Onyx models started in Portugal in the late 1980's. The majority of their models are for F1 and Indycar, but they did produce some sport-prototype cars. They did moulds of the Jaguar XJR-9 & XJR-11, and the Porsche 962. While the quality of these older Onyx models has been reviled by Minichamps collectors, they represent what was at the time an acceptable level of detail and quality in mass produced models. In particular, the IMSA models fill some important gaps.
The Jaguar XJR-9 from 1988 was part of the marque's victorious five-car assault on Le Mans. While the detail in the decals is good, they were applied in a somewhat sloppy manner. The 'Silk Cut' logo is missing, which is odd because many cars produced at this time had proper tobacco markings. This is a major omission, and many would turn up their noses and call it uncollectable for this sole purpose. The wheels are very crude, and although the tires are rubber they have a fake shininess and shape. The interior is a simple black mold with no detail.
The packaging is interesting. The box is color and style matched to the model with a nice purple color and sponsor logos. There is no mounting plate or dust cover, and the model is held in a styrofoam cradle. You get an odd urge to find a way to display the model in the box without the styrofoam. There is no reference number on the box or model, and it took a more than a few hours of intense web searching to come up with what I am 99% sure are the correct values. Go to Onyx Stock Number Page
On the plus side, the models do fill a late 80's gap between 956's and 962's and they can be considered 'period pieces' as they were produced when the cars were new. However, they suffer from the phenomonon where they are rather crude but too new to be considered 'vintage'. Old toys from one's youth are good nostalgia, but who gets nostalgic for 1989?
Since this is the Crisis Center, we are about sharing feelings. I did so in a recent counseling session with this model. The following is from my case files, and should be used for professional reference only.
Counseling session
September 30, 1999
Patient: Onyx Jaguar XJR-9
glenwatkins:You are how old now?
Jaguar:I was cast in 1989, so I am ten years old.
glenwatkins:You seem mature for your age. Your file says you have had identity issues. Can you tell me about them?
Jaguar:Obviously, since I was made without two little words on my sides, I have always felt incomplete.
glenwatkins:And what two words are they?
Jaguar:I have trouble even saying them. They cloud my psyche constantly, it hurts too much to even say them.
glenwatkins:But saying them enough might make the pain go away. Let's start out by spelling them. Could you do that for me?
Jaguar:S-I-L-K C-U-T
glenwatkins:There that wasn't so hard, was it. How does that make you feel?
Jaguar:Angry and sad.
glenwatkins:Sadness we direct at ourselves, anger we direct at others. Who are you angry at?
Jaguar:Paul Lang.
glenwatkins:The 'Paul' in Paul's Model Art? The founder of Minichamps? Why does he make you angry?
Jaguar:Because everyone loves their models, and Old Onyx models like me sell for peanuts on eBay. [sobs] It isn't fair. If I had tobacco markings like the expensive BBR models, my life wouldn't be worthless [crying]
glenwatkins:There there, you're just as good as them, and there are many minichamps models that don't have tobacco, so you're not alone. You have issues with self- image. Have you ever been to a plastic surgeon to see about conversion decals?
Jaguar:I could never get implants! I'd feel so cheap. [sobs] Sometimes I just want to go into the attic and be sold at a garage sale in ten years. I hate myself.
glenwatkins:We'll never make progress unless you start talking positive. Let's do a role playing exercise. You pretend to be someone else saying positive things about you.
Jaguar:You're not 1:24 scale.
glenwatkins:Good! Keep going.
Jaguar:You're not a NASCAR model.
glenwatkins:Go on!
Jaguar:You're not in a 1:64 blister pack.
glenwatkins:This is real progress. Let's continue this excercise during our nest session.
Jaguar Prototypes | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
| Old-School Onyx | |||||
| DNF | Jaguar XJR-9 LM'Silk Cut' Martin Brundle  John Nielsen  null  | 1 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 13a |  |
| 1 | Jaguar XJR-9 LM'Silk Cut' Jan Lammers  Johnny Dumfries  Andy Wallace | 2 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 13b |  |
| DNF | Jaguar XJR-9 LM'Silk Cut' John Watson Raul Boesel  Henri Pescarolo  | 3 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 13c |  |
| 16 | Jaguar XJR-9 LM'Silk Cut' Danny Sullivan  Davy Jones Price Cobb | 21 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 13d |  |
| 4 | Jaguar XJR-9 LM'Silk Cut' Derek Daly Kevin Cogan Larry Perkins  | 22 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 13e |  |
| 1 | Jaguar XJR-9 'Castrol' Martin Brundle John Nielsen Raul Boesel Jan Lammers | 60 GTP | Onyx Sports Racing | 14 |  |
| DNF | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' Martin Brundle Alain Ferté David Leslie | 1 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 39 |  |
| 2 | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' Jan Lammers Andy Wallace Franz Konrad  | 2 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 40 |  |
| 1 | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' John Nielsen Price Cobb Eliseo Salazar  | 3 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 41 |  |
| DNF | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' Davy Jones Luis Perez-Sala  Michel Ferté | 4 C1 | Onyx Sports Racing | 42 |  |
| 3 | Jaguar XJR-12 'Bud Light' Davy Jones Scott Pruett Derek Warwick Raul Boesel | 2 GTP | Onyx Sports Racing | 39b |  |
| IXO Reissues | |||||
| DNF | Jaguar XJR-9 LM 'Silk Cut' Martin Brundle John Nielsen | 1 C1 | IXO Sports Racing | LMC002 |  |
| 1 | Jaguar XJR-9 LM 'Silk Cut' Jan Lammers Johnny Dumfries Andy Wallace | 2 C1 | IXO Sports Racing | LMC006 |  |
| 4 | Jaguar XJR-9 LM 'Silk Cut' Derek Daly Kevin Cogan Larry Perkins | 22 C1 | IXO Sports Racing | LMC007 |  |
| DNF | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' Martin Brundle Alain Ferté David Leslie | 1 C1 | IXO Sports Racing | LMC012 |  |
| 2 | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' Jan Lammers Andy Wallace Franz Konrad | 2 C1 | IXO Sports Racing | LMC015 |  |
| 1 | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' John Nielsen Price Cobb Eliseo Salazar | 3 C1 | IXO Sports Racing | LMC016 |  |
| DNF | Jaguar XJR-12 'Silk Cut' Davy Jones Luis Perez-Sala Michel Ferté | 4 C1 | IXO Sports Racing | LMC017 |  |