To celebrate its first win in F1, the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, Honda built limited edition scale models of the car. And it reminisces on the Brand’s history.
60 years ago, Richie Ginther took the checkered flag at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix in a Honda RA272. It marked fledging Japanese car brand’s first win in Formula 1. That car used a transversely mounted, naturally aspirated 1.5-liter V-12. At the time of the win, Honda sold cars for a grand total of two years. In fact, when engineers started work on the V-12 in 1962, it only sold motorcycles.
Ironically, Honda uses 1.5-liters of displacement in many of its products today. Like the Acura ADX test car currently sitting in my garage. But the current one uses a turbocharger that feeds but four-cylinders. The 2025 ADX engine produces a peak 190 horsepower and revs to 6500 rpm. The 1965, naturally aspirated V-12 pumped out 230 horsepower and revved to a modern spork bike worthy 12,000 rpm. My how times have changed.
Scale model
To commemorate the milestone, Honda worked with Amalgam Collection to build a sale model of the RA272, specifically chassis R272F-103 that Ginther used at the Mexican race. Two sizes will be built a 1/8th scale and a 1/18th scale. The larger of the two model includes 1600 parts that itself includes a detailed replica of the V-12 engine.
Amalgam spent 4500 hours to precisely develop the model. That time and work included trips to Japan and the Honda Collection Hall in Motegi, to accurately scan the original car. They set about creating 1600 parts to build the model. Each model takes 450 hours to cast, fit, fettle, paint, and build.
sale location and price
This happened 30 times over and now Honda will sell the 1/8th RA272 for $28,995. Each one includes a bespoke display case, a certificate of authenticity, and a booklet signed by Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe.
Amalgam will also build a 1/18th scale version of the RA272. We’ll see 300 examples of this version, which will cost $1735. Both sizes of model will first be available at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering and Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion next week, August 15-16 2025. Any remaining models will sell online.
“This RA272 model is more than a tribute, it’s an invitation to own a piece of our motorsport history. Racing is deeply embedded in the DNA of Honda, and this model is a reminder where our success began.” – Koji Watanabe, President, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)
Racing Importance
60 years ago, Honda won a Formula 1 race. Fitting that it happened in North America. As the U.S. grew to an extremely important market for the brand. It also started a beautiful racing history. The automaker still competes in Formula 1 and Indycar to this day.
It also helped inspire amazing road cars, like the original NSX. And memorable moments in automotive history, like when Ayrton Senna lapped the NSX around Suzuka in loafers with incredible precision.
It also reminds us how important racing remains in developing new technologies. Remembering 60 years ago, gives an opportunity to look back and see how far Honda, and indeed all of us, have come since then.
If you’re lucky enough to afford one of these models, relish the details and the beauty and the quality. But also remember our collective automotive and motorsport progression.
