Are model cars a good investment?

For car enthusiasts with a voracious love of vehicles but no bottomless pit of money to purchase them, there is a solution: scale model or diecast cars. Model car collecting is a major business, with some models going for thousands – or even millions – of dollars.

In fact, the world’s most valuable model car, a 1:8th scale Lamborghini Aventador Gold, which is indeed covered in actual gold, is worth a whopping $11.3 million – far more than almost any full-size car that you can actually drive.

Does that sound tempting? Here’s your guide to diecast cars should you be looking at getting into the collecting game.

Diecast cars are made via a process of pouring molten lead, zinc alloy or plastic in a mould.

Although around since the early 20th century, diecast cars didn’t become huge until the first Matchbox cars came on the scene in 1953 (competition heated up with the arrival of the popular Hot Wheels brand in 1968).

Proving that collecting had become hugely popular, a Model Car Hall of Fame was established in 2009, with an award event held in Las Vegas every year. The diecast scale car model market in the U.S. was estimated at $1.4 billion in 2020, and it’s expected to grow by a further $2 billion by 2026.

The value of a model car can depend on a variety of factors, including the size (bigger models tend to be more valuable), the manufacturer (those from the early 1900s tend to fetch bigger dollars), availability (the rarer, the more in-demand), market trends (e.g. if a specific driver wins a championship, retires or has an accident their cars often gain temporary popularity) and condition (mint condition, obviously, will mean the car is worth more). There are also plenty of diecast car valuers online, so you can research what’s happening in the market and what cars you should be looking out for.

It's a good idea to regularly clean your diecast model to avoid heavy dust and grime. If some dirt does begin to build up, a cloth with some water should be all you need, although mild soap may be required for heavier dirt build up. Most collectors tend to keep their collection in a glass case away from direct sunlight, which might be a good idea if you’d like to avoid regular cleaning.

The Shell Motorsport Collection includes seven Bluetooth remote control 1:41 scale diecast model cars including the Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang Supercar, the Ferrari SF90, Team Penske Indycar and Ford Mustang GT. The cars are controlled by the Shell Racing App and will be available exclusively at Shell Coles Express service stations until 30th November. Be sure to get in quick while stocks last.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}