Metal toy cars

 

Introduction

Metal toy cars are miniature replicas of real cars that are made of metal, usually zinc alloy, by using a moulding process called die-casting. Metal toy cars are not only toys, but also collectibles that can appeal to car lovers and hobbyists of all ages. In this article, I will give you some tips and advice on how to start and grow your metal toy car collection.

1. Learn the history of metal toy cars

One of the first things you need to do when starting or growing your metal toy car collection is to learn the history of metal toy cars. Learning the history of metal toy cars will help you appreciate the evolution and significance of these miniature vehicles, and also identify the rare and valuable models that you may encounter.

Metal toy cars have a long and rich history that spans over a century and across continents. According to Wikipedia¹, miniature models of automobiles first appeared in Europe around the time real automobiles did, then shortly after, they appeared in the United States¹. These were toys and replicas often made of lead and brass¹. Later models made in the early 20th century were slush cast plaster or iron¹.

Tin and pressed steel cars, trucks, and military vehicles, like those made by Bing of Germany, were introduced in the 1920s through the 1940s, but period models rarely copied actual vehicles, likely because of the crudeness of early casting and metal shaping techniques². Casting vehicles in alloys such as zinc-aluminum-magnesium-copper (trademarked as zamak) became popular in the late 1930s and remained prominent after World War II¹.

Some of the earliest and most influential manufacturers of metal toy cars were Dinky Toys and Corgi Toys from England, Tootsietoy and Barclay from the United States, Solido and Norev from France, Schuco and Marklin from Germany, and Tomica from Japan¹. These brands produced thousands of different models of cars, trucks, buses, planes, and other vehicles, often with realistic details and features such as windows, suspension, opening parts, or working features.

Metal toy cars reached their peak of popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, when they competed with plastic models for market share. However, by the 1970s and 1980s, metal toy cars faced several challenges such as rising production costs, changing consumer preferences, and environmental regulations. Many brands ceased production or switched to plastic or resin materials. However, some brands survived or revived by focusing on the collectors’ market rather than the children’s market, and by producing high-quality and limited-edition models.

Today, metal toy cars are still produced by many brands around the world, such as Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Maisto, Bburago, Autoart, Minichamps, Kyosho, Greenlight, Johnny Lightning, and more¹. They offer a wide variety of models that cater to different interests and tastes, from classic cars to modern supercars, from movie cars to racing cars, from realistic replicas to fantasy creations.

2. Choose your theme and scale

Another thing you need to do when starting or growing your metal toy car collection is to choose your theme and scale. A theme is the category or genre of cars that you want to collect, such as classic cars, sports cars, racing cars, or movie cars. A scale is the ratio between the size of the model car and the size of the real car, such as 1:18³, 1:43⁴, or 1:64⁵.

Choosing your theme and scale will help you narrow down your options and focus on the models that interest you the most. You can choose a theme and scale based on your personal preference, budget, space, or availability. You can also choose more than one theme or scale if you want to diversify your collection.

Some of the most popular themes and scales for metal toy car collectors are:

• Classic Cars: Classic cars are cars that are considered to be of historical or cultural significance, usually from the 1920s to the 1970s. Classic cars are often admired for their design, style, and nostalgia. You can find models of classic cars from different countries, brands, models, and types. Some of the most popular scales for metal classic car models are 1:18³, 1:24⁶, and 1:43⁴.
• Sports Cars: Sports cars are cars that are designed for high performance, speed, and agility. Sports cars are often admired for their power, beauty, and excitement. You can find models of sports cars from different eras, countries, brands, models, and types. Some of the most popular scales for metal sports car models are 1:18³, 1:24⁶, and 1:43⁴.
• Racing Cars: Racing cars are cars that are specially built or modified for racing competitions, such as Formula One.
• Magazines: Magazines are another great source of information for metal toy car collectors. You can find magazines that feature news, reviews, interviews, or articles about metal toy cars. You can also find magazines that showcase collections, displays, or dioramas of metal toy cars. Some examples of magazines for metal toy car collectors are:
  • Die Cast X Magazine: This magazine covers all aspects of die-cast model vehicles, from cars and trucks to planes and trains. It features reviews of new and vintage models, interviews with collectors and manufacturers, tips and tricks for customizing and displaying models, and more. You can subscribe to Die Cast X Magazine online or buy it from selected newsstands¹.
  • Model Collector Magazine: This magazine is the UK’s leading magazine for collectors of all types of models, including die-cast cars. It features news and reviews of new and old models, guides and advice for collecting and valuing models, profiles of collectors and their collections, and more. You can subscribe to Model Collector Magazine online or buy it from selected newsstands².
  • Diecast Collector Magazine: This magazine is another UK-based magazine for collectors of die-cast model vehicles, especially cars. It features news and reviews of new and classic models, prices and trends of models at auctions and fairs, events and shows for collectors, and more. You can subscribe to Diecast Collector Magazine online or buy it from selected newsstands³.

Conclusion

Metal toy cars are a popular type of diecasts. Explore our range or email us: contact@diecasts.co.uk