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Topic starter
11/12/2025 10:39 pm
Like many of you I keep records of my collection and have been posting an end of the year review of my collection since 2005. I’d be interested to see other people’s thoughts and lists if they have them.
My particular interests make me a “niche” collector so my list will be of little interest to many. There were some great models that came out this year that are not on my list because I just did not buy them. They might not be on my radar but are sure to interest many others.
I started collecting 18 scale diecast in 2003. For many years Exoto models were always on my ‘must have list. Times changed and for ten years in a row I did not buy a single Exoto model. This year I finally added one Although it is an old one that I bought off E-Bay. While Exoto models still make up just under 27% of my collection the purchase gap speaks to Exoto’s demise in the industry and the very high cost of the few models that they still show for sale.
This year resin cars once again rule the roost. This speaks not only of cost but to the fact that the images that I want are increasingly only available as ‘sealed’ resin models.
Here is a snap shot of my collection for your consideration.
Current collection – 350 cars – All but four are on display. Four of them are 1:12 scale the rest are 1:18
Cars added this year – 8 (one up from last year)
Cars sold this year – 0
Cars in collection modified from stock – 212 (including four “finish line” cars)
Cars on pre-order – 2
Focus of collection: Sport racing cars of the 60’s & 70’s.
New Models Added This Year:
EXOTO – 1964 Cobra Daytona Coupe body buck
SPARK – 1963 Cobra Aero top Roadster #4 Le Mans
TECNOMODEL – 1978 Ferrari 512BB #87 Le Mans
ACME – 1966 Pontiac GTO
ERTL – 1966 Chey Chevelle SS39
REPLICARZ – 1958 Scarab MKI #16 Santa Clara
SPARK – 1969 Ford GT MKI #22 Sebring
SUNSTAR – 1970 Datsun Fairlady Z S30
Most impressive model added in 2025 overall: For me it would have to be the Cobra roadster
Most attractive model added in 2025 - Ferrari 512BB
Most represented model manufacturer – Exoto with 93 cars. (but only one over the last eleven years!)
Next most represented – AUTOart with 33 (but just two over the last seven years)
Most represented make of car – Cobra and Ferrari are now tied with 79 models. Next is the Ford GT with 35
Most purchased make of cars in 2025 – Cobra – Added two models
Cars that once again never arrived: – 1964/65 FIA spec Cobra roadsters (in 1:18 scale)
I’d also like to see a Cooper/Ford ‘King Cobra’ and the original 427 Ford GT’s that ran at Le Mans in 1965.
The Chaparral 2D did not arrive but is again still being promised by Replicarz for , 2022, 2023 2024, 2025 (Although there was just word recently that they might not make it at all unless they get more pre-orders!)
Top “custom” addition to my shelves 2025: Two this year The GTO and the Chevelle
Value of the year: Replicarz – 1958 Scarab MKI . But only because I got it deeply discounted thanks to a damaged box
As a straight up deal, I would have to say the Sunstar Datsun ‘Fairlady’ ZS30 was my best buy for the money
My collection space has not changed but space has run out! Will have to look at converting one of the shelves now holding books into a car shelf and also look at getting smaller display boxes (since most of my models are 60’s era race cars they can easily fit into the nominally 5”x10” cases sold for 1:24 cars) See included example of a stack of the smaller case
If any of these cars are of interest let me know and I can answer questions and post more photos
I still get to spend time at my computer surrounded by my collection – life is good!
This topic was modified 5 months ago by franklemire
11/12/2025 11:09 pm
"...have to look at converting one of the shelves now holding books into a car shelf."
I've done that a few times! 🙄 🙄
Frank, your dedication to maintain "the books" is commendable! I know of only a few others willing to go to such lengths to ensure accurate & up-to-date records. You have one hell of a collection, thanks for sharing!
PS
That Cobra body buck model was a favorite of a friend of mine - he was a "Cobra nut." It's a unique replica; I can certainly see why YOU had to have one! 😎 😎
Topic starter
11/12/2025 11:37 pm
I enjoy keeping track of my collection - it helps keep me focused. And as for your 'Cobra Nut' friend I'll see his body buck model and raise him 48 Daytona Coupes
12/12/2025 6:42 am
@franklemire Years ago, I sent him a pic of your Daytona section - not quite at 48 then, but no less impressive - needless to say, he was blown away on two fronts: the sheer volume and your comprehensive presentation style.
OTOH, I could drill additional holes, adjust those shelves and, well.... gain a lot more space.
- just say'n 😉 😉
Steve Jacobs and Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
12/12/2025 8:39 am
@chris I know I could pack them tighter but then you can't really see much of the car. For me there isn't much point in displaying them if you can't really see anything beyond the headlights.
Steve Jacobs and Christopher Moroni reacted
12/12/2025 10:46 am
"...there isn't much point in displaying them if you can't really see anything beyond the headlights."
Hmm.... so sorry to hear you say that. 😔 😔 😔
😀 😀 😀
Topic starter
12/12/2025 12:23 pm
@chris You must have somebody come in to dust......LOL. In truth, putting my cars behind glass (Plexiglas actually) in dark cabinets reduces viewing more than I would like. I keep telling myself that I'm going to paint the inside of my cabinets white but I never seem to get around to it. I do like that, like me, you seem to be of the mind that there is no point of having a collection if it is not displayed.
12/12/2025 12:57 pm
You must have somebody come in to dust......
...yeah, I have additional walls that look like those two, but honestly dust is really not a problem. As you may know, I often fabricate and/or augment 1/18 models. Many projects involve cutting diecast - therefore, I create dust. Periodically, one minute with a traditional feather duster is all that's needed. I have more in N-scale trains (which are not displayed ) 🙄 🙄
I understand your hesitation about painting.... have you considered large but inexpensive backer-board? Durable, poster-size sheets can be inexpensively purchased, cut to fit and installed in mutes (after YOU remove your models ).
You might want to spend $5 on a few white - or any other color - "trial pieces." It's a quick & easy way to accomplish a "white background." 🤔 🤔
Topic starter
12/12/2025 2:00 pm
@chris That's a great idea! In truth the biggest thing stopping me from painting is having to take out all the cars - I've got no place to put them while I paint - that's what makes your idea sound so good - maybe next year!
PS - Seems strange that we are all alone here. I guess my year in review and the buys I made are just not of much interest. I was expecting to at least get some comment about the custom work on the Chevelle and the GTO but I guess that like me they are just old news.
12/12/2025 2:00 pm
DUST! The silent enemy of ALL collections! What I've learned is that dust levels vary by geography.
I've noticed that when I visited my hometown, Detroit, my late brother-in-law's model collection was on shelves, fully exposed to the elements and collecting dust. However, despite being uncovered, his models always looked pristine to me and virtually dust-free. I found the same dust dynamic to be the same when I lived in dust-free Hawaii. Indeed, since I live in So Cal, my collection, which is encased in the "protection" of glass cabinets, still always has dust.
My dust problem is less than what I used to experience when my models were on shelves with no protection, but they are definitely not dust-free like my late brother-in-law's collection. What I'm trying to say is that the dust in Michigan is far less than I experience in Southern California. I've reasoned that since rain is frequent in Michigan, the dust environment is "washed" down drains. In California, where we go months without rain, the dust doesn't wash away; it just percolates through the air. Hence, more dust. I'm unsure that's scientifically viable, but it's a hypothesis I've always thought might be true.
12/12/2025 2:04 pm
BTW, I was surprised to see the Chevelle and GTO in your collection. It seems antithetical to your almost exclusive focus on racecars. I was surprised to see how many 2025 additions I have to my collection.
This post was modified 5 months ago 3 times by Marty Johnson
Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
12/12/2025 3:00 pm
@marty-johnson Interesting observations about dust. It can get pretty deep here.
As for the GTO and Chevelle - The 1966 GTO was my favorite car of that year - loved the styling then and now - I'm a sucker for the 'over/under' headlights - it's my all time favorite muscle car.
The Chevelle model is in honor of a good friend of mine who did a full restoration of one. I always kid him that the problem with his car is that the fit and finish are superior to anything that ever came off a Chevy assembly line. The only problem he had is that being an old 'hotrodder' he could not abide the stock wheels and tires. I changed the wheels and tires and adjusted the rake of the model to match his car.
Oh, and on both models I removed the rear windows because back in the day if it was warm enough to ride with the windows down you ALWAYS put them all down!
12/12/2025 3:03 pm
A superb and extremely well-documented collection, many being one-of-a-kind replica automobiles. And dust can certainly be a troublesome and a nearly universal enemy !
Marty Johnson reacted
12/12/2025 3:27 pm
@franklemire - Well, it's cool that you managed to acquire models in scale of your all-time favorite muscle car and a tribute to your buddy! Although I was a hardcore Ford Fan, I've always admired the '66 GTO. Of the GTO cars, it is MY all-time favorite!
It's interesting that your prized GTO and your friend's Chevelle served as the basis for two of my major modification projects.
David Green and Christopher Moroni reacted
12/12/2025 4:54 pm
1) "That's a great idea!"
2) "...at least get some comment about the custom work on the Chevelle and the GTO."
1- Thanks... I have a music room and did the very same thing, only in black - that backer-board makes great vertical partitions too. 😏 😏
2- Oh no.... I NOTICED that Chevelle & GTO but tried to "contain the conversation." I knew you had performed a wheel swap & window surgery (NICE work BTW! ) but once I mention that then I would've shown pics of my last project - whereas I "carved up" a 1/18 '48 Woody to make all the sealed doors & tailgate functional... then my post would've been 8 paragraphs long.... 😫 😏
PS
It's not that people don't care about your "inventory control," it's just something they can't relate to. As I noted, FEW collectors actually do this. Of course, we ALL should, but....
Marty Johnson and David Green reacted
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