Pre-WW2 vehicles

I agree with you there.  There aren’t enough pre-WW II civilian vehicles out there.  Most of the affordable 1:43 scale  die cast that’s out there is Ford, Ford, Ford or Ford. What’s particularly bothersome is that there’s a whole class of automobile that seems to be overlooked: the common pre-WW II sedan, be it made by Ford or Chevrolet (or Chrysler or Studebaker or somebody else).

True, there are a few fine but costly alternatives out there like Brooklyn, but something downscale would be nice. So would a model of a car or truck that wasn’t made by Ford.

it’s not just broad-gauged two-and three-railers  who’d be interested.  The narrow-gauges would also be interested, whether they be rivet-counting On3 guys or those of us who do On30.

I agree on the lack of models available. The 1930s was considered by many car enthusiasts to be the classic era of automobiles, when streamlining came into its own functional application. The 1935 Ford Coupe is still my favorite, and Rextoys makes a nice one albeit in 1:43 scale. It's close enough in looks to the classic 1938 Plymouth Coupe that Bogart drove in "The Big Sleep"

FWIW: someone gave me the name of a Russian diecast car maker who makes affordable diecast cars of the 1920s and 1930s...and I learned that the Russians essentially had man of the same style autos just different names. I had bought a couple and they were nice, but I cannot remember the name.

I wish we had 1/48 cars and trucks.

Ebay allows you to select the vehicle year when searching for die cast vehicles.

Yes, selection is limited but this at least this narrows the search.

Even Beooklin seems ro have downsized in Covid, as apparently did Diecast Direct?  I model 1940,  and Brookin has made two, only, Chevies for the 1930's, when my childhood roads were littered with them, and an old farmer used to drive by me, waiting for the 1940 Chevy school bus, in a 1934 Hupmobile coupe.  And there are car model collectors to buy these, too.

Minichamps makes a real nice 1928 Ford Model A Standard...in two colors...I am pretty sure they're made to 1:43 scale, not positive. They also made a very sharp '31 Model A Roadster that was sold only in Australia and now can be found on e-bay from time to time.

This topic reminded me of pre-WWII figures and availability...it's really challenging to find figures that "fit in" in, other than railroad worker figures which can be from almost any era.

It really is a shame there's not more to choose from. I wonder if Menards is watching this thread. They seem to be the most innovative of the different manufacturers.

At least Menards makes there cars and trucks in 1/48 scale. 1/43 is too big for me.

Its a real pain in the behind.  I model  2 rail  0 scale , circa  1920 to 1940 , give or take a year.  What's available, in automobiles  (for this period ) are few and far between.  The Diecast market has been dominated by  European companies,  and their  ) scale is 1/43 ,although there are some at 1/50 and a line of toy cars out of Russia that are in between.    The trick is  setting up a scene to trick the eye in to not noticing the size deference. Pairing the  correct size vehicle  and figuring to the scene. Dont cram all the deferent scales together.   I have 3  19 -teens  houses that are 1/50th kits , I uses as company row houses, I have a late 1930's English sedan parked in the 1rst driveway  Looks like an Olds from the back.  A 1920's  Model T PU  on the second , and Infront of the 3rd  a 28 Chevy coop , they are 1/43. 1,50 and 148, all in that order and work in the scene!   As far as finding them , train shows , , the web, and @ Bay.   They are few and far between

Just a note .  The only production of Lt trucks and cars for the civilian market were halted by mid 1941?  The remaining going to the war effort.

There's a guy on FB in the "O scale 2-rail swap meet" page selling plastic kits of Ford trucks in 1/48 scale as used in WWII in the Soviet Union. Can be converted to 1929-33 Ford AA trucks.

Yup Ford had plants there , that were taken over by Stalin, and became Gaz . GM also had plants there.

This thread needs some pictures to get the juices flowing.

In our hobby we have demand for classic 1930s steam engines and streamliners, both steam and diesel, and it seems logical that there would be a demand for vehicles and figures from the era.

All the vehicles in this shot I found by searching on e-bay and scales are likely varying with 1:43 dominating. I like how 1:43 vehicles look good up close to the buildings and near our oversized 3-rail RR tracks. It's a hodgepodge of years, with the taxicab being a Superstreet vehicle and clearly out of place. Corgi makes neat items, though most of them are Ford models that were made overseas, e.g., the Ford Pop,...but some of them look right at home as 1930s era.

Here's a collection of wonderful pictures that were colorized, I love the vehicles and the scenery, great modeling ideas here, city and rural:

Rex Toys made some gorgeous (albeit Ford), 1938s.    I have a wagon, and I have a couple 4 door sedans and a coupe.   they also made a Chrysler Airflow, 1934 I think.    Ertl did a great 1934 I think chevy stake truck that can be kitbashed into all sorts of things.    corgi did a 1956 english ford that passes nicely for a late 30s US model but I think the grill is wrong.     Solidad has done a bunch includeing some nice early 30s packards.     There are also lots of pickup trucks.

Now as most you say, these are mostly 1:43, but since that what most vehicles are, they fit and don't too bad next to the trains.

Over the years in searching out vehicles it seems to be the most popular are the 50s & 60s. When you start looking for modern ,meaning anything in the 2000s or 30s and 40s there seems to be a void.