HEY 1:43 GUYS, THIS IS FOR YOU...

His history was part of what got me started in collecting 143.  This article was very interesting to me 

http://www.joesherlock.com/Decline-Fall.html

Well done, George,and I thank you for this excellent reprint.  We older guys need to be reminded of Dave and the younger ones need to know.  Many thanks!   David H

@d-m-holcombe, you are most welcome David.  

For those interested, I just found and read a moving obituary of Dave Sinclair.  I recommend it to all.  See it at:

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/news/longtime-ocw-reader-advertiser-david-sinclair-dies

@d-m-holcombe, many thanks for the link to the obituary.  

I bought many a model from Dave and had many an hour speaking with him. He was truly a pillar in the early days of quality 1/43 scale model collecting. Dave worked out of his basement and garage. Thanks  George for the nostalgia trip.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

I bought many a model from Dave and had many an hour speaking with him. He was truly a pillar in the early days of quality 1/43 scale model collecting. Dave worked out of his basement and garage. Thanks  George for the nostalgia trip.

You're welcome Bob! 

Have to tell you that with the seemingly endless number of 1:43 scale cars that I've seen out there over the years and on so many different sites, I've begun to kick myself that I never got in to collecting them many years ago.  Never thought I'd say that. 

But at this age/stage of my life I won't/can't pull the trigger now.  There would just be too many that I'd want after I bought just one. 

I'm going to have to regrettably accept that the "train has left the Depot" without me, due to my early stubbornness to want to get on board.  

George, I understand exactly what you are saying. Having collected 1/43 models since the sixties I am continually amazed at the number of models that are available today. I can safely say that it would be impossible for most collectors to collect everything that is being offered today. The real bonus to me is that many of the models offered today are cars that I never dreamt would be done in miniature. I have frequently said that because of their size, there's always room for one more...not so sure of that anymore.

@bob-jackman I was researching something through some old issues of MAR yesterday. It's astounding how much was available even in the 1980s. Those magazines would pack it all in to 50 pages or so every two months, and with font so small it took readers even 30+ years ago.

Such memories!  I got many of his catalogs and ordered a few things from him. He even carried my favorite Teknos from little Denmark! Their prices were not the cheapest back then though! But I do credit Dave Sinclair for promoting and growing the 1/43 scene in the US.

He even wrote a great article in Automobile Quarterly about the breadth of 1/43 model car offerings back then (4th quarter 1979). Many great color photos so it is well worth looking for…

@frank and @mg-harv:  Here is that MAR article back from 2006!

@karl. That’s some great history right there.  Really appreciate you sharing.  As with the evolution of real trains, automobiles, music and toys... the historical context and sociology elements add a significant dimension to collecting.

When I first graduated from the local toy store Dinky-Corgi-Matchbox collecting, two options presented themselves: Sinclair's and Replicars in California. My dad bought me the Rio Isotta Fraschini from the former, I bought a Solido Lola-Climax F1 and a Tekno MG1100 from the latter with my lawn mowing money. I still have the Rio and Solido, but the MG got modified and has since been replaced. Sinclair's was usually a tad pricier than Replicars (which morphed into Becker's Miniature Autos and then Gene Parrill took it over as Marque Products). Dave seemed to cheery-pick which brands and items he would sell (few race cars) while Replicars was all-in on items from everywhere (lots of race cars). Over the years I bought a lot more from Replicars/Becker's/Marque with Sinclair's as a back-up. 

Note in the pic below this is the early Rio version with painted whitewalls.

For some reason, I never found Replicars in CA, but I did use Sinclair's a little and Ricardi's(?) in NY.