What's all the buzz about diecast?

Whether you are a hobbyist or classic car enthusiast, you will probably appreciate the beauty and detail of 1:18 scale diecast vehicles.  Just take a glance at what is available in Ebay Motors and you will see the how the demand for classic and muscle cars has remained strong, if not increased, over the past several years.  If you are like me, however, and cannot afford the real thing at this point in your life, you can probably purchase a much smaller version of your dream car (or cars) in an online auction or "buy it now."  While you can't take these little beauties out on the road or to your local cruise night, they are perfect decorations for your home office, family room, or wherever you'd like to display them.  Maybe you are not looking for yourself but for a gift for someone else.  Okay, so you can't buy that 1968 Dodge Charger R/T that your husband wants.  So buy him a 1:18 scale copy of it for his desk.  He'll love it!  At an average length of 8 to 10 inches, they also take up a lot less space than a real automobile!

The Cars and Their Manufacturers

There are numerous companies manufacturing 1:18 scale vehicles these days.  Depending on how much you are willing to spend, you can find diecasts of your favorite cars from one of them.  The Ertl Toy Company has been around for years and owns several subsidiaries that manufacture 1:18 scale cars in various degrees of detail and authenticity.  The American Muscle series features many nice replicas of classic cars from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler Corporation.  Their Highway 61 line is generally more expensive and features more intricate representations of such cars.  For example, the driveshafts rotate when the rear wheels are turned and more things open such as the tiny glove boxes and center consoles.

While Highway 61 builds some very accurate and finely-detailed models, companies such as Lane Exact Detail and Die Cast Promotions build what could be considered the creme-de-la-creme of 1:18 scale cars.  Lane, which specializes in late 1960's and early 1970's diecasts, are usually priced at around $120 and up - more than double that of your average Highway 61.  Lane's vehicles feature even more precise scaling of various parts and more expensive materials.  Instead of simple plastic on their bumpers, they use a real chrome coating.  To take things a step further, DCP includes windows on some of their models which actually roll up and down. 

One of the rarest 1:18 vehicle-types you will find is Ertl's Bodyshop Series.  These are models of popular classics that are prepainted and only require a couple hours of glueing and screwing together.  Since the parts are so precise and fit together quite tightly, patience and a steady hand are recommended.

In order to truly appreciate the range and volume of how many 1:18 scale diecasts are available, you will have to see for yourself.  I have only touched the tip of the iceberg in my description; there are also hundreds if not thousands of diecast replicas of foreign cars and motorcycles around as well.  If you love cars or anything with wheels, for that matter, you will undoubtedly be impressed!

How to shop

Ebay has organized the inventory of their sellers in a manner that makes it quite easy for shoppers to find available scale vehicles.  Just go to the drop down menu on the home page and select "Toys and Hobbies."  Under categories, click on "Diecast, Toy Vehicles."  Now you're in!  The drop down menu that now appears will allow you to select brand, vehicle type, vehicle make, material, and scale.  It even has a keyword search box for you to include your own description such as "Bullitt Mustang."  Yes, they do make a replica of Steve McQueen's famous chase scene car and there are usually a few of them available at any given time. 

Now that you know the basics, take a few minutes to see what's available in 1:18 scale vehicles.  Even if you don't want to buy anything, you are sure to be impressed with how much is there.  As of this writing, there are 186,353 Ebay listings of diecast and toy vehicles!

Above: The famous 1968 Mustang from Bullitt