[Closed] After reviewing the excellent coverage of the Countryside show...

Yes! Those were the aspirational cars of their youth.

How to increase interest in 1:43

I think if, at this scale, more models were made with opening doors and/or hoods and/or trunks it might help. It would also be fun if one had 1:43 scale figures that were positionable or, at least, more 1:43 figures than are currently out there. These additions would allow for some imaginative ways for the owner (whether a teenager or 65+ y.o.)to interact with these beautiful models (e.g., in a diorama or photo shoot) - at the risk of shearing off a few side mirrors and hood ornaments.

Resulting in a core business for GreenLight with the Fast and Furious franchise.

I'm wondering what GreenLight's overall demographic is? Much younger than most of us I'll wager.

It's inevitable. The market will always cater to adults with disposable income.

It stands to reason that Gen X, as they enter their prime earning years, will gravitate toward cars they saw on TV and in video games. The hobby won't go away. But it will change. Savvy folks like Sergio have tapped into a market segment that was once considered a waste of time, cars of the sixties. Watch what happens here. The late sixties and muscle cars will be the next wave and after that...the seventies! There are folks out there that cut their teeth on Malaise Era cars. They'll want them on their shelves at some point. Maybe not a lot of them. But then, there's really not a lot of us. There will be enough to keep the hobby alive.

I want a Pinto and a Vega now!

We've already had Pacers.

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Nooooooo.........well then, if you must please make it a Vega GT.

I agree with what you say. We have seen the era popularity change from less 1920-30s to more 1960-70s in recent years. As you mentioned John, Sergio Goldvarg has very astutely tapped into the 1960s and I'm sure he is pleasantly surprised by the market response to his quality models. As more years go by it will continue to change; the 40s will fade in popularity, then the 1950s and so on. I accept that the eras I collect will be done by model companies with lesser frequency. I'm not that bothered by it as I have a great number of models here that I love and which represent almost all of the cars that interested me over many years (note: I did say almost). I will likely collect fewer each year and that's okay too. The hobby will continue in an ever-changing manner.

A very interesting thread. On the subject of new model subjects..

when we were kids in the '50s, all Dinky and Corgi Toys were of modern up-to-date subjects that our parents either owned or aspired to and we thought we'd like to own. I remember wondering why nobody made models of 1930s cars and so had to resort to wood and sandpaper! Then the white metal revolution started in the late 1960s and all the old subjects flooded in, made by artisans and taken up by the larger makers. The collectors market has largely been stuck in that time-warp...perhaps things will change but do younger people collect anything in these modern times, apart from debt?

I think Harvey has touched on a small way the hobby mighy stay alive.

Movies. The young people that watch the movies want the cars.Can't afford the real ones so look for the models . That's why Greenlight has concentrated on the movie cars.There are a large group that only collects movie cars and other movie artifacts. Other than the cars from movies, I don't see young people having much interest in models and that's OK. Young people today have a world with so much more to offer. My grandson who is 9 years old has a few 1/43 supercars but it is far from the passion that we had for model cars as kids. Also, we now live in a disposable society. Phones and other electrical gadgets are tossed out as soon as a more modern one comes along. It is difficult for any industry to capture a young persons interest as a collector. Another area suffering is craft stores. Michaels for some time has been offering discount coupons to get people in the doors.The way I look at it - I enjoy my collection of 1/43's while I'm alive and can, after that who cares.

A-E/Neo had the jump on this already - look at all those land yachts they made years ago.

The dude abides.

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LOL. Perfect!

Then there is Neo's K-car, GLM's minivans, and Matrix' '75 Malibu.

They may have historical interest in the evolution of the motorcar -- but to display one [at 100 bucks] was off the beam.

If the model makers really want some youger buyers of more modern American subjects get someone who lived here and knows what was "aspirational". Again I say look at what is being offered in Hemmings etc, or bought up at auctions by gents with money and in their 50s- 60s.
Don't even be concerned with those in their 40s and under because fewer were car-crazies.

Another avenue could be roping in some of the model train crazies?

In my opinion th fastest way to go broke is to create a line of model cars that appeal to those under the age of 40.