Diecast cars--What do you do with them?

[oldcarnut]

A good friend of mine passed away several years ago.  A big NASCAR fan, he collected the cars and had boxes upon boxes of them.  One day as I was driving by his house, I saw his son and widow loading up several large cardboard boxes into a car so i stopped to say hi and see if they needed a hand.  He was moving back home so they were loading up all these cars to make room in the attic and taking them to the Goodwill store to donate.  All were new and many still had the receipts inside the flaps. I don't remember seeing ever them displayed anywhere so I reckon he just had them packed away in big boxes.  There is a nice Petty Superbird in his display case still left in the house I'd like to have if they ever get rid of it but they gave me one of the boxes of these cars to take and I've been giving them away to nephews and grand kids to play with at birthdays and Christmas but still have about 17 left to do something with.  What do you guys that buy these cars do with them?  They seem a little expensive to just store away in boxes.  Maybe I should trade them off for parts I need or some Wing car or Mopar diecasts because they're no interest to me and just taking up space. Anyway, how many do you have and where do you keep them?

[Todd Wilson]

They just threw away a lot of $$$$.   Ebay em  or find a toy shop or collector store and try and get rid of them all. Taking to Goodwill is crazy! I have tons of cars packed away. I bought several of the same kind years ago in hopes that one day they will be worth a lot more $ then I paid for them.


Todd

[odcics2]

Sell them to the scrap yard?     

[Ghoste]

I have several and it depends on what they are.  A lot of them are still in boxes and stored away.  If the packaging is unique to the car like the Dick Landy Chargers, then I display them in the box.  Most of the 1:18 Chargers I have are displayed loosely around the house as well as any 1:18 I could find that approximates something I once owned, lusted hard for or made an impression on me.

[bill440rt]

They just threw away a lot of $$$$.   Ebay em  or find a toy shop or collector store and try and get rid of them all. Taking to Goodwill is crazy! I have tons of cars packed away. I bought several of the same kind years ago in hopes that one day they will be worth a lot more $ then I paid for them.

Todd

x2
Some of those cars can be worth a LOT. Ebay or selling them one by one takes a long time, though. But yeah, selling htme as a package to a hobby or diecast shop would have been best, even a pawn shop.
Giving them to Goodwill could be written off as a charitable donation, though.

I've got one display case with some cars on display, others are pretty much in boxes because I just don't have the room.

[oldcarnut]

I don't think they made it to the shelf's in the Goodwill store.  I went there several times for curiosity afterwards to see how much they had them up for sale and never saw them come out.  If somebody bought them from me I'd want to give the money back to the son.  He has a couple of infants himself and probably could use it now.  Some are called banks and have a something like a key under the chassis but it don't look like it would hold much to me to be a bank.  Maybe I can check out a local hobby shop.  I'm getting where I hate to mess with selling on Ebay anymore.  I got a pile of industrial electrical and pneumatic stuff to sell off and I bet it wont be long before the city wants to charge me a business license to sell it.  Just got the notice they want one because of the rental home I have inside the city limits

[Cooter]

I bought an Alan Kulwicki (Spelling?) Car right after he died around 1992. The pit stop scene.

Paid $25.00, valued at last check about 7 years ago $300.00.....

[wingcar]

I have a closet full (and then some) as I use to sell them back in the day.  The NASCAR Die-cast market was really hot back in the late '80s and early '90s.  There are still a lot of people into collecting them it's just that the market seemed to cool after awhile.  Not sure why, perhaps over saturation of the market as a new die-cast came out every time a driver changed his color scheme, even for minor changes.  I had "almost" every one of the original Box (then Red) box Racing Champions cars available back in the day.  I still have a huge selection that I advertise from time to time.    I remember when most shopping malls had a NASCAR/Die-Cast shop.....now they are few and far between.  Too bad they just gave them away as they could have sold them for at least a few bucks to go towards the little ones education.  I have found many old die-cast cars in antique/second hand shops selling for pennies on the dollar because it's the wrong market...to these people they are just toys.  Just remember rule number one...They must still be in the original box to be worth much and they are only worth what someone is willing to pay.

By the way, one of the main reasons I would like to liquidate my collection is that I don't want those I leave behind having to deal with trying to dispose of my collection....that and the fact that many have not seen the light of day in many years.  (If you are not enjoying them, why have them?)

[Ghoste]

Hmm, well when you do decide,, I might be interested in one or two.

[Aero426]

Check on Ebay for values.   In general, I don't think NASCAR diecasts hold their value very well.   When cars come out, it is sort of a flavor of the month kind of thing.    But you might be surprised on a few of them, so look online at completed items and see what they are really going for.    Keeping them boxed up was a good thing.   

[wingcar]

Hmm, well when you do decide,, I might be interested in one or two.

Let me know what you are interested in, I may just have it........you never know.

[Aero426]

I bought an Alan Kulwicki (Spelling?) Car right after he died around 1992. The pit stop scene.

Paid $25.00, valued at last check about 7 years ago $300.00.....

Just found the nice 1/24 scale pit stop scene sold mint in box for $10 on Ebay.     I live in Kulwicki's backyard, and that stuff is not bringing the money it used to.    The good thing is you probably like the item you have and can enjoy it and remember Alan.  

Here is the thing with modern NASCAR diecast.   Once the drivers fall out of the public eye,  the demand really drops off.   In the OP's photo, you have Harry Gant, both Labontes, Wallace cars.   Anyone who wants those probably already has them, or will want a deal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-1-24-Scale-Diecast-Pit-Stop-Show-Case-Racing-Champions-Alan-Kulwicki-Hooter-/261320799050?pt=Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item3cd7eef34a

[Cooter]

Whoever sold it for that was an idiot.. if I can't get at least double what I paid, it'll sit until it WILL bring the money.

[Aero426]

Whoever sold it for that was an idiot.. if I can't get at least double what I paid, it'll sit until it WILL bring the money.

Unfortunately, that ship has sailed.    Who is collecting AK stuff 20 years after his death?   

[RallyeMike]

If collected for enjoyment that's one thing, but there is a false mistique built around these that they are investments. In reality 99% are widely produced and just lose value.

Die-cast is sunsetting. It's just the current version of Beanie-babies, Hallmark, etc. There will always be collectors, but don't expect to make any money off buying them new and holding on until they appreciate.

[Ghoste]

Yeah, I think they were peaking with the musclecar price bubble and the boomers getting their dream car before they were gone.

[bill440rt]

Check on Ebay for values.   In general, I don't think NASCAR diecasts hold their value very well.   When cars come out, it is sort of a flavor of the month kind of thing.    But you might be surprised on a few of them, so look online at completed items and see what they are really going for.    Keeping them boxed up was a good thing.   

I will agree to this to some extent also. True, some cars will hold some value, but I can relate to others plummeting.
I've got a friend who's been liquidating many of his NASCAR diecasts online, at a fraction of what he paid originally. The 1/18th cars seem to be doing OK these days value-wise, but from what he tells me he's taking a bath on the NASCAR stuff.

[Aero426]

The racing stuff seems to have a very short shelf life.     Some of the vinatge race car subjects do OK.  But if you look hard enough, even the 1/18 wing car race cars can be found around $50 which is not much over the original dealer cost.   I would agree that the street car subjects have done better over time.  

By the way, nothing chuffs me more than paying full boat for a limited edition car, only to see it being blown out on clearance nine months later.    I learned that unless I absolutely HAD to have it, I would wait and see.    More often than not, time is my friend.    

[Aero426]

Since we are rolling along, more discussion is encouraged.   I can't say that I am an expert in collecting by any means.   But I like to think I have learned a few things by observing.   One thing is true.   I have done a good job of either wasting money, or funding my estate sale depending on how full the glass is.   

While not in any order, the first point is the most important to understand and it goes beyond collecting diecast.

1. Very few collectible items remain at the same value over time.   It is sort of like a bell curve.   They can go up with demand and they eventually can go down.    Demand over the long term rarely stays constant.    The trick is knowing when to sell before the item has jumped the shark.   (Hint: If you have a large collection of "rare" Dale Earnhardt Sr. cars, it's too late.)

2. Manufactured collectibles (Franklin Mint cars, limited diecast, collectible plates) are the worst bets and rarely increase in value.   There are exceptions, but they ultimately will likely go through the  curve.  

3. Hot Wheels - while iconic, the generation of collectors willing to spend big money is quickly getting older.   If you have a collection and want to realize value, I believe the day is approaching to quietly start selling.  Ditto for large collections old unbuilt plastic model kits.   (I hope I live long enough to score that MPC 68 Charger kit at a good price.)

4. Just because it is hot now, does not guarantee it will be hot five years from now.  The antique and collectible market is constantly changing.  (Hummel figures were hot for our parents.   My generation could care less.)  

5. The next generation is going to be interested in collecting something, but probably not the car and racing memorabilia stuff I love.  They may not even be interested in cars at all.  I do see younger people in antique malls, and to me that is encouraging.

[Ghoste]

Good, I might be able to find that Jimmy Page Stormtrooper figurine at a realistic price just yet.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I keep all mine in the original boxes...Mostly Charger stuff....Some A bodies & GTX's thrown in.

I have 18+ years of Hess trucks in the boxes also....Started those when my oldest was born

[Aero426]

Annual super sale at the local hobby shop.   This tells you everything you need to know about the aging demographic of the hobby.

[bill440rt]

I've got an unbuilt MPC '68, and a '70 but I don't think the '70 is complete. I'd really like to find a '70.

Promo's. That's another area to discuss. I remember some cars selling for crazy money.
Still trying to find a FC7 '70 promo somewhat reasonable. I have a mint B5 one with the original box & decals.

[A383Wing]

I got probably well over 1,000 Nascar die-cast cars...they are not really worth much anymore...I tried last summer selling my stuff and did not get very far....the die-cast craze is long gone...with the exception of a few rare specific pieces...most are not even worth what they were paid for back then

I got about 100 or so 1/18th die-cast Mopars still in boxes left to unload....

[wingcar]

One persons "Collectable" is another's "Dust Collector".   The best rule of thumb is to collect what is important to you without expecting your collection to greatly add any value to your 401k.  Years ago I started collecting some of the toys that left an impression on me when I was a kid.   It was fun and brought back many memories.  But, the key word here is "memories"; I had an emotional connection to these items which gave them value in my mind.  The only way these items would have the same value to others, would be if they too had some sort of an emotional connection, otherwise they are just old toys from a time long gone.   This is the same for old NASCAR die-cast; as most of those interested are older individuals who actually watched these drivers race back in the day.  Today's younger fan has no connection to names like; Allison, Pearson, Isaac, Jarrett, Baker, Yarborough, Turner and others.  Of course they do know Richard Petty but he is the exception to the rule.  I have found that most of the people who inquiry about my die-cast are indeed older or have a collection that they would like to complete, such as the Racing Champions "Black Box" or "Red Box"  cars.

There was an old episode of "Frasier" (if I remember correctly) in which someone on the show started to place stickers on the bottom of items with their value.  Perhaps I should think about doing the same thing and let they worry about selling my collection after I am gone... (Perhaps a good way to get even with any family member who looked down their nose at collecting "stupid toys").....LOL