ixo-MODELS
Series – Le Mans & GT Cars (Classic)
LM1925 – LORRAINE-DIETRICH B 3-6
Car #5, WINNER Le Mans 1925
Die-Cast
Scale – 1/43
Released – December 2006
Condition – Stock as issued
On June 20-21, 1925 (hot & sunny) French drivers Gerard de Courcelles and Andre Rossignol drove their La Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6, powered by 6 cylinders 3,473 cc engine, to the victory at 3emes Grand Prix d’Endurance les 24 Heures du Mans 1925 or simply the 3rd Le Mans. The race track was 10.76 miles / 17.262 km (it had been shortened since on several occasions); the team covered distance of 1,388.1 miles / 2233.982 km (129 laps) with a staggering record average speed of 57.84 mph / 93.082 km/h (in my best knowledge the Le Mans average speed record of 138.13 mph / 222.299 km/h is belong to Porsche 917 and stands since 1971; a hundred miles speed mark was passed in 1953.) At the 3rd Le Mans there were 68 entries, 49 starters and only 16 of them were classified (finished). The team entered three cars Car #6 retired on 33rd laps and Car #7 finished in third position covering the distance of 1,335.627 miles / 2,149.483 km (124 laps).
The fasters lap though was belong to Andre Lagache at his Chenard & Walker at 9 m. 10 sec, with the speed of 70.465 mph / 112.987 km/h.
The company also achieved the victory at 4th Le Mans in 1926.
About the Car Maker
The railway locomotive manufacturer De Dietrich et Cie, located in the disputed province of Lorraine, then Germany, began manufacture automobiles in 1896 under licenses from different companies. In 1908 the name of the automobile and aero-engine division was changed to Lorraine – Dietrich. After the Great War (WW I) the province was restored to the France the company restarted production of their aero engines and cars. The crisis in automobile industry started in early ‘20s and the ’30 were extremely difficult time for many car companies. Like many other small and large companies that perished at that period the concern ceased automobile production in 1935 after the failure of their 20 CV model.
Le Mans Winner Car is a sub series of ixo-MODELS Le Mans & GT Cars Series. These models have different catalog numeration system that consists of letters ‘lm’ and the win year. These models also have specially designed outer carton sleeve (in blue color).
Few Le Mans winner car models originally were released just as a part of the Series and have standard outer carton sleeve and regular catalog system numeration even though the models are the same. Therefore don’t be surprise to see the same model with a different catalog number.
