The 4 Heures du Mans, held on 20 May 1973, sits quietly in the shadow of its 24-hour sibling — yet it produced results that matter to any serious Porsche historian. Gijs van Lennep and Herbert Müller brought car number 62 home first overall, adding another chapter to one of the most productive driver–manufacturer partnerships of the early 1970s. Trofeu has translated that win into a die-cast 1:43 scale model with the precision and commitment to period detail that collectors associate with the marque.
The 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 — Porsche's Front-Line GT Weapon in 1973
Homologated for GT competition at the start of 1973, the 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 was built around a bored-out 2.8-litre flat-six producing approximately 308 bhp, air-cooled and rear-mounted in the classic Porsche manner. Wide rear wheel arches accommodated broader rubber, a pronounced duck-tail spoiler managed aerodynamic balance, and the suspension was revised specifically for race use. These changes over the road-going Carrera RS 2.7 transformed the platform into a front-rank GT contender capable of challenging prototypes on fast, flowing circuits.
Number 62 at the Sarthe: Van Lennep, Müller and the Martini Stripe
Martini & Rossi had been backing Porsche's factory and semi-factory programmes, and by 1973 their white base with diagonal blue, red and silver-blue stripes was among the most recognisable liveries in international motorsport. On 20 May 1973, van Lennep — already a 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours winner in Porsche machinery — and Swiss regular Herbert Müller qualified and raced car 62 to an outright win.
A 1:43 Scale Model from Trofeu's Specialist Range
Trofeu is a Portuguese manufacturer with a long-established focus on endurance and rally subjects at 1:43, covering events and liveries that the larger houses routinely bypass. The 911 Carrera RSR is rendered in die-cast metal, faithfully reproducing the Martini Racing colour scheme — white base, blue and red diagonal stripes — as carried by number 62 in May 1973. Trofeu's DSN series is aimed at collectors who value historical accuracy over high street availability, and this release exemplifies that approach: a correctly documented winner from a race that most catalogues overlook.
In the Display Cabinet
Within a 1:43 collection, this model stands out for its striking Martini Racing livery — white base with diagonal blue, red and silver-blue stripes — and the historical significance of race number 62. The confirmed 4 Heures du Mans win makes it a primary historical reference, not a variant or tribute livery.
Frequently asked questions
What race does this model represent?
The 4 Heures du Mans (4 Hours of Le Mans), held on 20 May 1973. This is a separate event from the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Who drove car number 62 to victory?
Gijs van Lennep (Netherlands) and Herbert Müller (Switzerland), racing for Martini Racing. Van Lennep had previously co-won the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche.
What is the Martini Racing livery on this model?
A white base with the characteristic diagonal Martini stripes in blue, red and silver-blue — the scheme Martini & Rossi used on Porsche factory and semi-factory entries.
Who makes this model and what material is it made from?
Trofeu, a Portuguese specialist in 1:43 die-cast models, manufactured this piece in die-cast metal as part of their DSN range, which covers endurance and rally subjects often absent from mainstream catalogues.
