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There is a fairly long history of craftsmen building detailed miniature replicas of transport vehicles and machinery, but it wasn’t until nineteen thirty four that diecast model cars and lorries arrived on the scene in any great numbers.

In those days the model cars and trucks were not looked on as collectible in their own right – they were produced to lend extra realism to model trainsets.

Ever since the early 1920s Frank Hornby had been making ever more complicated model railways. One of these sets, Meccano Set No 21, came complete with six diecast models, consisting of a delivery van, a sports coupe, a farm tractor, a sports car, an army tank, a farm tractor and a motor truck. These were the very first Dinky models, issued under the “Meccano Modelled Miniatures” label, as Set No. 22.

These early diecast cars were fairly crude by modern standards, seeing as they were cast from an alloy with high lead content which did not lend itself to a high level of detail. What’s more they did not try to depict genuine vehicles, although the sports car looked a bit like the S.S.1, a popular make at the time and a forerunner of the Jaguar.

In terms of size, they were not well suited to the trainsets which they were intended to complement.

It soon became clear, however, that there was a healthy market for models like this, and it was not long before individual die-cast models based on real cars and lorries were produced and sold separately. Dinky Set 30 was based on the Rolls-Royce, Set 36A on the Armstrong Siddely, 36B a Bentley, and 36F was a Salmon sports car.

With the passing of time the quality of reproduction and detail hugely improved. The Dinky sets had die cast alloy bodies and tinplate radiators and rubber tyres. The later replicas also came with drivers and passengers. The Armstrong Siddely had a footman and chauffeur. Just before World War II some excellent military models were produced, including tanks with catterpillar tracks and rotating turrets.

Few replicas from that period have survived in good condition, and examples in good condition are extremely collectible – pre war Dinkies can fetch prices up to one thousand dollars in auction.

In the 1950s, new production methods heralded a new era in the history of die-cast replica cars. Lesney, famous for their splendid Coronation Coach, and Corgi, (“the ones with the windows”), joined the market to provide competition to Dinky.

This new generation of diecast vehicles, with finer detail, better running gear, and better color finish, brings us to the present day, where millions of precision diecast replica models are produced, at quite affordable prices for collectors. For example, just take a look at these batmobile diecast models.. The die cast model car industry has come a long way since the nineteen thirties.

And, better not forget, eBay can be a terrific source for those hard-to-find die-cast models: classic diecast auctions.

For detailed, precision-built diecast motor car replicas, visit classic diecast.

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