For the love of cars
Many petrol heads collect die-cast model cars, especially those in 1:18 and 1:43 scales.
It's a rewarding hobby with much more to it than just buying random cars and displaying them on shelves.
With a bit of know-how and selective buying, a scale model car collection can even appreciate in value.
Autodealer visited an avid model car collector, Peet van der Walt, to find out how it should be done.
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Peet started out collecting the bigger 1:18 scale cars but, as with all collectors, space eventually became a problem because model cars were parked in just about every corner of the house.
When his wife threatened to throw the whole lot out, he decided to scale down to the smaller 1:43 models and keep them in his garage where they are safe. His 1:43 scale collection is currently nearing the 400 mark and housed in a number of dust-proof glass display cases lined up against the walls inside his double garage.
Peet says it's important to buy cars from reputable makers, known for their attention to detail.
'Minichamps, AutoArt, Spark, IXO and Schuco are some of the popular names among collectors because of the good quality of the models.'
On some models the doors, boot and bonnet even open and all the detail inside and out is exactly like the real car.
Also very important is to never throw the boxes away, says Peet, because, without the box, the car's value drops significantly and collectors are reluctant to buy a car if the original packaging is not included.
As to where to find good cars, he says online shops like that of Margate-based diecast specialist DenKit Hobbies are a good place to start because they list their models according to the respective makes, which makes things easier for the collector.
The parts departments of most car dealerships are usually also a good source for cars and often have a catalogue from which collectors can order, especially the latest models.
Many of Peet's newer die-casts, like his Mercedes-Benzes, were bought from the dealership and, 'being Merc, the quality is as good as the real deal'.
He says avid model car collectors in an area also know each other and form networks, which is good for selling and swapping.
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Peet keeps meticulous record of the die-cast cars in his collection.
Opening the book in which he writes down particulars such as when he bought a car and for what amount, he quickly points out that many 1:43 scale models he bought years ago for R250 or less, are now selling for up to R2 000.
Peet says if only a small number of units were manufactured of a particular car, finding a new one is impossible and the only way to get one now is to convince someone who has it in his collection to part with it.
Most of his cars are quite rare and have thus increased considerably in value, such as his DKW models.
His DKWs are also sentimental because Peet's late father owned a number of these cars, and against the garage's wall are framed photos of him and his father with their DKWs.
Many of the cars in his collection are die-cast models of cars Peet himself owned, such as the 1969 Datsun SSS and the Escort Mark I of the same year.
These are cars he searched long and hard for, and no matter how much money other collectors offer him, will never leave his garage.
Asked whether he plans on buying more cars, Peet chuckles and says, 'All my display cases are full and prices keep on climbing, but somehow there's always space and a reason to keep on buying.'