I think these high-profile collections have an aura of provenance that attracts a wide range of collectors. Folks get excited and wrapped up in the bidding. They're desirable models with a well-known collector's name associated with them offered by a trusted auction house. It's the only way to explain $2000 for USA Good Humor or $2800 for a T&C convertible.
I will be looking out for model cars that are not sourced from a trusted auction house or that have an aura of provenance to obtain at a realistic price.
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
There were plenty of good deals on Elegance models, including a Rolls Royce (Claude may have produced more different RR models than Cadillac) and of course,
this Good Humor model always sells well..
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I'm sure glad I did not need that Chevrolet good humor truck having one in my collection already worth less than $10 by Road Champs.
I only wonder looking forward if the supply of large collections going to auctions will increase as our fellow collectors, sadly pass on. Will there be enough new active collectors to take up this supply and keep prices up as we saw in the recent Ralston auction?
And on another note, I see in today's Wall Street Journal,page A2, that the new 10% duty on Chinese goods includes toys, and is shown with a photo of a Tonka truck. I suspect that all the Chinese made diecasts and resin items will fall into the toy category for application of the duty. However, i have noted some recently acquired items are now made in Bangladesh Could this be in anticipation of duties, or is it due to even lower production costs outside China?
Regarding Bangladesh - some diecast companies have been transferring manufacturing to Bangladesh and Madagascar(!) for years now. Costs in China are much higher than it used to be, and logistics dictates the location of new factories on the same shipping route. Ixo partworks, for example, have been made in all three countries.
I had 191 bids on the auction, didn't win a single one. But I bid low, as I only buy for resale. Some prices surprised me. There is an invisible cohort of collectors out there who don't look at eBay, don't attend model shows and pay whatever price they are being asked to pay. I wish I had them as my customers - I would have arrived to Chicago on my personal jet and give you guys a ride.
There are plenty of active collectors out there. The question will be, "What do they collect?" Most of the newer generation of collectors will have different tastes than we do. With a demographic/age shift and greater fidelity than ever before, some of the precious jewels we value will fade in price. The same thing happened to tin toys, Zamac, promos, and, more recently, 1/24 scale models. As the collectors of cars from the thirties to the fifties move into a season of life that deals with fixed incomes and a new generation of collectors move into their prime earning years, the focus will move to cars from the sixties through the eighties. The makers of scale models that move with the market will survive. Those who continue to cater toa dwindling base will not. This is exactly what happened to the mints.
I don't see the hobby ever going away, despite the thoughts that young folks aren't interested in cars. Too many out there are stancing their rides, putting loud exhaust on, adding lights along the chassis, and 25" wheels. These guys are not modifying '58 Chevies. They're modifying Hondas. The market is not going away; it is changing.
Regarding Bangladesh - some diecast companies have been transferring manufacturing to Bangladesh and Madagascar(!) for years now. Costs in China are much higher than it used to be, and logistics dictates the location of new factories on the same shipping route. Ixo partworks, for example, have been made in all three countries.
I had 191 bids on the auction, didn't win a single one. But I bid low, as I only buy for resale. Some prices surprised me. There is an invisible cohort of collectors out there who don't look at eBay, don't attend model shows and pay whatever price they are being asked to pay. I wish I had them as my customers - I would have arrived to Chicago on my personal jet and give you guys a ride.
And speaking of Madagascar, I found this modern 43rd scale Prevost bus in Greyhound livery on Ebay. It's made there and is of a very unusual material, a sort of fiberboard/cardboard material very expertly painted and liveried. The wheels do not rotate but the detail is quite exceptional. Just had to add this one to the bus collection. There are others on offer as well.
And speaking of Madagascar, I found this modern 43rd scale Prevost bus in Greyhound livery on Ebay. It's made there and is of a very unusual material, a sort of fiberboard/cardboard material very expertly painted and liveried. The wheels do not rotate but the detail is quite exceptional. Just had to add this one to the bus collection. There are others on offer as well.
John, are you sure about Madagascar? I saw a lot of these made in Sri Lanka.
And speaking of Madagascar, I found this modern 43rd scale Prevost bus in Greyhound livery on Ebay. It's made there and is of a very unusual material, a sort of fiberboard/cardboard material very expertly painted and liveried. The wheels do not rotate but the detail is quite exceptional. Just had to add this one to the bus collection. There are others on offer as well.
John, are you sure about Madagascar? I saw a lot of these made in Sri Lanka.
Albert, you're absolutely right it's Sri Lanka not Madagascar. Got my two Indian Ocean islands confused.
