Marsh Models MM357B50 Porsche 908/2 LH Flunder #50 'Larrousse - Lins’ 14th pl oa Monza 1000km 1970

Marsh Models MM357B50 Porsche 908/2 LH Flunder #50 'Gérard Larrousse - Rudi Lins’ 14th pl oa Monza 1000km 1970, a 1/43rd scale handbuilt resin model.

Description

MODEL OVERVIEW

The Porsche 908/2 Flunder LH (Langheck/Long Tail) represents one of the most successful and iconic racing prototypes of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The "Flunder" (flounder in English) nickname came from its distinctive flat, fish-like aerodynamic profile designed to reduce drag on high-speed circuits.

Technical Specifications:

• Engine: 3.0-liter (2,997cc) Type 771 air-cooled flat-eight
• Power: 350 HP @ 8,400 RPM
• Weight: 648 kg (1,428 lbs) - lightest of the 3-liter prototypes
• Transmission: 5-speed manual transaxle
• Fuel System: Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection
• Construction: Ultra-thin fiberglass body on tubular steel frame

The Flunder body featured re-profiled paneling with a cleaner nose, smaller oil-cooler intake, waisted sills, flattened wheel-arch humps, and a more tightly enclosing cockpit. For Le Mans, the Long Tail variant added significant rear bodywork for high-speed stability on the Mulsanne Straight.

MM357B50 - #50 LARROUSSE/LINS

1000km of Monza, April 25, 1970 - 14th Overall

Race Details:

• Race: 1000 Chilometri di Monza
• Date: April 25, 1970
• Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy (Road Course Only)
• Team: Martini International Racing Team
• Drivers: Gérard Larrousse (FRA) / Rudi Lins (AUT)
• Car Number: #50
• Result: 14th Overall / P3.0 Class
• Distance: 157 laps completed
• Livery: Martini Racing - White with red and blue stripes

Race Summary

The 1970 1000km of Monza was the fourth round of the International Championship for Makes. This was the first official 1000km race at Monza that used only the road course configuration, abandoning the combined road/banking circuit used in previous years. This made the circuit more technical and less about pure speed.

Gérard Larrousse and Rudi Lins drove the #50 Martini Racing 908/2 LH Flunder to a solid 14th overall finish in a highly competitive field. The race was dominated by the larger 5-liter prototypes, with Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver winning in a JW Automotive Gulf Porsche 917.

While 14th might seem modest, it represented a respectable finish in a brutal race where many faster cars failed. The 908 completed 157 laps, demonstrating the car's fundamental reliability even when not in contention for overall victory. This consistency would pay dividends at Le Mans two months later when the same driver pairing (with roles reversed - Marko/Lins) would score a podium finish.

Race Context

The 1970 Monza 1000km featured intense competition:

• Winner: #25 Porsche 917K (Rodriguez/Oliver)
• 2nd Place: #26 Porsche 917K (Siffert/Redman)
• Multiple Ferrari 512S and Alfa Romeo T33/3 entries
• Matra MS660 prototypes
• Various 3-liter prototypes including multiple 908s

The #50 car finished ahead of several other competitors including:

• Position 13: #41 Alfa Romeo T33/3 (158 laps)
• Position 15: #53 Porsche 907 (144 laps)
• Position 16: #16 Lola T70 Mk.3B (143 laps)

Driver Biographies

Gérard Larrousse: Legendary French driver who was a Porsche factory pilot during 1969-1971. He would later win Le Mans twice (1973-1974) driving for Matra. Nearly won Le Mans in 1969, finishing 2nd by just 120 meters in a 908 LH Coupe. One of the most successful endurance drivers of his era.

Rudi Lins: Austrian Porsche Salzburg regular who proved his consistency and reliability. Competed in 20 races with the 908, making him one of the most experienced pilots of the car.

Championship Significance

The 1970 season saw Porsche continuing to combine the brutal power of the 917 with the nimble precision of the 908 on technical circuits. While the 917s dominated fast tracks like Monza, the 908s provided valuable championship points and class wins.

Larrousse was one of the most frequent 908 drivers with 20 race starts, placing him among the most experienced pilots of this legendary prototype. His partnership with various teammates showcased the 908's versatility across different circuit types.