[Closed] A somewhat new twist on the cost perspective.

Unfortunately I can't afford that luxury any more at almost any price.

It would have to be an absolute "must have" car for me. There are a number that I would spring for in that price including most any Imperial from the mid 50's to the mid 60's. There are many others that would catch my eye too, I'm sure. It wouldn't be like the old days when I was paying for 6 cars at a time in some stretches but it would still be fun.

I would be interested if the cars I like were available, i.e. Riv and GP.

Would take some thought. I used to purchase 10 to 15 new

Danbury, FM models per year so that is say $1,500 plus what I was able to find on ebay and a few models on the D4C but I was working in those days and not on fixed income. There are not many models that I want anymore. I have little interest in models after 1968, they all look the same out of the wind tunnel and the colours range from silver to white to black with the odd red one. I have little interest in European, Japanese or Korean models.

Another hindrance is the $.70 Canadian dollar so a US$ costs me over CDN $1.40

@ Thomas Struckman: You pose some interesting comments and food for thought.

And I for sure agree with you that prices have went up on everything, and if Danbury Mint were to re-enter the 1:24 die-cast scale market, no doubt the price of the cars would be higher than what we were paying 10 or even 5 years ago.

But my perspective has changed a little over these last few months, especially most recently with finding my Franklin Mint 1955 Pontiac (black over red) hardtop literally rotting and warping in front of my eyes. The front end of the car now looks like was in a collision.

That car, along with the companion (red over black version, which as also developed serious paint rash) originally sold for $140. And though this warping and rot is isolated, it now makes me really ask myself, how much am I willing to pay for these little cars with the possibility of this decay destroying a car?

Everyone here knows that I've always felt that somewhere between $150 and $200 is about the maximum any of these cars is worth, and now I believe that more than ever.

I've never bought any of my cars with their being an investment in mind, but I also do not want to pay upwards of $200 and more knowing that the possibility exists that the car may be afflicted with metal rot and paint rash.

Just the other day on the D4C Auction, I bid on a DM 1962 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe Limited Edition in the amount of $130. I was the highest bidder and am now waiting for the car to arrive.

But here is the thing, as beautiful as the car is, in my heart of hearts, I would not pay over $130 for it, no matter how limited an edition or rare it is.

If the car (or any of my other cars) were to get the cancer, I have to be able to be comfortable that I did not spend above and beyond, what I feel the car(s) are worth. And keeping this perspective in view, I'm better to accept it if they do not hold up.

I have had second thoughts also. I have now started cutting down the size of my collection. Started selling all ready to get them down to about 30 cars.
30 is about all the space I have for displaying them. So why leave them in boxes. They should be out and be seen.
Can't say that I haven't paid that much ($300) for a car before but it was for a car that brought the price.
Now with all the talk about rot and rash on the cars and my limited space it would have to be something special and I don't have it. Or its better then the one I do have.
One thing has happened to me since DM and FM have stopped making the cars it seems I don't have that burning desire anymore. You know that got to have that one feeling.

Thomas, this is an excellent read and I enjoyed your post very much. I belong to a FB model car...

... group whose membership is global. The members are virtually from every continent in the world. Every weekend, the group does a spotlight on different themes to which the members post photos of their models that match the theme. For example, "Red Car Weekend," "German Car Weekend," or "2 Door Coupe Weekend" and photos of models that match those themes would be posted.

Often I post photos of my 1:24 DM, FM, or WCPD models. The members frequently ask all kinds of questions inquiring more information about the models. They ask because although avid and often eclectic collectors, they're frequently unaware that these models ever existed. That would suggest that DM, FM, WCPD and other 1:24 scale makers failed to understand the global appeal of their cars thereby missing an enormous marketing and sales opportunity. Of course, that assumes that there remains other complexities with servicing a global audience that I'm unaware and not factoring into the equation.

Most of these collectors are concentrating on 1:18 or 1:43 scale. I suspect that is only because they had no knowledge of 1:24 and based on the enormous interest in my models, they would have no problem adding that scale to their collections. They buy what they like and scale is irrelevant.

To answer your question, I agree that DM models were underpriced. I would have no problem springing for current market prices for models that I really wanted. Your examples of the Riviera and Grand Prix are two that I would not hesitate to purchase.

Two members from the southernmost continent argue about the scale of diecast models ...

... or their price, I can't tell for sure.

photo no longer available

Hi Marlowe, sorry couldn't resist it ... but I know you have a great sense of humor.

@ John Bono: You and I are in 100% agreement. Having a fuel cover that opens only jacks up the price of the car. As does every other meaningless moving part on these little cars.

Ha! I think the 1:24 guy is on the left and 1:18 guy on the right!

Hum... I think the guy on the left is 1:32 vs 1/24th lololol

Thomas, Minutes? what Mille Seconds for me!