Car Spotting: Mini Cooper

 

Unboxing: Shelby Transporter Set

 

This set is not a new release and I am a little late to the party. Nonetheless, was glad to be able to get my hands on this recently.

The Shelby Transporter set by Mini GT is simply stunning. If you are looking for a sleek truck and a thoroughbred Mustang with excellent finishing, this set will check all the boxes for you.

Unboxing: Datsun 510 Pro Street

 

The pastel green paint job for this car is sublime and cool. Great job. Happy to add this to my small collection of Datsun 510s as this model car has won me over as one of my favourite.

Unboxing: Fairlady Z Kaido GT 95 Drifter

 

I like the purplish colour scheme depicted on the box. Alas, the coating on the car itself is greyish without a tinge of purple. Moreover, the left side mirror was already dislocated as it fell off upon unboxing.

Why do adults collect diecast cars?

Diecast cars such as those by Matchbox, Hot Wheels and Tomica started off as cars for children. While some of these cars are fantasy cars, the bulk of such miniature cars are actually replicas of real cars from the past till current and into the future to come.

Over time the number of diecast car manufacturers have expanded and the quality of the products have improved by leaps and bounds, and garnered a growing community of adult collectors.

Here then are some plausible reasons as to why grown ups collect diecast cars:

1. Affordability

At the lower end, the price of a diecast car is about SGD 4 to SGD 6 which makes this hobby relatively accessible compared to collecting real cars, watches, sneakers, jewelleries, or paintings.

2. Appreciation for Aesthetic Craftmanship 

The diecast cars which appeal to collectors are by and large very well made with attention to details such that they become a realistic miniature of the full-scale cars themselves. Such refinement could well be lost on child owners who races and collides these painstakingly-crafted cars as part of their play routine.

On the other hand, collectors derive enjoyment when they view their diecast cars and appreciate how well their bodies or frames are designed, coated with paints and liveries, and fitted with other components such as headlights, windshield, windows, rims, tyres, taillights and tailpipe.

3. Peer Influence

This hobby is usually caught rather than taught. Hobbyists pick it up because their peers are into it or they have seen how passionate diecast cars vendors are about their wares as they usually started off as collectors themselves.

4.  Passion for Cars

For a car enthusiast or motorhead, collecting diecast cars could well be a natural extension which stemmed from their primary interest in cars. They are also known to have interest in collecting radio-controlled toy cars, as well. 

5. Monetisable Assets

Diecast cars are durable and usually made from zinc alloys combined with copper and aluminium.  Over time, the market value of diecast cars which were produced long ago and chased by avid collectors who have an eye for them would typically increase in value beyond their original purchase price.

Disclaimer: There is no guarantee though that the diecast cars that you own can only increase in value, but not loses its realisable value. Also, even if you are prepared to dispose your diecast cars, there might not be any willing buyer available in the worst case scenario.

6. Low Maintenance Costs

To keep the diecast cars, collectors would buy plastic protective casings or storage boxes to preserve their diecast cars in mint conditions. It is thus relatively easy to maintain the diecast cars then, say, collection an aquarium of ornamental fish where you have to feed them, monitor the water conditions, and renew the water regularly.

7. Fascination with Car Culture

In collecting diecast cars, collectors might pick up interest to learn more about the history of different type of cars, motor sports, types of car engines, and so forth.

Please feel free to add in the Comments of this blog post on other plausible reasons that prompt  adults to collect diecast cars.

In collecting diecast cars, this hobby also give back to us.

For instance, some collectors have now transformed their hobby into a thriving business to serve the community of diecast car collectors. In a sense, their work is play.

Diecast collecting can also benefit in other ways such as helping us to be more focused in life as we learn to narrow down on what diecast cars to collect as it is impossible to collect them all, and enrich our life as the diecast cars make us a passionate collector and, in so doing, make us passionate about life in general and add fuel for us to pursue our dreams.

As with other hobbies, diecast car collectors need to exercise self-discipline to manage this passion so that it does not become an unhealthy obsession which cause them to neglect their usual responsibilities in life.

Car sighting: Aston Martin DB9

Managed to snapshot this super sports car before the owner showed up and drove off.

Car sighting: Toyota Corolla

The paint job on this Toyota Corolla is top notch with fine details.