Video: Homemade 1:3 scale Ferrari 312PB FULLY functional
Pierre Scerri began building his dream car in 1978. Fifteen years and 20,000 hours later, he finally had his dream: a Ferrari 312PB he could put in his dining room. Not just any 312PB, but a 1:3 scale, fully functional 312PB. Fully functional as in it has a 100cc 12-cylinder engine that starts and runs with a working gearbox connected to a wooden knob-topped shifter in the trademark Ferrari gate. Even the tiny gauges accurately report engine information.
Scerri took three years just to make the drawings for the car and then made every single piece himself. That includes the Firestone tires and every engine part down to the valve springs. Scerri even taught himself to make glass so he could recreate the exact pattern in the headlights' glass.
When the model master starts the tiny Italian's hand-built engine, it even produces that well-known Ferrari "music." All that's needed now, as a YouTube commenter says, is a "1:3 scale Stig."
The video is from a 1998 episode of "Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines." Scerri has since begun construction on another 312PB, a 330P4 and a 250 GTO.
More photos after the jump.
Thanks to Amp for the tip!
[Source: Make Magazine]
All photos are from Pierre Scerri's website where there are many more photos. The pictures are from various projects he's worked on.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
UpIrons 10:45AM (11/30/2006)
He says he has no money as it "cost him 20,000 hours". Dude, if you're broke, get a damn job and quit wasting your time on scale models!
Just kidding, his work is very meticulous and he obviously is a patient man!
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Anthem 10:48AM (11/30/2006)
I am speechless. That's gotta be one of the coolest things I've ever seen (including Britney Spears' baby-maker).
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Proud Japanese 11:37AM (11/30/2006)
The flat-12 sounds absolutely amazing for such little displacement!
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Pedro 11:28AM (11/30/2006)
I second Anthem's comment... speechless!
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Quattrofan 12:34PM (11/30/2006)
Unfreakingbelievable.
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Heydn 12:37PM (11/30/2006)
Well, I think what you mean, UpIrons, is what is he doing being broke... with the talent and the drive he obviously has, he shouldn't be broke! I agree, amazing, amazing work
Two side comments:
1) I kept thinking he said "fairy" instead of "Ferrari."
2) Clarkson's laugh when Scerri was showing the valve springs was kinda awkward.
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Jason_801 12:38PM (11/30/2006)
That's it. I'm going to start right now, and spend the next 15 years of my free time building a 1/3 scale functional model of a 1987 Fiat Strada, complete with rust.
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Aki 1:23PM (11/30/2006)
What the heck. How does he even begin to make a mini 12 cylinder? That's unreal. I'm amazed at not only the craftsmanship, but also the insane research that would need to be done to make this. Undoubtedly the craziest model I've seen.
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Art 3:13PM (11/30/2006)
Selling the original will buy him a real ferrari. I am stunned with this guy dedication to build such car and IT WORKS.
Amazing!
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olddavid 9:48AM (12/01/2006)
That, should be in the DSM as the definition of "Obsession". But, that said, it is the coolest model I've ever seen. Should this man want to mass produce from his original, count me in as an investor.
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Giugiaro Mustang Concept 1:18PM (11/30/2006)
Wasn't there a post about this last year?
Either way this thing is an absolute piece of artwork. The detail is unbelievable.
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Vinny 3:33PM (11/30/2006)
That is awesome. What talent. However, I think if I were to invest that time and resources, I would have made it full scale so that I could drive it!
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Andy 11:01PM (11/30/2006)
It would be tempting to laugh at such a feat as being the product of a man with no life, but that Ferrari is utterly amazing. I have to respect Mr. Scerri for his love of the 312 PB and his attention to detail. This is the finest piece of smaller-scale workmanship I have seen. I would love to see his 250 GTO. Forget a new car: if he builds a limited run of those GTOs, I'll be first to buy one. Make it a 275 GTB/4 NART Spider and I'll personally go over to England to pick it up!
(I'm still saving up for a 1:12 scale GMP GT40--guess I have to settle for less.)
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Dave 3:43PM (11/30/2006)
Absolutely magnificent although I think he needs to get laid more......15 years and 20,000 hours.
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Nellydesign 5:03PM (11/30/2006)
I just pooped a little...
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matt 8:30PM (12/12/2006)
I wanna see it in action!
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Faskev 2:25AM (12/07/2006)
WOW! It is insane to fathom that he built the functioning drivetrain to scale.
Now all he needs is to find Stuart Little to drive it!
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Timothy Auhll 5:22PM (11/30/2006)
If the folks at Ferrari had given him their drawings he could have saved a few years and and about 5000 hours. If I was head of Ferrari I'd give this guy a new Farrari just to watch him build another model. Tim
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graff 6:00PM (11/30/2006)
So....how does he....."drive" it? It doesn't look like he built a radio control device into it....and said device would have to not only work the throttle and brakes, but shift and clutch as well.
It just seems to be such a waste to have such a pristine mechanical work of art, and not be able to somehow "experience" it or control it in motion. Such work was put into that engine, and he can't really use it?
It would kick so much ass if he rigged up like a Playstation 2 Analog wirless controller to it, and you could actually control it just like you would in Gran Turismo. L2 shifts down, R2 shifts up. X button = throttle, Square Button = brake. Er....and maybe Triangle could be the clutch disengagement button.
Otherwise, the only thing that can drive this car is a fetus.
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doclouk 6:58PM (11/30/2006)
that is the sickest thing i've ever seen. outstanding
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