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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
