TrueScale Miniatures 1:18 and 1:43 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Le Mans diecast model car review

One of the most exciting releases of the year so far has been the ‘Garage 56’ Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 from the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours. We have received it in both 1:18 and 1:43 scale, courtesy of TopSpeed and its sister brand TrueScale Miniatures. In both sizes you can choose between either a ‘clean’ or a race-aged ‘dirty’ version.

‘Garage 56’ is the moniker given to a car entered into the experimental classification of the great endurance race, and in 2023 that was the Camaro. It was the first time that a NASCAR-based vehicle had been entered at La Sarthe since 1976, when Bill France Snr sent a Dodge Charger and a Ford Torino across the pond.

The machine received numerous aerodynamic updates, carbon brake discs, and a larger fuel tank. Most importantly, the sticker head and tail lights were replaced with functioning ones! The driver changes also took place through the window, in true Dukes of Hazzard style! The concept was a massive hit with the fans, and that’s before you consider the stellar driver line-up of Formula One world champion Jenson Button, multiple NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller.

The Camaro ZL1 performed extremely respectably, qualifying in between the prototype machines and the GTE vehicles. Come the end of the race it was pretty much the last car still running (in 39th position overall), but ‘Garage 56’ is all about raising awareness of alternative philosophies rather than an out and out result, and NASCAR certainly achieved that.

Click TrueScale Miniatures 1:18 and 1:43 #24 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Le Mans to order.