By now, you’re likely aware of Kyosho’s gorgeous 3-inch Ferrari models: picture-perfect representations of Cavallino Rampante favorites sold in “model kit” form – fully painted but unassembled die-cast cars that take about 30 seconds to put together. (Screws and the cutest little screwdriver you’ve ever seen are included.) Their Ferrari Series 8 models are here and include some doozies: a 458 Italia, F430 Scuderia Spyder 16M, F40GTE, 599XX, the wild Enzo GT concept, a 308QV in closed-roof GTB form (will a GTS be far behind?), a 512BB LM (there was a racing 512 on the grid at Le Mans in ’79, recall; a correct livery is included in the mix) and, for the vintage Ferrari fans, a ’58 250 Testa Rossa. Still a more modern grouping than we might like, but it’s certainly making for a shockingly complete collection of the past 40 years of Ferrari, with selected highlights previous to the ’70s. Each casting will be available in three colors, red and two alternates (usually black, yellow or a more metallic red) so there are really 24 models in all, but thanks to Kyosho’s blind-box system, and display shippers of 20 cars, you’ll need at least two shippers to get all the cars in all the colors.
And so the inevitable question comes: where do we find these jewels? We’re not sure you can. Ordinarily, we’d suggest to comb international auction sites. But there’s an awful one-two punch here. First, these aren’t officially out until early July. Second, and here’s the real heartbreaker, the entire pre-order run sold out in Japan in 30 minutes’ time. Half an hour! Doubtless these will be sold on Western auction sites as well, probably individually through Hong Kong dealers out of the blind box, so keep an eye out. You can expect to pay considerably more than the 500 yen asking price (about $6.25) when you find ‘em, however.