Every car person started somewhere. Some are born into the hobby, imbibing the sweet smell of an over-rich mixture on the way home from the hospital. Some are indoctrinated through family members and their automotive proclivities. Some latch on to a family heirloom ’65 Mustang and never truly recover. Some were allowed free reign in the toy aisles of the department stores of their youth. Some, like me, can check most of the boxes, but toy cars played no small part in making me the all-encompassing car person I am today, and I still spend way too much time in the toy aisle. Here are a few of my latest acquisitions.
The lead image shows a model from Auto World (AW), and represents a ’64 Barracuda modeled from the original dealer brochure. The car highlights every available color in the Barracuda line, and has to be one of the highlights of my collection, because who would do that? It has to be one of the weirdest toy cars in the world: an obscure paint scheme on a car that has a limited collector following. I love it!
I spotted this model on lamleygroup.com, a blog dedicated to toy car collecting. My lovely bride bought it online and gave it to me as a gift (along with the original brochure, because she’s the coolest person I’ve ever met). I like the toy even more because my Dirty Dart‘s color is the third from the rear–Medium Turquoise.
In real life, I’d prefer a ’68 Formula S with a 340/four-speed combination, but this will do for my toy collection. It’s one my favorites.
Three examples from my General Motors collection are built by Johnny Lightning, and represent my long-standing affinity for ’65 Catalina hardtops, which is well-documented here. They are 2+2 models, in Iris Mist, Mayfair Maize, and what looks like Nightwatch Blue.
I’ve been assembling this small collection over the last several years, because a real ’65 Catalina is too big for the space I have available in my garage. My ’63 T-Bird and ’53 Buick both measure in at around 205″ long, and that’s about the limit if I want to fit four cars in there. It’s too bad, because these Catalinas are my favorite big ’60s cars.
The dealer brochure for the ’65 Pontiac lineup, and the 2+2 in particular, features the best car art of all time: Fitz-Van car art. I have a sizable collection of these advertisements from old magazines, another hobby that takes up its share of space in my house.
Finally, I have two strange ’70s bedfellows, a Matchbox ’75 Caprice and a Hot Wheels ’71 Mach 1. My dear mother found the Caprice online and bought it for me (have I ever mentioned how lucky a guy I am?), and I found the Mustang on eBay. This isn’t the first time these two have occupied a place in my mind: See here.
The Mach 1 is a replica of the James Bond car from the underwhelming Diamonds are Forever. Even though the movie was a bit of a letdown, the car was great. I have a family connection to ’71 Mach 1s: Before I was born, my dad rocked a Grabber Lime ’71 with a 351 Cleveland four-barrel. I’ve been trying to talk him into buying another one so I don’t have to, but he hasn’t yet relented.
As an aside, this Auto World ’71 in Grabber Lime will have to suffice until he does.
The Caprice is an interesting new model from Matchbox. It seems like a risk to introduce new tooling for a car that isn’t exactly an A-list object of desire, but apparently customizers have eagerly anticipated its arrival. I just like ’70s full-size Chevrolets, so I wanted it as soon as I heard about it.
These are just a few examples of toys I’ve picked up over the last few months, as I eagerly pore over the toy aisles in much the same way I peruse collector car classifieds. It would make much more sense to simply collect miniature cars, but I’m too far gone for that.
Even if the space situation in the garage isn’t getting any better, I find that there’s always room for smaller fare. If your inclinations lead you in the same direction, good luck in your shopping endeavors.
Cool stuff, Aaron. But don’t you have as many real cars as you do models? 🙂
I have been a little afraid to start collecting models, I could see myself losing control.
I love the garage, you remind me of the way I used to park two big cars in mine with each one skinnied up to one side to leave enough room to get in and our from the “middle aisle”.
I need Jay Leno kind of room and money….then I’ll REALLY start collecting. 🙂 Regarding the fear of losing control of your collection…that’s why I don’t collect records. That would turn into a nightmare!
Very nice stuff! The Caprice really surprises me — for one, like you said, it’s not exactly a model that’s on (most) people’s minds today, but also I though Matchbox quit making realistic-looking cars a few years ago, and began focusing exclusively on Hot Wheels-type models. I’m glad that’s not the case.
Also, I thought I’d update your Barracuda with a modern color palette:
Exactly
Is the third color back Galaxy Silver or Liquid Silver metallic? Could be Light Frost Moon Granite too.
I dunno Tom, I was thinking Grumman Graphite or Bright Alcoa.
“Despair Gray Sparkle”
How about “Test Pattern Monochrome”?
Eric 703,
Hilarious! The malaise era American cars are the rarest and hardest to find in 1/64 scale. I am happy when they make them. Ive had to make some myself. Auto World does a good job. I just got a 1974 Buick Estate wagon on eBay. It is beautifully done.
I did some ‘car-shopping’ online, especially the US websites of several European marquees.
If I wanted Audi Q8 in a very gorgeous shade of blue, Navarra Blue metallic, this colour is available only on Premium Plus and Prestige and cannot be a stand-alone option unless you shell out the ‘extortion fee’ of $2,650 for Year One Package with black-out trim (a.k.a. S-Line package) and $400 for red brake calipers. As a consolidation prize, a free set of gargantuan 22″ Audi Sport® 5-V-spoke-star design Anthracite wheels with 285/40 all-season tires.
No ‘extortion fee’ is extended to the depressing palette of white, grey, silver, and black.
Go figure…
Too true! If you want an actual color, it’ll cost you an extra thousand dollars.
hehehehehehehe
Very sharp collection on both accounts! A vintage motorcycle would fit that space in your garage nicely. That was my solution some years ago.
That’s one thing my lovely bride has said no to…
but I’d love a ’60s Triumph or BSA, or maybe a ’70s Honda……….
These are the survivors from my pubescent and early teen years. A nice selection, if I say so myself. I used authentic colors via touch up spray cans of the day. That authenticity led to actually taking a trophy when I entered the 65 Chrysler 300 in Light Iris in a model car contest sponsored by Woolworths in 1965. I have a very comfortably sized collection, some unbuilt, from when I got back into the hobby in the 90s. Also a good selection of diecasts in mostly 1:18 scale but some in 1:24 and 1:26 scale as well. I was lucky in I showed an interest in cars quite early and my parents obliged in getting me a variety of automotive themed toys through my childhood. Wish I still had them.
Nice collection Jason! I also use real car paints like Dupli Color, and Plastic Cote. The trick is to prime the models with a flat gray or black spray primer like Krylon, let the primer dry for a few days, and apply two or three thin coats of your final color. Once the paint is dry, and the bare metal foil has been applied, you can put on a gloss overcoat like Testor`s Quick Coat clear, or brush on Future floor wax. It will dry and level without any brush marks, and the effort is really worth it.
Wow, that collection is right up my alley. Not a bad car in the bunch!
Now you’re speaking my language! I collect 1/64-ish scale vehicles. I have about 600 at this point. I went really crazy around 2011-2013, but now it’s just a couple a month. Mostly because I have pretty much what I wanted now. I also rebuild and make new models that nobody makes. Anyway, regarding the “Bond” Mustang, I found one on a rack full of them that has the same size wheels on the back as the front. Occasionally you can find oddballs like that. That Caprice isn’t in stores by me yet, but I got the other nice $2.00 Matchboxes with the movable parts. Nice to see that as a feature again. Nothing like the old quality through the 80s but a step in the right direction. EBay has everything but I like the searching for them in stores/shows/flea markets. EBay is necessary for the foreign brands and classic models.
I used to have a 2 1/2 car garage that was completely full with a town layout. It was huge. I didn’t have to be concerned with space and me and my two sons built it over 3 years. It was pretty awesome. But we had to move after a double job-loss in 2014. I have video of it but it’s on Super 8 analog tape and I have no idea how I would convert it. I don’t even know how to post pics on this site. But if anyone wanted to see a specific model or handmade car I could learn. They are all on a room-long dresser in my bedroom now. I just cleaned them yesterday and it took three hours. You gotta want it, like anything else.
I like the moving part Matchbox cars…I picked up the Volkswagen Type 3 and the purple (?) ’64 Grand Prix recently.
Purple would have been the Superfast version
http://www.realpriceguides.com/matchbox/catalogs/1970/p21.jpg
Previously it was red
http://www.realpriceguides.com/matchbox/catalogs/1969/o9.jpg
Matchbox has new castings of some of their classic models. Not as nice as the originals, but really great for a modern Matchbox. They are about $2.00. I’d buy whatever they’d make for that.
I“m an avid car model builder, but I prefer the plastic models in 1-25 or 1-24th scale. I do have some small die-casts, probably in 1-43 scale. I grew up with the hobby from the early 60s on, and belong to a few scale model clubs in NJ. I hate to say it, but us middle aged and older folks are the ‘keepers of the flame’ when it comes to building models. With prices for models rising, many hobby shops closing, and millennials showing no interest in the hobby, I wonder how much longer it will last. Anyway, it WAS fun while it lasted.And, best of all, have somthing to show for the money I spent.
Another avid builder here. I’m away from home at the moment or I’d throw in a few pics too. Occasionally I buy a special diecast, but I’m more of a builder.
Last month I combined the two by repainting an old Dinky ’49 Ford sedan for a friend, in the original factory colours. I’ll show a pic here in a few days.
great car model website
jsmcc builders|chadacuda-public.fotki.com
Here’s Chris’s Dinky ’49. He didn’t want me filing the window openings to correct them, so it’s just a stock repaint with a bit of extra silver trim.
In the early 60’s the cool kids built model cars. AMT!🤘
Wooo! now youre talking.. I was shopping up a storm at our local toy fair this weekend. Like an Aladdin’s Cave. I can’t help myself..
What a great collection and piece! That Mach 1 sportsroof has me thinking I want to re-watch “Diamonds Are Forever” in the near future.
It has its moments, but they mostly involve the Mustang. 🙂
I got a kick out of your doing a piece on a toy today…it’s almost like we planned it!
A subject that’s right up my street. Was a time before the age of repro when I collected Bond stuff. Had an original Corgi DAF Mustang boxed, way too expensive for what was effectively a different coloured car with a sticker on the box.
That Barracuda is a real nice item. I’ll take the 2+2 in Iris Mist, though.
I’m at around 300 1/24-5th scale car. Mostly kits, but some diecasts. Just bought 2 new cabinets to house the overflow
I just came across this ironically!