22 Model Cars. Various sizes. This collection includes several pieces specific to the Hess gas station chain, several Nascar official vehicles, including one in the original box, and realistic copies of Volkswagen, BMW, and Lexus model vehicles, among others. 

Condition: Minor damage to individual vehicles. See images for details.

Largest: 3 1/2 x 14 x 3 in. 

#2365 . 

Model cars first appeared in the early 1900s almost immediately after the proliferation of motor vehicles due to mass production, when German toy companies such as Märklin, Bing, and Carette introduced tinplate replicas that were mainly playthings for upper-class children. The originals were often one single block, with limited functionality, and it wasn’t until after World War I that toy makers began creating larger versions with moveable pieces. Over time, diecast models made of lead and zinc alloys became popular as cheaper alternatives, with the market dominated by French, Italian, and German producers in the 1960s, and the bulk sold through stores in the United Kingdom and United States. A series of economic fluctuations in the 1970s and 80s lead to simpler designs and an increase in the use of plastics, although Italy reinvigorated interest with relatively inexpensive but authentic big-scale models. Since the dawn of the new Millennium, model cars have become increasingly detailed and sought after as collector’s items, with new materials and series emerging in recent years. Limited editions, sports sponsorships, and personal modifications have also contributed to the burgeoning market, and in 2015 miniature car models represented over 30% of the total toy market in Europe alone. By 2020 the diecast model car market in the United States was valued at approximately $272 million, with that number almost doubling since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minor damage to individual vehicles. See images for details.