CMC Chairman Ms. Jia Shuxiao was interviewed by the famous German car model media “MODELL FAHRZEU” and shared the brand’s 30-year history
“This car is a special challenge – it is both a racing car and a road car,” she says of CMC’s 1:18 scale model of the Ferrari 250 LM. “The model we have produced is an exact replica of the 1964/1965 design, and it is a pre-production version that already shows fine details of the cockpit and V12 engine.”
Called the “pioneer of mid-engined road cars,” the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM was actually a nearly naked race car—the car that Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965. The CMC model faithfully reproduces the original car’s characteristics: riveted aluminum panels, exposed pipes, thin blue cloth seats, and even the door locks that require touching floating cables to open. The scaled-down 3.3-liter V12 engine is as precise as a Swiss stopwatch, and the interior retains the stylish charm of the original. CMC plans to launch ten versions (including the sold-out Le Mans Seigels and the red road version) by 2025.
In the interview, CMC founder Ms. Jia shared interesting stories about the company’s 30-year history and announced surprising news.
When asked what was the most valuable thing about her 30 years of working at CMC, Ms. Jia Shuxiao recalled: “When the first 1:24 scale ‘Black Prince’ was delivered in 1995, the first dealer called and praised it instead of criticizing it. At that moment, I was so excited that I cried.
What is the biggest challenge in the past 30 years? She admitted that the biggest challenge was in the early days of her business: “The 400-square-meter factory with broken windows was next to a movie theater, and even normal conversation was difficult. But it was this courage to start from scratch and insist on using the best materials to hand-make models that made CMC successful with a 1:18 scale model.
When asked about the characteristics of Germany and China, Ms. Jia Shuxiao said: “German precision and honesty are our factory motto; and the flexibility and food culture nurtured by China’s 2,000-year history make the team full of creativity.
As for commercial success, she points to the 1:24 black Mercedes prototype built with her husband Herbert Nickerl: “This initial victory still means a lot to this day.”
Ms. Jia Shuxiao repeatedly emphasized that CMC has always aimed to “build the best and most emotional car models”. Her personal favorite is the 1:18 Bartoletti Racing Transporter: “I once took a 1.5-fold prototype to an exhibition, and even the passengers were excited.” Looking forward to the next 30 years, she said that she will focus on recreating classic models, combining new materials and technologies, and announced: “Please look forward to the 1:12 and 1:8 scale car models we are preparing to launch!
CMC 30th Anniversary Model: Ferrari GTO Special Edition Signed by the Founder
Ms. Jia Shuxiao also revealed in the interview that to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the brand, CMC will launch a limited edition Ferrari GTO special edition model. The special thing about this car is that the signature of CMC founder Ms. Jia Shuxiao is printed on the body of the car. It is expected to be officially released in April.