins Glen 1968 Ferrari in this number combination — is rarely tackled at 1:18, placing this model in a narrow field of resin replicas of the classic pre-sponsorship Ferrari F1 era.
Frequently asked questions
Who drove car number 7 for Ferrari at the 1968 United States Grand Prix?
Derek Bell. He qualified and started the race at Watkins Glen on 6 October 1968, driving the Ferrari 312 under the Scuderia Ferrari banner. He retired before the finish.
Who won the 1968 United States Grand Prix?
Jackie Stewart, driving a Matra MS10, took the victory at Watkins Glen.
What material is the Tecnomodel 1:18 model made from?
Resin. Tecnomodel uses resin construction across its 1:18 Formula 1 range, enabling a high level of surface and cockpit definition.
Does the model include a driver figure?
Yes, a driver figure is included with this model.
