Big John's Shiny Corvette

A primary and mush overlooked factor in the hobby is income. As collectors age into their prime earning years and being to make enough money to buy luxury items, those who are focused on model cars will buy better and more expensive models. Those models will be of cars they aspired to when they were younger. This is always a moving target for manufacturers. The up-and-coming generation of collectors will not want highly detailed models of cars the Boomers were interested in. You can look to 1/43 scale as a measure of this because that's exactly what's happening. Because of its worldwide appeal, it is a good barometer for the hobby. The scales Marty mentions are another indicator. It's not the retired guys that are buying the high-end 1/18, 1/12, and 1/8 models. It is the younger, successful folks who have finally emerged into income levels that permit them to indulge. 

I think the problem is that there are a lot of people engaged in the hobby right now that believe the only demand is for models they gravitate toward. That's always been the case. But the market continues to grow and expand. My father-in-law has an incredible collection of tin toys and trucks. He's amazed that people want to collect diecast and resin. The problem he has is that his collection, while it was worth ten of thousands of dollars two decades ago, is now worth less than ten thousand. The demand for his toys had fallen due to attrition in his neck of the hobby. People didn't stop collecting, the market just moved on. As long as there are cars on the road, there will be folks who collect models of them. 

@jkuvakas Allow me to be the contrarian, just a little...... 😏 

My opinion (as I alluded to) is that regardless of wealth, positive cash flow, disposable income, etc., I just don't see this modern generation  of collectors ever longing for highly detailed replicas. The Car culture  that Baby Boomers  experienced is simply no longer relevant. I think JADAs, Artisan Greenlights & Johnny Lightnings  will be "good enough."

As Marty noted.... HOPEFULLY, I'm wrong! 🤒 🤒 

They're passionate about their cars, They're just not passionate about the care we care about. Check out Mirage/HPI, or Stamp/GLM's 1/18 models of mid 70's Caddies. They sell out almost immediately. The average Gen X can tell you the difference between a Civic, Accent, Forte, and Corolla...but thinks all cars from the fifties and sixties look the same. Check out the parking lots at shopping centers on the weekends. There are kids gathering with their modified rice rockets and lifter trucks all over the place. 

I know how you feel. I used to feel that way too. But, I began to see things differently when young folks would come into my office, see the models I have there and ask if I had any Civic Rs, Veloster Ns, Ford Raptors, etc. 

@marty-johnson Marty, I was aware that Bill wrote the history on the box. After Bill's visit I found the box which was really cool.