A Hot Market: NASCAR Die-Cast Collectible Cars
Millions of people love cars and millions love collecting, so it is no surprise that car collecting is a very popular hobby. Buying and storing the full size versions can be a bit pricey which is why so many set their sights not lower, but smaller and collect models. At 1:24 or even 1:64 size they do not take up nearly as much room and they do not use any gas as well.
One of the biggest niches in the die-cast collectible market is for NASCAR replicas. The sport that started with bootleggers trying to outrun the local authorities has grown into a multi-billion dollar enterprise with millions of fans who come from all walks of life. Those 75 million fans buy 3 billion dollars worth of official merchandise every year. This kind of loyalty and dedication to the sport makes not for casual consumers but for serious buyers.
Most NASCAR die-cast car collectors have a favorite driver and center their collection around his cars. It might be Dale Jr. or it might be Jeff Gordon, but don’t bother trying to change a diehard fans mind about who is the best. Other collectors might be fans of a particular car manufacturer and select models the cars that they build. This could quickly lead to a larger collection for someone who decided they wanted all the Fords or all the Dodges.
Understanding the nature of this market, NASCAR has been sure to license its products for a range of different priced cars. The smaller 1:64 size are affordable as toys for children that are meant to be played with, which, of course, means abused. For the more serious collector, things start with the 1:24 size. These die-casts have an impressive level of detail as they try to exactly replicate the look of the flashy racecars.
Most of the 1:24 scale cars, which are about 8 inches in length, have hoods and doors that open to expose detailed engine compartments and car interiors. The standard line of cars can be found at any number of online retailers, a quick Google search will yield dozens. They can also be found on EBay and Amazon in new and used conditions. Of course, any damage to the car would severely reduce its value, so be careful if buying used.
Beyond 1:24, there are 1:18 size cars as well with even more details. The market for these cars is much smaller precisely because the cars are not. Their larger size makes them significantly more expensive and also difficult to store for a fan with a growing collection.
For serious collectors, the interest lies not in the standard line of cars which come out every season, but in the special limited edition models that are released when a driver runs a special painted car for a single race, like the All Star Race. These limited edition models will bring start at significantly higher prices, but will also appreciate more because of their relative scarcity.
