27073 Race Car 787B Model Building Set | 325 Pcs

Race Car 787B — The Rotary Screamer That Made History

This 325-piece display set immortalizes the Mazda 787B — the only Japanese car ever to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the only rotary-powered car to claim motorsport's most prestigious endurance victory. In its iconic #55 Renown orange and green livery, the 787B represents one of the most extraordinary underdog stories in racing history.

The Real Machine

On June 23, 1991, the Mazda 787B crossed the finish line at Circuit de la Sarthe to claim overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans — and nothing in motorsport would ever quite sound the same again. Powered by the R26B, a 2.6-liter four-rotor Wankel engine producing approximately 700 horsepower, the 787B shrieked at frequencies that haunted the French countryside and gave it the nickname "the banshee." The rotary engine was Mazda's obsession — a technology every other manufacturer had abandoned, but Mazda had spent over two decades perfecting. Weighing just 830 kg, the 787B was lighter than its piston-engined competitors, and its compact rotary engine sat lower in the chassis, lowering the center of gravity. Drivers Johnny Herbert, Volker Weidler, and Bertrand Gachot nursed the car through 362 laps while faster prototypes broke around them. The victory was so emphatic — and the rotary so uniquely advantaged in certain regulations — that the FIA effectively banned rotary engines from Le Mans competition the following year. The 787B's win remains the only Le Mans victory for both Mazda and Japan, a singular achievement that grows more remarkable with each passing year.

Design & Build

At 325 pieces, this compact model captures the 787B's instantly recognizable Renown livery — the orange, green, and cream color scheme that is among the most famous in motorsport history. The low, sleek prototype silhouette is well-represented, with the smooth bodywork, front splitter, and rear wing that defined Group C racing cars of the era. This is a display-focused build designed to look spectacular on a shelf or desk, capturing the essence of the 787B's aerodynamic form in a manageable, accessible format.

What Builders Love

• Historic significance — This isn't just any racing car; it's the only Japanese Le Mans winner and the only rotary-powered victor, making it genuinely unique in motorsport history
• Iconic livery — The Renown color scheme is one of the most recognized and beloved in all of racing, instantly identifying this car from any angle
• Underdog story — The 787B's journey from dismissed oddity to Le Mans champion resonates with anyone who loves a story of persistence triumphing over convention
• Quick build — At 325 pieces, this is an accessible project that delivers maximum historical significance per piece

Worth Considering

• Small scale — At 325 pieces, this is a compact display model; don't expect the detail level of larger builds
• Static display only — No opening panels or mechanical features at this piece count
• Prototype design — Group C racing cars have an abstract, aerodynamic beauty that differs significantly from road car models

Specifications

The Bottom Line

The 787B is 325 pieces of pure motorsport legend. No other car in this collection carries the weight of history that the Mazda 787B does — the only Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans, using an engine technology everyone else abandoned, screaming at frequencies that made grown adults cover their ears. If you buy one racing car model for your collection, this compact tribute to the greatest underdog victory in endurance racing history deserves serious consideration.