The 1:18 scale model car Tecnomodel has chosen to document here is not a generic TG184 — it is the British GP-specification machine, chassis TG184-02, that Ayrton Senna drove to 3rd place at Brands Hatch on 22 July 1984, Round 10 of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The same physical chassis was later sold at Bonhams in 2018 for €1,610,000, a figure that underlines exactly why this moment in the Senna story commands collector attention four decades on.
Rory Byrne's Carbon-Fibre Underdog
The TG184 was designed by Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds — two names that would later define the Benetton and Ferrari championship years — and raced by Toleman Group Motorsport through the majority of 1984. Its carbon-fibre monocoque sat over a 2,800 mm wheelbase, and power came from the Hart 415T: a 1,459 cc DOHC inline-4 turbocharged to approximately 600–650 bhp at around 10,500 rpm. A Hewland 5-speed gearbox transmitted that output through Michelin tyres. The car debuted at the French Grand Prix at Dijon and scored three podiums across its 12 race appearances that season.
Brands Hatch, 22 July 1984: The Quiet Masterclass
Senna qualified 7th on a grid headed by the dominant McLarens. The race ran as a two-part event — 11 laps then a 60-lap restart — after an early incident. Alain Prost retired from the lead with gearbox failure on lap 37/38, promoting Niki Lauda; Derek Warwick held second for Renault. Senna, running in a car Toleman rated well-suited to Brands Hatch's fast, long corners, moved methodically through the field. On lap 69 he passed Elio de Angelis at Paddock Bend to seal 3rd place, crossing the line 1 min 03.328 sec behind Lauda. Team-mate Johnny Cecotto had broken both legs in a qualifying crash and did not start, leaving Senna as the sole Toleman entry. The 4 championship points brought his 1984 season total to a level that would end at 16, with only a McLaren or a Brabham to beat him on aggregate.
The British GP specification used revised rear wing flap settings compared to the early-season rounds — the variant Tecnomodel designates as Ver.B, covering the Canadian, Detroit, Dallas and British GPs. The white base livery with blue and red accents carried Candy, Segafredo Zanetti and Magirus-Deutz branding, and race number 19 remained Senna's throughout the season.
Tecnomodel Mythos: Resin at 1:18
Part of Tecnomodel's Mythos Collection, this 1:18 resin model is a limited edition. The resin medium allows Tecnomodel to reproduce surface geometry — including the characteristic double rear wing with its revised Ver.B flap configuration — without the tooling compromises that constrain diecast production. A driver figure is included, distinguishing this release from the companion version produced without that accessory. The Mythos series consistently targets the completist end of the single-seater collector market, and the TG184 sits among the more technically exacting subjects in the range given the wing complexity and period livery graphics.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:18, the TG184 measures 25.0 cm in length, so a shelf depth of at least 12–13 cm is required to accommodate the exposed front and rear wings comfortably. The natural pairing is the McLaren MP4/2 TAG of Niki Lauda — the race winner — reconstructing the exact Brands Hatch podium in 1:18. Collectors building a Senna 1984 season sequence will note that Tecnomodel covers the Portuguese GP 3rd-place finish in a separate release; alongside this British GP piece, those two models document the second half of the season in which the TG184's Ver.B aerodynamic package was in use.
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 out at exactly 25.0 cm. Allow a shelf depth of at least 12–13 cm to clear the front and rear wing structures, which extend beyond the bodywork on both ends.
Does the model have opening parts?
This is a resin model. Resin construction is typically a sealed, fixed-body format with no opening panels, bonnet or engine cover. The detail is concentrated on the external surfaces: the double rear wing with Ver.B flap settings, the period Candy/Segafredo livery graphics, and the included driver figure in the cockpit.
What makes the British GP specification different from other TG184 variants?
The British GP car used revised rear wing flap settings relative to the early-season rounds — a specification Tecnomodel designates Ver.B, also used at the Canadian, Detroit and Dallas GPs. The double rear wing geometry and the mid-season white, blue and red livery with Candy and Segafredo branding distinguish it visually from, for example, the Monaco-specification car.
What was Senna's result at the 1984 British Grand Prix?
Senna started 7th and finished 3rd, crossing the line 1 min 03.328 sec behind race winner Niki Lauda (McLaren-TAG). He overtook Elio de Angelis at Paddock Bend on lap 69 to secure the position. The 4 points scored was part of his 16-point rookie season total, which included a 2nd at Monaco and a 3rd at the Portuguese GP.
