Die Cast Automobiles

I can't justify that , maybe 40-50 is what I'm willing to go if it's just what I want. Too many real nice tempting models out there.

There are some nice trucks out there that I'd like to have. They are fairly expensive to me so I haven't got them yet. I did get a few Sword tractors and one with the trailer. I'd like to get the fuel delivery truck that was posted here on a members RR. I can't seem to get past the price so it's just on the wish list still.

I can't see myself spending that kind of money on a single car. However well built and detailed cars and trucks make all the difference. So in today's market, I can understand the prices. They're just not in my self imposed budget. I was very fortunate to get a good number of train engines for great prices. I don't see those types of deals on good cars. I sometimes look at diecast vehicles for fun. In my income bracket, I can only look at most.

 BTW I have a bin full of cars and trucks that I purchased in the past. They have sat in the bin for years so it tells me not to buy more, let alone high priced ones. As I type this I can glance right up on the shelf above, and see another whole stack of HO vehicles that I bought and most have never left the boxes.

Lou N posted:

When the granddaughters come calling to sell magazines, one always obliges.  So for lack of anything else interesting I got a subscription to Die Cast X.  This is about die cast vehicles in varying scales.  

I found the models quite detailed and color accurate.  They don't have any special features (e.g. LED headlights or engine sounds).  Somehow in spite of what we pay for trains, I felt the model car prices were extraordinary ($100 ~ $200).  Am I off base here about pricing?  I remember acquiring some nice die cast cars in the 5 to 10 dollar range.  

Note 1:  only once have I seen a die cast car with lights and sounds; it was a demo from the contract manufacturer that makes Menard's cars.

Note 2:  long ago I learned that all train collectors also collect something else.  So that being said, are there any die cast vehicle collectors out there that can help me justify paying $100 for a single car.

Regards,

Lou N

Hey Lou,  I collected Matchbox die cast a few years ago and still have them.    Their Models of Yesteryear actually are very close to 1:48 scale.   I just bought one from a forum sponsor for $12.  It looks good and IMO, a good value.   However,  I cannot justify anywhere near a $100 for one car.  Even if I had the money(I don't) it would not represent a good value in any way shape or form.  Just my perspective FWIW. 

I have a pal that had paid up to about $450 for 1:16-1:24 "Franklin Mint"-ish  trucks and automobiles. They put my $25-50 dollar Solido 1:16-1:24 to shame too. That price was twenty years ago mînd you

I have a few higher end cars from Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint and the short lived Hotwheels Legends line. Most of them ran in the $100.00 neighborhood when new, and most were gifts. They are also all 1:24. As nice Brooklins are, I won’t spend that on a car for my layout. I always recommend looking for Dinky/Matchbox Collectibles. They have great detailing, and are easy to find for under $20.00. Greenlight also makes real nice 1:43 for under $20.00, if you can find models that fit your era.

Hard to beat Menards $2.99 car & truck bin at their stores if you are looking for vehicles for the layout. Some diecast, some plastic, some 1/48, and some 1/43. Its a gigantic mix of everything thrown into a giant bin. Although they certainly would not fall into the collectable category.

   Bill

I do not believe these is any financial collectability in die cast cars and trucks. When my club buys a train collection we usually tell the seller if they want we will take the die cast cars off their hands if they want but what we offer is usually based on the trains in the collection. If they are scale either HO or O we end up selling them under $10 depending on the scale. If they are a odd ball scale we end up putting them in the 2 for a dollar box or give them to kids during open house season.

JohnB

Lou N posted:

When the granddaughters come calling to sell magazines, one always obliges.  So for lack of anything else interesting I got a subscription to Die Cast X.  This is about die cast vehicles in varying scales.  

I found the models quite detailed and color accurate.  They don't have any special features (e.g. LED headlights or engine sounds).  Somehow in spite of what we pay for trains, I felt the model car prices were extraordinary ($100 ~ $200).  Am I off base here about pricing?  I remember acquiring some nice die cast cars in the 5 to 10 dollar range.  

Note 1:  only once have I seen a die cast car with lights and sounds; it was a demo from the contract manufacturer that makes Menard's cars.

Note 2:  long ago I learned that all train collectors also collect something else.  So that being said, are there any die cast vehicle collectors out there that can help me justify paying $100 for a single car.

Regards,

Lou N

Are those $100 cars the detailed resin models? I've seen a few of them and they are magnificent pieces of art. The folks that build them must be really talented craftsman. Brooklin, Danbury, Franklin, etc. and others are the same money and seem overly large on a layout.

Engineer-Joe posted:

There are some nice trucks out there that I'd like to have. I'd like to get the fuel delivery truck that was posted here on a members RR. I can't seem to get past the price so it's just on the wish list still.

 

I have quite a few unique diecast cars and trucks. Yes, they are expensive and I do not try to justify the price. I buy them to complete a particular need or scene I am trying to create. I do not buy them for resale but there is a secondary market for the 1:50 scale trucks if you know where to look. All of mine are no longer available as it seems the manufacturers are slow to produce any new product of this caliber. Here is the truck Engineer-Joe likes along with a few others. 

These pictures are from my old layout....they were all re-purposed again on my new layout to be featured later this year in OGR.

Donald

Yes Sir. You are the exact person I was talking about. Love that fuel truck!

Thanks for posting again.

I recently purchased some new international day cabs they were being sold around the$40.00 rage with shipping. They are nicely detailed. Note that American style day can tractors are hard to come by since many are heavy haul tri axle with low boys. Not too many American type trailers either. Most trailers are European looking and are expensive compared to Atlas O, Bowser, and Lionel.

I was considering a couple of Westrn Star day cabs but I'm not crazy about the $80.00 price tag for the tractor alone! Again of modern design. I really want the 1970-1990's trucks but not the $100.00+ tag from Australia to get them either.

I have maybe 100 or so cars, trucks and busses that I rotate on the layout.  I’ve spent as much as $40 for a car, but it was something that I REALLY wanted.  Most of the time, I look for sale items at American Excellence.  I can usually pick up want I want there or at train meets for under $10.  I can’t help you justify spending $100, you have to do that yourself.  I don’t think you will ever recover the cost due to collectability, but if it’s something you want and you have the expendable $.....

I once spent $25 for a 1/43 Studebaker Avanti (my favorite car of all time, and a Raymond Lowey design). The seller had another in a color that I would have preferred for $40, but I'll suffer with the cheaper one. The rest of the cars I have ranged in price from $2 to $5.

I agree Lou!

I get mine from drug stores; Rite Aid and Walgreens, mostly.  Paying less than $10 doesn't hurt when I drill out the rivets to paint interiors and put people in them.

Thanks!

- Mario

I think you have to differentiate between a train operator/collector who has his or her layout populated with diecast cars and trucks in order to present a more realistic looking layout versus a diecast collector who also happens to have a train layout.

I believe most of us fall into the former category and I have always believed that cars and trucks were meant to enhance the appearance of a layout and not be the centerpiece, which should be the trains. As such, I cannot justify spending a great deal of money on cars and trucks, especially in the smaller (1/43 to 1/50) scales. I would say 95% of mine fall into the under $10 category and the most I have ever spent is $40 for one particular truck.

On the internet sites, I almost always gravitate to the sale/open box items and select from there.

That being said, I can respect full-fledged diecast collectors and what they spend on their collections. There are a lot very nice looking and finely detailed cars and trucks out there, especially in the larger 1/24 and 1/18 scales.

That's quite right - if its your passion, you will pay that high price for that 55 T-Bird. Conversely, most of us are just trying to create a realistic scene.I

A look at Diecast Direct shows prices from $ 9.99 to $ 100 or more. Somebody is buying them.

dan 77 posted:

Lou N posted:

When the granddaughters come calling to sell magazines, one always obliges.  So for lack of anything else interesting I got a subscription to Die Cast X.  This is about die cast vehicles in varying scales.  

I found the models quite detailed and color accurate.  They don't have any special features (e.g. LED headlights or engine sounds).  Somehow in spite of what we pay for trains, I felt the model car prices were extraordinary ($100 ~ $200).  Am I off base here about pricing?  I remember acquiring some nice die cast cars in the 5 to 10 dollar range.  

Note 1:  only once have I seen a die cast car with lights and sounds; it was a demo from the contract manufacturer that makes Menard's cars.

Note 2:  long ago I learned that all train collectors also collect something else.  So that being said, are there any die cast vehicle collectors out there that can help me justify paying $100 for a single car.

Regards,

Lou N

Hey Lou,  I collected Matchbox die cast a few years ago and still have them.    Their Models of Yesteryear actually are very close to 1:48 scale.   I just bought one from a forum sponsor for $12.  It looks good and IMO, a good value.   However,  I cannot justify anywhere near a $100 for one car.  Even if I had the money(I don't) it would not represent a good value in any way shape or form.  Just my perspective FWIW. 

Just curious; since you mention DC Power Forever, are you running 3 rail O gauge on DC?

And thank you for the insight.

Lou N

Thank you everybody for your thoughts.  All very interesting.  I thought it might be an interesting topic while we stay inside.

Lou N

Adriatic posted:

I have a pal that had paid up to about $450 for 1:16-1:24 "Franklin Mint"-ish  trucks and automobiles. They put my $25-50 dollar Solido 1:16-1:24 to shame too. That price was twenty years ago mînd you

[More than] twenty years ago I was in Hong Kong sorting out the details of the Right of Way 3 color signals, which by the way, were made by the same contract manufacturer that made Matchbox, Hot Wheels, and Franklin Mint cars among others.  They had a red '57 Chevy convertible and a red '66 GTO on display in 1/24th for Franklin Mint.  Not to bust anybody's chops but I asked how much they cost.  I was told $13.

Lou N