Diecast Cars: Are They A Good Investment?

When we talk about diecast cars, most people would say that it’s a nice hobby. Collecting diecast cars can be a costly hobby and some are defending their hobby by saying that collecting diecast is an investment. Is collecting diecast cars a good investment? Let’s find out.

Diecast cars are a good investment since they are items that are easy to maintain, limited, and have a growing market. However, these diecast models can only be a good investment if the collector knows what models to buy and how to maintain them in good condition.

Collecting model cars are often associated with youngsters, but it can be an interesting and entertaining hobby for anyone of any age. This article will talk about if these cars are really a good investment. Furthermore, we will talk about some model cars that have been sold for a lot to prove the point.

Are Diecast Cars a Good Investment

Diecast cars are a good investment because the number of collectors is steadily increasing. This means that the demand for diecast cars is increasing making them valuable over time. Furthermore, these model cars last long because they are made with metal alloys that don’t rust.

Diecast model vehicles make excellent collectibles since they are made with such care and attention to detail.

The models grow in value and make fantastic additions to collections because they are not only built of durable materials but there are also typically limited editions as their value rises.

Collectors are always on the search for limited edition autos, which become increasingly scarce over time. As a result, diecast models can be a financially rewarding investment.

One strategy to diversify an investment portfolio for an automotive lover is to start collecting historic cars.

Most cars lose value as soon as they leave the dealer lot, while classic cars gain worth over time owing to rarity, performance, or other unique characteristics.

Classic vehicles, in general, appreciate in value faster than other collectibles, despite the fact that they require more upkeep and storage than stamps or comic books.

Classic automobiles can be worth millions of dollars if they are in good condition.

What makes diecast cars a good investment?

Diecast cars are a good investment since it is not very risky because of the demand. Furthermore, it is viable for the long term. In fact, the longer you keep the model in good condition, the more expensive it can get. Lastly, its demand is always increasing therefore making it a good investment.

An excellent investment is a kind that yields most returns especially in monetary forms within a reasonable timeframe.

With a little research and qualitative research, you can identify good investments in any asset class, whether it’s real estate, collectibles, stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.

A smart investment opportunity has a number of features that set it apart from the other options.

Risk and Return, Safety, Long-Term Viability, Predictable Outcome, Earning Consistency, Product Demand, Fair Price, and Liquidity, to name a few, are some of these factors.

Diecast Models Investment Check

Investment Criteria	Diecast Models	Pass/Fail
Risk and Return	Low Risk	Pass
Safety	Safe	Pass
Long-Term Viability	Long-Term	Pass
Predictable Outcome	Predictable	Pass
Earning Consistency	Consistent	Pass
Product Demand	Increasing Demand	Pass
Fair Price	Good Price	Pass
Liquidity	Depends on the seller	Pass/Fail

Liquidity means that you can easily convert your investment into cash. In diecast models, you can only convert it to cash if you find a buyer.

But it can be hard for anyone so I made this article to serve as your guide. If you’re not good at finding a buyer, it can be hard so I can’t give an assessment for that since it depends on the person. So here is the link for the Guide: Selling your Diecast Collection(Where and How)

Specific Factors making the diecast cars a wise investment

We already talked about what makes a good investment and diecast models passed on most of the factors. However, there are specific factors that make diecast an investment, and that’s what this part is about.

Diecast cars are considered an art

The diecast car market is similar to the art market in that it’s an aesthetically pleasing investment.

This means that if you’re really good at maintaining and customizing your models, you can be sure to find people who would want to buy your models which increases the price.

Diecast cars are a Currency Hedge

Diecast cars may also serve as a currency hedge because vehicles can be transferred to nations with favorable exchange rates.

For example, wherever you are, you can sell your diecast car in whatever local currency you have.

This is quite different from stocks that only trade at a certain currency.

Diecast cars have a good Brand Association

A diecast car’s attraction is enhanced by its racing heritage, as well as its relationship with a well-known designer, racer, or builders like Raymond Loewy or Carroll Shelby.

The most valuable collectible automobiles combine uncommon and attractive features.

The brand is very important in diecast models. If you want to know what brands are famous to collectors, I made a poll asking multiple collectors to find what brand they see is the best. I gathered some data and came to a conclusion. Here is the link: Which diecast brand is the best?

What are diecast cars?

Die-cast vehicles are collectible models made using die-casting technology, which involves pouring molten lead, zinc alloy, or plastic into a mold to create a specific shape.

These are Metal toys containing rubber, plastic, glass, or other machined metal parts that are common.

Diecast automobiles, such as those from Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys, Matchbox, and Hot Wheels, are frequently seen at auction.

Individual Dinky cars typically retail for a few hundred dollars, depending on condition, demand, and original packaging availability.

Do Diecast cars increase in value?

Diecast cars increase in value because most models are in limited edition. When the production halts, the demand still rises making their price go up. Furthermore, somebody that is good at customizing or design can sell their models at a higher price.

Diecast model cars that are well-made, detailed, and long-lasting will rise in value, according to the law of supply and demand.

Diecast models are typically built of metals, which allows them to survive longer.

The more time passes, the rarer they become and the higher their price.

Because these model cars are like actual gems created in limited quantities, they not only retain their value remarkably well, but they frequently increase in value within a few years after being retired.

Here are some of the World’s Most Expensive Diecast Cars

When we grow old, many of the toys we loved as children go beyond simply toys to us.

In today’s society, vehicles are important, but certain model cars are much more important than their real-life counterparts. They come in a range of sizes, with a variety of stories and pricing.

To prove my point, I have listed here some diecast cars that were sold for very high prices.

1. Lamborghini Aventador Gold – $7.5 million

The Aventador is a diecast model of a carbon-fueled race car with a horsepower of 750 horsepower.

The first model, which is now worth $7.5 million, was made by the same people who created the first.

You should be able to buy 18 actual Aventadors with 700 horsepower for the same money.

2. Lamborghini Aventador – $6 million

The ambition to create the world’s most costly diecast car inspires the world’s most outrageous producers and designers to create this model.

Robert Gulpen Engineering created a 1:8 scale Lamborghini Aventador that is an exact replica of the actual vehicle on both the inside and outside.

The wheels are made of gold and platinum, and the seats are adorned with precious stones.

3. 24K Gold Bugatti Veyron – $2.9 million

The Bugatti Veyron was completed in two months.

This gold bar on wheels was only made in three parts.

Only three of the $2.9 million Bugattis were manufactured, therefore it is available in a limited edition.

4. 40th-anniversary Diamond – Encrusted Hot Wheels – $140,000

For their 40th anniversary, Mattel, the business behind the brand, chose to produce a one-of-a-kind model car.

The legendary jeweler Jason Arasheben was engaged to adorn a Custom Otto model car with 1388 blue diamonds, 988 black diamonds, 319 white diamonds, 8 rubies, and 18-carat white gold.

Suggested Read: Are Hot Wheels worth collecting?

5. 1969 Pink rear-loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb – $125,000

For Hot Wheels collectors, this is the Holy Grail. When the model was used with Hot Wheels playsets and stunt track sets back in the day, it had issues.

It’s a hunk of metal that’s considerably more expensive than your actual vehicle.

6. Tomica Z432 Datsun – $80,000

Takara Tomy, a Japanese manufacturer, launched the Tomica model vehicle series in 1970.

Ginza Tanaka, the jeweler, made something extremely remarkable for their 40th anniversary: a platinum duplicate of the Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z432.

It was crafted by hand and took the designer a month to complete. The cost? A whopping $80,000.

7. Dinky Pre-war No.22D Delivery Van ‘W.E. Boyce’ – $26,000

The Dinky is a particularly important item for collectors as it’s the only one in existence today, as far as anyone knows.

Dinky was founded in 1934 and initially sold vehicles as extras for railway projects.

This model went for a little more than $26,000 at an auction.

8. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – $18,000

This model car is in 1:18 scale and was rebuilt by Classic Model Cars USA CMC molded all of the genuine car’s small details.

The car, in both real and diecast form, is among the most coveted in the world.

This diecast Ferrari is admired by a lot of people.

9. Beatnik Bandit Hot Wheels – $15,000

The Original Sweet 16 was among the first Hot Wheels character to come out of their production line, and one of the first cars they opted to duplicate was Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s concept automobile.

This diecast model included a joystick rather than a steering wheel and a dome over the driver’s seat.

10. Matchbox 1967 Magirus Deutz Crane (No. 30) – $13,000

Back in the day, this diecast model would have cost no more than $10. Its value has risen to an incredible $13,000 today.

Conclusion

Model car collecting is perceived as an expensive hobby, yet it is one that pays out in spades.

Die-cast vehicles are metal toys made by pouring molten lead, zinc alloy, or plastic into a mold to form a certain shape, in this case, the shape of a car. These long-lasting materials increase in value as they grow more scarce over time.

Diecast automobiles from Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys, Matchbox, and Hot Wheels might be a smart investment.

“Only the things I love”

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So, here are the things I love when taking care of my Diecast Models.

Cleaning the Models

The first we are going to talk about is cleaning the models.

Removing Dust

Air Brush – For me, this is the best since it not just removes dust but you can use it in painting/clear coating.
Air Duster – This is a good alternative to Airbrush
Normal Brush – If you are short on budget, you can use a normal brush. However, make sure that the brush has soft bristles because there are some hard brushes than can cause scratches. That’s why I recommended a good brush that can do the job properly.

Cleaning and Shining Hacks

Well, here are some of my cleaning hacks for removing scratches, oxidation, and so much more.

Removing Decal Adhesive – Use Goo Gone on those hard-to-remove decal adhesives. It works fast and works like charm!
Waxing and Polishing – Here is something a lot of people don’t know. Waxing protects the clear coat and paint while polishing shines the model. Instead of buying it separately, use a 2 in 1 to save money. Get this instead.
Beginner Wax – The wax I recommended earlier is good and provides the best results based on my experience. But a beginner might have a problem especially if they’re not good at applying wax. Solid wax reaching hard to reach surface can be hard to remove. You have two choices here. One is to use a qtips to reach those surfaces, another is to use a liquid wax I recommended.
Cleaning Wheels, Rubber, Plastic – Do not forget that rubber and plastic surface are quite different, especially in the cleaning process. Just wiping it down won’t do the job. That’s why I use Meguiar’s Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner. Works like charm!
Make the Wheels Shine! – Making our models look good won’t be complete without tiny details such as shiny wheels! Do not forget this because however small this is, the difference can be as big as night and day.
Remove Scratches Easily – Tiny scratches are not the end for your model. Here is a simple trick I’ve been using to make my models look scratch-free even without repainting. Use T-Cut.

Painting the Models

Painting Tools

Make sure when you paint models, have these ready.

Tape – A tape is important if you are painting a straight line. Furthermore, it will prevent your paint to scatter on other parts. I recommend Tamiya Tape since it is really made for models. Furthermore, they stick really well preventing paint splatters.
Brush (Beginner) – Find a good set of brushes to paint your models. Of course, you can opt for an airbrush but it’s quite expensive.
Airbrush (Intermediate/Expert) – This will yield a significantly better result than an ordinary brush because you can easily spray the paint evenly. I recommend this if you know what you’re doing.
Stand(Optional) – Stands are good because it can be hard to manually hold the models while painting. It is optional but in my opinion, the price is well worth it for the comfort it gives.
Drop Cloths – Drop Cloths will protect your surroundings from the paint.
Primer – The most common beginner mistake I see is painting models without any Primer. A primer will prevent imperfections such as bubbles or paint not sticking to your models. It is a small price to pay for quality results.
Clear Coat – A clear coat will protect the paint of your models. This will make the paint last longer. Also, it is the one responsible for making your models shine.

Paints

Of course, you can’t do painting properly without paint. So here are the ones I recommend.

Acrylic Paint – Good for beginners because it dries quickly. However, it doesn’t produce results as good as enamel paint.
Enamel Paint – Provides a good quality finish and longer-lasting paint. However, it takes longer to dry and requires expertise to use.

Model Maintenance

Model Storage

Simple Wood Cabinet – While it doesn’t let you display your models, wooden cabinets are good storage for these models. For one, they are not heat conductors which means that the temperature inside will remain constant and remain cool. Furthermore, they prevent light from reaching the models which can cause oxidation.
Clear Cabinet with Lock – If you want to display your models, then I recommend this. It closes so dust won’t easily get to your models. I also recommend you don’t put more than 1 model in each compartment since metals are good conductors of heat.

Model Photography

So you want to show off your models to others? Well, I got you covered.

Here is my beginner-friendly model photography tutorial that teaches everything from taking pictures to the editing process.

You will also see me doing hands-on photography in that tutorial.

Here is the link: How to Take Pictures of a Diecast Model or Model Kit | Helpful Illustrated and Video Guide

Sources