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AUTOart Diecast Cars

BH — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:03:53 +0000

AUTOart is a company that makes scale model die-cast cars. A die-cast car is made of metal and plastic. The most commonly used metal is zamak (or Mazak), an alloy of aluminum and zinc. AUTOart was created from UT Models which is no longer in business. UT Models was a company which produced 1:18 scale model cars in the 1980s and the 1990s. Their die-cast cars were more expensive than the competitors due to the high quality of the product. UT models that are considered collectables include the Porsche 993 and the McLaren F1 series. The rarest UT models are the silver and blue version of the McLaren F1 LM which can sell for $400 and up, and the Porsche 993 GT2R in white can sell for $300 and up.

Avid collectables prefer AUTOart over other die-cast car manufacturer for one main reason. Collectors value quality over cost. Actually, AUTOart falls in the middle of the price range of die-cast cars. Exoto and CMC are higher priced than AUTOart while Maisto and Bburago are lower priced than AUTOart. The Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2.0 1:18 scale in silver has recently been priced at $99.99.

AUTOart is distributed in over 25 countries. The countries include: Australia, China, Germany, India, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Spain, Turkey, Korea, Israel, Norway, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the United States.
AUTOart make die-cast cars in 1:12, 1:18, 1:24, 1:32, 1:43, 1:48 1:64, 1:72 and 1:144 scales. Their 1:18 scale models are the most unique, highest quality models on the market. Some are priced above $100. Their 1:12 scale model is limited editions and prices range from $499.99 and up. AUTOart features the high detailing that collectors covet. The detailing include the following parts of the die-cast cars: suspension, wheels and tires, carpeting, engines, seat belts, working door handles, sun visor, working door latch and door/hood/trunk lid dampers.

One controversy involving AUTOart involved criticism regarding the specifically sealed cars. Their Motorsport Division features 1:18 racing car models that have sealed bodywork. One example of this is 1:18 Aston Martin DBR9. There is no engine detail or opening parts. A letter claiming to be from AUTOart in 2006 stated that visible improvements were made to the outer details to compensate for the criticism of the sealed die-cast cars.

AUTOart has an extensive list of makes of cars that they produce. They include: Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Austin Healey, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Cadillac, Callaway, Chaparral, Chevrolet/GM, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Holden, Honda, HSV, Jaguar, Jeep, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Lancia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Panoz, Piaggio, Peugeot, Porsche, Saleen, Saturn, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagon.
AUTOart also offers serious collectors a way to keep their model in top condition. They sell rotary stands or clear plastic display boxes. If organization of your AUTOart die-cast cars is problematic, AUTOart can supply clear plastic and aluminum shelves.
AUTOart offers high-quality scale models of car in varying sizes and styles.

Disney Pixar Diecast Cars

BH — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:02:44 +0000

Pixar Animation Studios, the subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, has been tremendously successful in merchandising die-cast cars based on the cars in their movies.

The 2006 Pixar movie “Cars” was the perfect vehicle to capitalize on merchandising die-cast cars. “Cars” was the story of Lightning McQueen, a hybrid of a stock car and a Le Mans endurance racer. Lightning McQueen has big dreams. He wants to beat his rival, achieve fame and get an endorsement deal in short order. Of course, Lightning McQueen hits some bumps in the road that could put at risk the most crucial race of his career.

Disney Cars HOUSER BOON New Loose Very Rare UK
US $9.47

DISNEY PIXAR CARS MIGUEL CAMINO W SYNTHETIC RUBBER TIRES
US $16.00

DISNEY PIXAR CARS JEFF GORVETTE W SYNTHETIC RUBBER TIRES
US $12.00

The other cars in the movie were a perfect accompaniment for die-cast car sales. Chick Hicks was a 1980s stock car. “The King” Strip Weathers, spoken by racing great Richard Petty, was based on Petty’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird. Doc Hudson, voice work done by the late racing enthusiast Paul Newman, was a 1951 Hudson Hornet. Ramone was a 1959 Chevy Impala Lowrider. Luigi was a 1959 Fiat 500. Flo was a 1957 Motorama show car. The die-cast reproductions are priced from $3.59 to $10.79 for Lightning McQueen, Flo, Ramone and other characters in “Cars”.
An interesting side story involved Kelley Blue Book. It is the ultimate resource for appraisal the value of vehicles. After the release of “Cars”, Kelley Blue Book released a humorous appraisal of a popular fictional car. Lightning McQueen was valued at $1.5 million according to his make/model and personality.
When the movie “Cars” first was in the movie theatres, the Mattel-produced 1/55 scale toy cars of the most popular cars. There were dozens of characters represented. Some, such as Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks, were available in various versions. This led to a short-term shortage. In June 2006 Disney Consumer Products added to the “Cars” product line with Disney-Pixar Cars Mini Adventures. An example of this line was Lightning McQueen with Pullback Trailer. It measures 2” long with an approximate cost of $14.00. The Mini Adventures product line continues to create new models. Sarge’s Boot Camp Ramone and Flo as well as Lightning McQueen’s Team with Mater are two new offerings scheduled for a June 2009 release.

Additionally, a 36 pack called “Speedway of the South” featured most of the race cars shown during the opening race sequence of the “Cars” film. The set includes 12 familiar Piston Race drivers such as Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, Dale Jr., Gasprin, The King, Leak Less, No Stall, Vinyl Toupee and Octane Gain. Additionally, the set will include 24 “new” Piston Cup racers. Disney Cars Motor Speedway of the South is the most limited edition of Disney Cars ever to have been produced. There were only 1,000 sets made. With the widespread popularity of the Pixar die-cast cars, serious collectors clamor for this limited edition set. A website listing the Speedway of the South set gives a retail price of $2,799 even though it is out of stock. Most likely the price will escalate if buying from a private collector.

Diecast F1 Cars

BH — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:00:08 +0000

Die-casts cars have been made in various models and classifications. F1 die-cast cars are another niche in the popular die-cast car industry.

Formula One, commonly known as F1, refers to the highest class of auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) that began in the 1920s. The “formula” in the name pertains to the set of rules that are in place. Formula One cars race at extremely high speeds, 360 km/h (220 mph). The engines rev up to the formula imposed maximum limit of 18,000 RPM. These amazing race cars feature electronics, aerodynamics, suspension and on tyres. Formula One cars have the capability of pulling in excess of 5 G-forces in particular curves. The F1 season consists of a series of races that are known as Grands Prix. They can be held on circuits and occasionally on former public roads and closed city streets. The results of each race are tracked using a points system as to determine standing. Europe is the center for Formula One races.

The die-cast industry has translated the popularity of the F1 circuit into a burgeoning F1 die-cast car market. Several different toy manufacturers produce the wide range of F1 models available based on the actual race cars.

The stories regarding particular races and race car drivers are part of the appeal of the F1 die-cast cars. An example of a famous F1 model is the 1951 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 159 made by Exoto which is currently priced at $395.00. World champion Juan Manuel Fangio drove this car to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1951. The interesting back story about this model is that Fangio joined the Alfa Romeo team alongside Giuseppe Farina and Luigi Fagioli. The title changed back and forth between Fangio and Farina. The culmination of Fangio having won three championships in Switzerland, France and Spain and his teammates having point deductions for illegal Ferrari improvements, Fangio took the title in the final race, just six points ahead of Alberto Ascari. A collector item for the serious F1 enthusiast is the 1957 Maserti 250F Lightweight. Created by Amalgam and valued at $6,700.00, it is a 1:8 scale of the car driven by Fangio in the German Grand Prix in Nurburgring. There are 1,387 individual components to this F1 die-cast replica. The detailing includes: separately built tubular frame, front and rear suspensions, springs, scale 6 cylinder inline engine, textile covered seat, detailed dashboard and a gas tank that fastens with a leather covered belt. Juan Manuel Fangio won 24 World Championship Grands Prix out of 51 starts. This is a winning percentage of 47.06%, the highest winning percentage in Formula One history.

Mario Andretti, in his debut for Ferrari, won the 1971 South African Grand Prix. It was his first Grand Prix. Another popular F1 die-cast car is the 1971 Ferrari 312B in red. It is made by Exoto and is priced at $235.00. This 1:18 scale includes the following detailing: machine aluminum valve stems, all working suspension, real coil spring, rubber-like Firestone tires, authentic tread pattern, graphics that are painted on, fabric seat belts, authentic Ferrari pattern woven cloth seat, full die-cast body, 11 step paint finish and hand assembled with over 150 scaled precision parts

Maisto Diecast Cars

BH — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:54:43 +0000

Maistro (pronounced “mace-toe”) is a private company founded in 1967 with its headquarters in California, United States of America. Maisto’s parent company is the May Cheong Group which acquired the assets of Bburago, another scale model manufacturer, in 2005. It produces die-cast models of automobiles, aircraft as well as a number of Tonka products. Maisto’s products are produced in Thailand and China. The competitive landscape for toy manufacturing depends of identifying market trends and marketing efficiently. Maisto has mastered that concept; their 2007 sales reached $5.6 million.

There is various scale models used in die-cast cars. Maisto makes 1:12, 1:18, 1:24, 1:25, 1:27, 1:43, 1:31 and 1:64 scale models. 1:12 scale is a very large model which is approximately 14 or 15 inches long. Its target audience is adults who are serious collectors with an interest in high detail. 1:18 scale is approximately 7 to 8 inches long also geared toward adult collectors. 1:24 are very popular in America; they are built so that 1 inch of length on the model equals 24 units on the actual car. For example, a Jaguar XK-E is 185” so the model care would be 7.7” long in 1:24 scale. Maisto 1:64 die-cast models are aimed at the lower end of the market and their competition in this segment is Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning. However, Maistro does well in this segment due to its ability to produce high-coveted models at affordable prices. Three 1:64 scale models that are offered by Maisto include the Volkswagon New Beetle, Mini Cooper and Porsche 356A.

Maisto Harley Davidson Low Rider Black 2002 NEW
US $12.99

MAISTO TAIWINDS EXLR8 EF 2000 EUROFIGHTER 3
US $9.00

BELL OH58A KIOWA Maisto Tailwinds military aircraft approx 12 cm
US $9.90

Maisto has also exhibited that is understands what their customer wants and provides those products. They have creates different lines to meet their customer’s needs and expectations. Its AllStarz line is exclusively sold at Target and consists of 100 different models. AllStarz die-cast cars feature custom rim, lowered suspension, distinctive paint job and upgraded in-car entertainment system; an example of this line is the Scion xB. Tonka Classic lines features reproductions of classic Tonka vehicles. The Special Edition collector vehicles are mid-range vehicle reproductions featuring 1:18 scale models that are mounted on a plastic display stand. Some of the offerings for the Special Edition line include Lamborghini Murcilago, Porsche and BMW 502. Models of race cars from the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (German Touring Car Championship) are represented in the GT Racing line by Maisto.
One particular collection offers a wonderful opportunity to novice and experience model die-cast car enthusiasts. The Assembly Line collector vehicles from Maisto are ready-to-build diet-cast vehicles. Building model cars are a great hobby. By building a die-cast car from a kit, you can learn about real vehicles. The kits have easy instructions and the parts snap together. No glue is needed for these kits. The Assembly Line includes 1:18 scale models that include the Hummer H2 SUV, 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept and the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. The 1:24 scale, 3” and 4.5” kits of many models of Ferrari are available in the Assembly Line collection.

Ferrari Enzo In South Beach

BH — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:59:40 +0000

A night in South Beach in Florida wouldn't be complete without seeing some of the most amazing cars on the face of the earth. On a recent trip to South Beach among Lamborghini's and "average" Ferrari's I had the priviledge of seeing a rare Ferrari Enzo. This red beauty was parked outside a club on Ocean Blvd at about 9pm, just as the club crowd was just starting to arrive to the area.

The Ferrari Enzo is a car named after the founder of the company, Enzo Ferrari. With only 400 cars produced between 2002 and 2004, it's safe to say that this is a rare car. With a V12 engine and 651 horsepower, they're powerful and capable of doing 0-60mph in less than 4 seconds!!

Depending on where you live, you may only get the chance to see one or two of these cars "in the wild", although you will see them at auto shows and exhibits if you attend such events. The car is actually called the Enzo Ferrari officially, but among auto enthusiasts, just calling it an Enzo should suffice. Originally just 349 cars were built and they sold quickly at almost $650,000 US, but after strong demand Ferrari made 50 more, making it 399 units. The last car to be made was the 400th, which was auctioned off to benefit the victims of the Tsunami in 2004. Today an Enzo typically sells for over $1,000,000. For most of us, a diecast Ferrari Enzo is as close as we may get to owning an incredible car like this!

Diecast Rolls-Royce Phantom

BH — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:23:31 +0000

On a recent visit to South Beach in Miami, Florida I was struck by the sheer number of exotic cars as well as high end luxury cars driving around. It was always intriguing to see just who was driving these expensive cars, and this included a number of Rolls-Royce Phantoms.

If you have never had the pleasure of seeing one of these in real life, it is truly thrilling for a car enthusiast. Depending on where you live you may never get the chance to see one in real life. I have had the opportunity of seeing one of these beautiful machines on 2 occasions. South Beach was a totally different story; Within a few hours I had seen more Rolls-Royce's than ever in my entire life. I was immediately amazed their sheer size as these cars are massive and quite unmistakeable. Priced at almost $500,000 makes them even more of a treat to see. They truly are one of the most luxurious and opulent cars ever made with just about ever option imagineable.

Unless you have an incredible amount of money you will likely never get the chance to own one, but a Diecast Rolls-Royce on the other hand should be well within your reach!

Matchbox model of yesteryear
US $7.90

NEW ATC 143 Diecast 1972 Rolls Royce Phantom VI MIB
US $24.99

ATC 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Phantom V Limousine MIB
US $22.49

Diecast Car Kits

BH — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:46:38 +0000

The love of diecast cars has been parlayed into a burgeoning model car kit industry. Among the relatively few model car kit manufacturers, Tom Daniel was a pioneer in the trade. Tom Daniel conceived the plans for 75 model car kits in collaboration with Monogram from 1967 to 1975. His 1970 Mean Maverick was a Ford Maverick, a staple of the drag racing circuit. The model consisted of one-piece body measuring 13 inches long. Authenticity is present in the details such as the ignition wires and fuel lines. The kit includes 142 plastic parts in five colors with much chrome. Another popular kit designed by Tom Daniel was the 1972 1/32 scale Fake Out. The Fake Out was a Ford Mach 1 funny car with a tilt-up body, nose-down, Hemi engine, Goodyear racing slicks and great detail on chassis and interior. This is a great car kit for beginners because there is no gluing as it just snaps together.
Most major national retailers carry diecast car kits with varying prices. A popular kit is the AMT Digger Plymouth Cuda Funny Fueler Dragster 1/25 kit. This kit costs approximately $15-$20 and features a blown and injected front engine. The window tinting options are clear, translucent red and translucent blue. Other brands include Revell, Testors, Lindberg and Gallaxy.
Diecast car kits are perfect for diecast collectors who want to take their love for cars to the next level. If you enjoy getting your hands dirty with some glue and paint, a diecast car kit is perfect for you.

Diecast Car Kits on eBay

2008 KAWASAKI KLR650 DRIVING LAMPS lights klr 650
US $67.95

1993 2008 BMW F650 F800 G650 FOG LIGHTS gs s 05 06 2007
US $79.98

2001 2007 MAZDA TRIBUTE FOG LAMPS DRIVING LIGHTS es lx
US $67.95

07 08 DODGE NITRO ANGEL EYE FOG LIGHTS PAIR lamps sxt
US $67.95

JOHNNY LIGHTNING AMC 1969 SC RAMBLER SUPER STOCK FROM CLASSIC PLASTIC SERIES
US $3.99

1994 2001 Acura Integra Halo Fog Lights Lamps 99 00 01
US $65.99

Diecast Movie Cars

BH — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:58:45 +0000

Cars featured in movies have also translated into diecast cars as well and in many movies, cars are often one of the main attractions.

Corgi Toys has long been an innovator in diecast movie cars. In 1965, Corgi produced the best selling toy car of all time, James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 based on the movie “Goldfinger.” It has sold more than seven million diecasts. The features were controlled by the touch of a button: machine guns, an ejector seat catapulting the driver through a roof panel, and a bullet proof screen that activated when the exhaust pipe was pressed. Demand far exceeded the supply at Christmas of 1965.

Another standout among Corgi Toys diecast cars is the “Batmobile”. Originally, an American television series, Batman became a series of feature films. In October 1966, the Batmobile was adapted from a 1955 Lincoln Futura. It featured rocket launchers, red “flames” from the engine exhaust, and a chain cutting device.

The General Lee is an icon in car history. It was first made popular by the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard” which later was adapted to film. The General Lee was a 1969 Dodge Charger with the numbers “01” on the driver’s side door and part of the Confederate flag on the roof as well as on the license plates.

Of course this discussion wouldn't be complete without mentioning one of the biggest car movies of all time; Disney Pixar's Cars. Maybe you're not a fan of animated movies, but this is one movie that is closely connected to cars and diecast car collecting. Many of the cars depicted in the movie are avaialble in diecast form and are selling quite well today.

Whatever your favorite movie happens to me, there's likely a diecast car to go along with the movie. For me it's the DeLorean in Back to the Future, but many other movie cars have fascinated me over the years.

GREENLIGHT HOLLYWOOD SERIES 2 70 PONTIAC GTO DAZED CONFUSED
US $4.40

Transformers Tuner Mudflap Revenge of the Fallen
US $19.95

2003 MUSTANG SALEEN CANDY RED The FAST and the FURIOUS 118 by JOY RIDE RARE
US $69.98

NEW Hot Wheels Toy Story 3 Wheelin Woody
US $9.95

NEW Hot Wheels Toy Story 3 BLASTIN BUZZ
US $9.95

Diecast Funny Cars

BH — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:28:35 +0000

The early 1960's and 1970's marked the beginning of funny cars. The popularity of drag racing quickly influenced the diecast industry and many manufacturers determined that it would be profitable to sell diecast Funny Cars. One of the first to start building diecast funny cars was Corgi Toys and some of their early models are sought after today.

The first “Funny Car” dragster was the Santa Pod Gloworm Dragster. Based on the Ford Capri 3 litre, it was distributed in July 1971. The Gloworm Dragster’s body was hinged from the year.

The first 'Funny Car' dragster was the Santa Pod 'Gloworm' Dragster (163) issued in July 1971, and which was based on the existing Ford Capri 3 litre. Modifications allowed the body to be hinged from the rear, and by pressing a button secreted in the front bumper the entire body rose, by means of a spring, to reveal a roll cage and driver within and a detailed V8 engine

Diecast funny car racing now includes female racers which is representative of more women venturing into racing in general. NHRA Funny Car driver Ashley Force won the 2007 rookie of the year honors by winning her first national event. The fact that she did so by besting her father, NHRA icon John Force was even more impressive. The Ashley Force 2008 1/24 Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car diecast has a green and white paint scheme, over 100 parts and costs approximately $70.

Diecast Funny Cars on eBay

Bob Gilbertson Jungle Jim Tribute Blue NHRA Pontiac Funny Car 1 16 Milestone
US $102.50

07 HOT WHEELS FLYING CUSTOMS YELLOW MUSTANG FUNNY CAR RED LINE 5 SPOKE HUB
US $5.50

HOT WHEELS 2001 EXTREME SPORTS SERIES FUNNY CAR 084 YELLOW
US $3.75

Jim Epler Rug Doctor Oldsmobile Cutlass 1st 300 MPH Funny Car
US $10.00

Al Hofmann Western Auto Slick 50 1995 Pontiac Firebird Funny Car
US $10.00

1 24 RON CAPPS BRUT NHRA 2005 FUNNY CAR PRO SERIES VERY RARE
US $30.00

Corgi Diecast Cars

BH — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:17:46 +0000

Corgi Toys is the name of diecast toys produced by the United Kingdom company, Mettoy Playcraft Ltd. Mettoy was founded in 1933 by a German emigrant named Philip Ullmann who was joined by Arthur Katz shortley after. The two teamed up to create toy vehicles. Corgi Toys were launched in the UK in July 1956. The toys were made at a manufacturing plant in Wales for 27 years. The Corgi name comes from the Welsh breed of dog with the same moniker.

The first models that Corgi produced were well-known British vehicles. The 1956 releases included Ford Consul, Austin A50 Cambridge, Morris Cowley, Vauxhall Velox, Rover 90, Riley Pathfinder, Hillman Huskey, Austin Healey 100 and Triumph TR2.

Corgi diecast cars have long been admired and respected in the diecast car industry. The most valuable diecast cars in the Corgi line-up included the James Bond Aston Martin DB5, the Batmobile and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Aston Martin remains the top selling toy car ever made.

Corgi then entered into the heavy commercial vehicle diecast sector. In 1957 Corgi released the Carrimore Car Transportor which featured full glazing. The first gift set offered in December 1957 included the car transportor as well as four cars: Austin Cambridge, Jaguar 2.4, Austin Healey and MGA. Other offering included the Carrimore Low Loader, the Euclid TC12 Bulldozer and the Bedford Fuel Tanker.

Corgi Toys have been an important part of the creation and growth of the diecast toys industry.

Corgi Diecast Cars on eBay

Diecast Toy Car Truck Van 4x4 SUV Model Inventory Value Cost Tracking Software
US $19.95

Corgi 301 ISO Grifo 7 Litre whizzwheels BOXED NrMint
US $33.19

Corgi 461 Police Vigilant Range Rovers w accessories Boxed
US $22.92

CORGI PROTEUS CAMBELL BLUEBIRD 153
US $5.06

Corgi 262 Lincoln Continental Limousine rare blue damaged
US $12.65

TINTIN MOVIE SNOWY COLLECTOR DELUXE SET 10 FIGURINES FIGURE PLASTOY NEW 60873
US $29.18