Innehållsförteckning för June 2025 från Diecast Collector

CELEBRATE LEWIS HAMILTON’S RACING CAREER AT MERCEDES WITH BBURAGO To fans of Formula 1 and, let’s be honest, most people in general, Lewis Hamilton needs little or even no introduction. To clarify, though, just in case, he’s an incredibly successful racing driver. Currently, he shares the record for number of F1World Championships won (seven, alongside Michael Schumacher) and when it comes to his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone, he has won it a record nine times. Sir Lewis (he was knighted in December 2021) began his F1 career with McLaren, in 2007, winning his first Grand Prix at Canada and coming incredibly close to winning his first championship the same year. He made no such mistake the following year, claiming his first title in 2008. He would stay with…

There is an unmistakable feeling in the air that, in certain sectors at least, the scale model market is treading water with unsold stock just building up. Certainly, the trends I pondered over in last year’s quarterly reviews appear to be more and more evident. Most prominent perhaps is the 1/64 diecast sector gathering significant momentum spearheaded by Mini GT with others hard on its heels (or bumpers…). TRENDING This 1/64 renaissance is potentially down to three factors: an amazing escalation in some manufacturers detail, finish and coverage of contemporary subject themes, the attraction of the modest cabinet display space they require and pricing relative to larger scales. Certainly, subject themes that appeal to the fans of the contemporary customised and tuned street car cultures is very evident in those…

Carbon copies, spitting images, clones – call them what you will, the basic idea is simply that, instead of designing their own product, a toymaker takes something already on the market and copies it. The practice was particularly widespread in Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s where hundreds of diecasts, mostly British, were copied in plastic and scaled up to a larger size. Questions of copyright and licensing seem to have been ignored to such an extent that there are even some examples of Hong Kong products being marked ‘registered design’ which must have annoyed Dinky and Corgi! These Hong Kong copies have attracted a great deal of interest amongst collectors in recent years and have been examined in numerous articles in Diecast Collector. However, something that has received…

Regular readers may recall that the idea for these Then and Now comparisons came after my Nan passed away and my uncle found his old shoe box of cars in her flat and kindly gave them to me. They were mostly old Lesney and Corgi toys from the 1960s, as my Nan worked for Lesney in London. While some of them were heavily played with, others were still in very good condition. Some of the recent comparisons in this series have involved relatively recent models, including a trio of models designed specifically for collectors last time out. This month we shall return to the contents of that shoe box with one of my favourites: Corgi Toys No.441Volkswagon van. This is one of the earliest toys used in this series so…

Way back in 1949, George Mackie, then Rover’s Continental sales representative, and his 2 Rover employee friends Peter Wilks and Spen King, decided that it would be a great idea to develop a sports roadster, but Rover weren’t interested. These three had already successfully raced a single seater Rover-engined car, and had called it the Marauder. With the promise from Rover of releasing 21 chassis and components, Peter Wilks and George Mackie left their jobs with Rover, and in January 1950 set up as Wilks, Mackie and Company. Their first car was completed in July 1950, and was road-tested on a European tour to Switzerland, taking in Belgium and Luxembourg. An enthusiastic Swiss Rover agent arranged for a Marauder to be displayed at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show, and it…

BACHMANN Europe Plc has announced the release of four new 1/76 scale Leyland Titan B15 diecast models, expanding its popular EFE Road range. The unveiling took place at the London Bus Museum’s Spring Gathering, held at the historic Brooklands racing circuit. The Leyland Titan B15 was originally developed in 1973 as a modern successor to outdated double-deckers like the Bristol VRT and Leyland Atlantean. Featuring standardised, integral construction inspired by the Leyland National, the Titan was heavily shaped by London Transport’s specifications. Despite early promise, production faced numerous delays—including the closure of Park Royal Vehicles—which ultimately left London Transport as its main customer. The Titan entered service in 1978 and remained in use until withdrawals began in 1992. The new models are crafted using the Exclusive First Editions dual door…

Universal Hobbies released its first M7 tractor, an M7-171, soon after Kubota launched the tractor. Then, when Kubota introduced the M7-172 tractor, Universal Hobbies followed in 2022 by updating its model. Kubota continued to develop the M7 tractor and Universal Hobbies has now issued this model of the new M7-174 tractor. It did not issue a model of the M7003 series tractor. The tooling for Universal Hobbies’ M7-174 tractor is based on the previous M7-172 model. It’s a well-built, detailed model with many metal parts. It has a detachable front weight and working front linkage with adjustable length top link. New for this model it has a yellow guard on the front pto, white GPS receiver, extra aerials, warning boards and redesigned fuel and DEF tanks. UNIVERSAL HOBBIES Kubota M7-174…

During the 1960s and 70s Ford were enjoying a significant chunk of the British car market with popular models such as Zephyrs and Corsairs giving way to stylish new Cortinas and Capris. My family were proud Ford owners and so it seemed were most of my petrolhead classmate’s dads. It was therefore no surprise then that some of our favourite toy cars were those which sported Ford’s famous blue oval badge. Lone Star recognised the popularity of the Ford brand right from the off by including two Ford models in its very first range of toy cars. The ‘Road-masters’ range of seven models, launched in 1957, was a mix of then contemporary and veteran cars. The two Fords were both based on iconic American prototypes, the stylish 1955 Ford Thunderbird…

As soon as I had sent off my article on Fiat EVs to the editor a few months ago inevitably, and frustratingly, some new models suddenly appeared, a couple of which I'd been waiting for and a couple of which were a pleasant surprise. So, here is an update to my original article (Diecast Collector, May 2025), showing all the recent additions to my EV Fiat collection and news of what’s to come. First of the newbies is Bburago’s excellent 1/24 500e. Available in Fiat’s colours of Ice White and Celestial Blue it really captures the shape of the real thing and wears the best wheels I've ever seen on a Bburago. They are exact reproductions of the attractive 17'' alloy diamond-cut wheels which come on the La Prima edition…

No. 59 FIRE CHIEF CAR (FORD GALAXIE) Production: 1970 Catalogue: 1970 Box Styles: F, G The attractive Ford Galaxie did not spend much time as a Superfast fire car (its Police version didn't make it at all) and once again this is a difficult one to find in good condition for a reasonable price today. The only version made is photographed above, there was no time for variations! As usual with these short-lived Superfasts, expect to pay handsomely if you find a mint with mint box example. PLANET SCOUT Production: 1975-80 Catalogue: 1976-80 Box Styles: J Planet Scout was one of two space-age vehicles introduced in the 1976 catalogue. As the name would indicate, the angular Planet Scout seems to be intended for interplanetary exploration. The upper body was painted metallic…

Pay just £41.99 for 12 issues Saving 30%* when you subscribe yearly! Why subscribe… ■ Features from the world of vintage, nostalgic toys and models ■ Handy tips and price guides featured every month ■ The latest releases from all the major manufacturers ■ Get inspired with the latest auction, toyfairs and events FREE GIFT! Get a copy of the Toy Collectors Price Guide 2025* HOW TO ORDER YOURS… Simply scan the QR code seen here, visit https://ccofgb.uk/CollectorsGazette or call our team on 01778 392006 and quote GAZ/2025. *T&Cs apply. Free gift available while stocks last. Rate applies only when you subscribe to 12 issues of Collectors Gazette via a Direct Debit. Offer is valid from 13th February 2025. See website for details.…

■ Matchbox Regular Wheels 27c Cadillac Sixty Special - Stannard Code 16, metallic lilac body without rear silver trim & without red tail lamps, bonnet type C, pale pink roof, turquoise green windows, gloss black base, 36-tread black plastic wheels. Near mint in good type D2 box printed by Bowaters. Sold for £70, Vectis Auctions, March. ■ Matchbox Regular Wheels 75a Ford Thunderbird - Stannard Code 8, off white body, pale salmon pink side panels, front silver trim only, full width red tail-lamp clusters, black base, 9 x 24-tread silver plastic wheels. Excellent, a few small paint chips in excellent type D2 box printed by Pembroke Abbey. Sold for £70, Vectis Auctions, March. ■ Matchbox Regular Wheels 65a Jaguar 3.4 litre Saloon - Stannard Code 5, metallic dark blue body…

COLLECTORS of classic cars have something to look forward to in 2025, as Matrix Models has announced an exciting new addition to its lineup. Slated for release in the second quarter of the year, Matrix will introduce a 1/43 scale replica of the elegant 1934-1935 Rover 12hp Sports Tourer. This limited-edition model will be available in three classic finishes: British Racing Green (MX41706-131), Maroon (MX41706-132), and White (MX41706-133). While the exact pricing has yet to be confirmed, early interest suggests this model is likely to become a popular item among collectors. It will be available through Spacroft Models, British Heritage Models, or your preferred retailer. The Rover 12hp holds a special place in British automotive history. Introduced under the leadership of Rover’s then-general manager Spencer Wilks, the car was designed…

CORGI Model Club has launched its long-awaited Corgi No.436 Citroën ID19 Safari model, now available without delays. Originally postponed due to tooling issues, the diecast car hit shelves in April 1963 and quickly became a standout among Corgi’s Citroën estate releases of the 1960s. Inspired by Citroën’s UK "Safari" branding and the popular early-60s BBC On Safari documentary series, the model features a two-piece opening tailgate, a fold-down rear seat operated via a thumbwheel, and two included figures. It also sports a roof-rack with luggage and a ‘Wildlife Preservation’ bonnet logo, enhancing its adventurous theme. For more information visit www.corgimodelclub.com.…

Diecast copies How the practice of copying diecast models was carried out in various countries right across Europe. ON SALE 3 JUNE …or download the digital edition 7 days earlier! JULY 2025 Issue 333 PLUS… ■ Lotus Esprit - track & road ■ Remembering the RAF Puma as it enters retirement ■ A-Z of diecast collecting ■ Models 'Little & Large' ■ Auction results ■ All the latest news ■ Extensive selection of new model releases ■ And much more… Please note: These planned editorial contents may be subject to change where necessary.…

Some call it ‘glory hunting’, collecting scale models of each year’s motorsport champions and winners, for both drivers and manufacturers. Collecting all the F1 champions since the discipline founded in 1950 is probably one of the most popular among scale models collectors. As always, the 1/43 scale makes everything easier, due to the wide offering of all type of models, made by numerous model manufacturers. So, the scale for this “We are the champions” collection was straight forward to define. The next step was identifying the motorsport disciplines and the respective champions, a task that five minutes searching the internet solved promptly. The result came in the form of the most important racing catagory at global scale… world champions! Formula 1 was the obvious choice to start with. To make…

When the British Motor Corporation launched the Mini Moke, initially it was looking to serve the requirement of the armed forces for a four-up, all terrain vehicle. The Second World War had made many familiar with the American GP, or Jeep as it was known, but we Brits had nothing similar. Austin’s Champ had died a death in 1956 (although in hindsight this Rolls Royce-powered vehicle had been ideal for military use); and only the doughty Land Rover plugged the gap. Sadly for BMC, despite the car’s simplicity of design (a useful asset in the field) and its portability (it was meant to be dropped by parachute, when required), the low ground clearance (early Mokes ran on 10 inch wheels) did not endear it to active service with four fully-kitted…

Something rather out of the ordinary best sums up NZG. This German specialist manufacturer dates back to1968, which was when Betty Hauer and Gerhard Schmid founded Nürnberger Zinkdruckguss Modelle, more commonly known these days as NZG. The initial concept was construction site models in 1/50 scale and the company would later work with the likes of Zeppelin, Caterpillar and Liebherr in the design of its output. However, in 1983 the company decided to jump on to the 1/43 bandwagon with road cars, and produced a Porsche 911. By the mid-1990s, in common with many other diecast manufacturers, rising costs in terms of raw materials and labour was prompting the company to look elsewhere to manufacture; thus in 2000 production was relocated to China. In keeping with collecting trends, bigger scale…

U.S.A. Police Car In the days before there was a television in every home much entertainment came from visits to the cinema. Many of the films were from America and the stories included the now familiar American cars and trucks. Quite often police cars were seen in the adventure and were certainly different from our Wolsey, Morris and Humber police cars. The toy manufacturers soon started to produce American police car models and this of course included Dinky Toys. The first Dinky Toys U.S.A. Police car arrived in October 1960 with the number 258. The model based on a DeSoto Fire flite is finished in black and has white panels on the front doors with the word ‘POLICE’ in black on each one. The word ‘POLICE’ in white is on…