Built to look like it just ran the 24 hours of Le Mans sports car race in 1985, this diorama took two months to complete. The model is made from metal and resin, is 24″ x 24,” and weighs about 25lbs. The car was initially built from a kit with extensive detail work added to bring it to life.
The 24 hours of Le Mans is a race of endurance that takes place annually near Le Mans, France. Renowned as one of the world’s most prestigious races, it is a cornerstone of motorsport, forming part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500. It’s also a key event in the informal Triple Crown of Endurance Racing, alongside the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. First run in 1923, it’s the world’s oldest active endurance race.
This model was built by George Argiris, a San Francisco Bay area native and now local San Diego artist. As a child, he frequently visited the Laguna Seca raceway in the 1980s and would photograph the cars in action. This model was inspired by his love for Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) Class C racing.
Argiris started out as a custom auto painter in the 70’s/80’s. His work has been featured in various books, magazines, album covers, TV commercials, museums, and auto shows.
He has also won various contests and awards for not only his models but his photography, watercolor paintings, and pen & ink drawings which have been in several galleries and sold around the world. His SolidWorks 3D renderings and AutoCAD Isometric exploded views are also renowned. For the last 20 years, he has been working as a technical illustrator/writer.
