Whats happened to all the 1/43 scale cars?

There is a lot that is coming out in 1/43 but the finer detailed scale cars.

Check out this place I get some nice ones here.

http://www.eautomobilia.com/

You can search by scale or $ or in stock. Click on US for US pricing.

These guys have a lot more of trucks then cars 

http://www.3000toys.com/

And there are other diecast companies in US that sell some really nicely detailed stuff at all price ranges!

The detail they are doing now is stunning !  

http://www.eautomobilia.com/pr...-NEO-143-Resin-model

http://neoshop.replicars.nl/in...b=43&marke=Buick

These guys make a lot of 1/43

Diecastdirect.com is a good source with great pricing as well

Glad I bought so many years ago for $2.50 to $4.00.

Fred

We (LHS) work with Diecast Direct for our 1:43, 1:50 O scale complementary vehicles.  I just received another large shipment of various makes/models/colors this week.  I could've ordered more, but we have to manage cash flow.  There were LOTS to choose from.  Prices varied according to mfr, detail/finish level, quality, etc..  But we've learned the mix that O2R/O3R customers....and diecast auto collectors, too!...are inclined to follow.

Re the 'box' stores carrying them, or no......It might not have been as good a seller for their overall product line mix.  Time to move on to something else?  I wouldn't judge the overall diecast car availability by 'box' store availability.

Diecast vehicles are a hobby unto itself.  There are many folks who buy/collect diecast cars just because they're into car model collecting, it's affordable, it's fun, it takes not much space in the home to display, it complements 1:1 auto shows VERY, VERY well, etc., etc..   The 1:43 size is not the result of serving the O2R/O3R toy train market.  That's a common size born of the diecast vehicle collectors industry.  There's probably more to THAT story than I'm acquainted with, but I've not taken the time to research it further.  (Chime in, any of you historians in the diecast vehicle hobby!)

The one branch of toy trains that is truly served well by the diecast vehicle biz is S gauge, 1:64.  Talk about a plethora of inexpensive, gorgeous auto products out there of that size?!?!.....! 

Diecast-only brick&mortar stores are hard to find anymore.  The last one I was into several years ago was in Canada, somewhere around Hamilton, I believe.  I would wonder whether they were still there....or if I could even find them again!!!

Keep trying.  They're out there!

KD

After wading through eautomobilia's cumbersome site, where the important phrase is:

"not in stock", and pricing seems above usual eBay listings, with nothing there not

found on the auction site, I won't make that foray again.

The so called "Box stores" often offer cars that are a bit larger than 1:43. Price-wise, except for some of the Yat Ming models, you usually get quality = to the price you pay.

Try modeltrainstuff.com.  (scroll down)  They have Yat Ming vehicles starting at $5.99

The nice thing about Dave's suggestion above is that Diecast Direct is one of our advertisers!!.... 

Alan

I agree with, Dave & Alan's suggestion of diecastdirect.com. I've never noticed any quality pieces at the big box stores. Have you tried the bay?

Go:   DIECAST DIRECT!!

FREDSTRAINS

My son is a manager at a Rite Aid store. They still stock a full display case full of 1/43 die cast in the $5 range. They often go on sale for 25 to 50% off.  They are entry level cars.....not as detailed as $50 cars.....but they don't cost that either. Lots of exotics and sports cars.....but I recently picked up a mid 50's Caddy that was nice for $2.50!!! 

My local CVS Drugs has a display of cars & trucks in the $3.00-$5.00 range. There is usually a mix of 1:36 and 1:43 vehicles of all kinds.

Please look in the Scenery Sourcelist, too!

Dave G.

Dave G....good idea!!

Alan

I don't think I showed this new 1/43 car I got last week.......

1975 Matador from the Bond film 'Man with the Golden Gun'.

(Got this movie car Lee?!?!?!?!?)

I bought it because it was a AMC Matador of which I own a real one.....and there are not many models of them. It was pretty cheap for as nice as it is.  Even has the bad guy and 'tatoo' in it.....

Way cool Matador nice detail.

As for the comment;

?After wading through eautomobilia's cumbersome site, where the important phrase is:

"not in stock", and pricing seems above usual eBay listings, with nothing there not

found on the auction site, I won't make that foray again."

Actually it works very well when you figure out how to use the search function. 

First thing is if you are in US click on the US pricing top right.

They give a bit of a deal or discount to the local guys that are in the train club, and have a few sales each year with some deep discounts for older stock. So can be good pricing depending on your location and what you are looking for.

http://www.eautomobilia.com/ca...n%20Models/American-

Click on what category you are looking for then scale, then availability, click on 1 - 10000000 it will show how many are in stock as you highlight it. This shows what is in stock. Works well for specific car type searching.

Diecast Direct is a great place just a bit harder to find types of cars. They have a lot of stuff and great pre order deals. But need to wade through pages and pages of stuff to see what is available. Nice selection of different price ranges and good stock.

I'm not a big fan of their catalog. Pages have different scales mixed helter-skelter. One needs to be careful that the item they want is the correct scale before placing an order.

It's easy to find 1:43 vehicles for almost everyone...low price to high price. Just do a search for 1:43 and have pen & paper to write down info on what you like. It's important to know brand names no matter where you search on line.

Big box stores would rather sell more noticeable large scale and cartoon related items. For them that's where the money is. 

Bob

And I wholly agree with Big Jim on this!  Their snail-mail catalog is good for the mag rack in the loo, but for searching/ordering, their website is the ONLY place to go.  There's more on the website than is published in their paper catalog, anyway.

The nice thing about the website for us is that you can search by scale.  You can ask to see all things 1:43, 1:48, 1:50, or break it down to type...auto, truck, farm, etc..  VERY handy!!!  And their special sale listings and 'last ones' listings are fun to check on regularly.

BTW...I thought they were listed to be at York last Spring???   I thought they were to be in Orange Hall.  Did I miss them, or did they cancel??  Anyone know??  Hope they're there in October!!

KD

I have the DD paper catalog and some pages do have mixed scales but everything is clearly marked with name of vehicle, scale and price.

Bob

I picked up a couple of 1/43 cars by Welly this morning at Dollar General. At $2.50 each they are VERY NICE!! Too modern for my layout.....but looked so good I had to have them. Austin Martin even has chrome trim around side windows.

If you model modern or just want 'cars' to fill the layout.....hard to beat at 2 for $5!

How many of you want an Astin Martin on your layout because it's cheap?

Bob

Just a note on the more expensive models.

The cheaper models seem to have a lot of painted on detail and less parts to break off.

The more expensive models can be easily damaged.

There can be really delicate mirrors, antennas, door handles etc. that are very fragile and very loosely glued on  and come off really easily.

If you are using the models on a layout that is going to be handled or needs to be dusted be careful with what you are putting on the layout.

A truck I took out of the box recently had really nice chrome looking pin striping side panels. Just taking it out of the box a couple of small parts fell off then trying to glue them back on found the pinstriped chrome trim peeling off.

I am tending to use the cheaper less detailed models on my layout where I have some dust issues and the really fine detailed models stay in the plastic boxes or are displayed in a case with dust covers. 

BK(Bob),

I would like to know exactly what the OP is looking for. Judging by what I found on line this morning. The selection is out there. The big variable is, How much are you willing to spend?

It is not my intention to high-jack this thread. Your point is perfectly clear. As I packed my 1:43 diecast for temporary storage, I made a detailed inventory. My total was 58 cars and trucks. All 1920-1940 era, all different and not cheap.

Place the detailed cars up front to see the detail, and the lesser cost cars in the back!

NONE....as I model 1957 and it's a 2009 Austin Martin. But being a car guy and working in the model car hobby I notice cars more than the average person might. And I see LOTS of filler cars on layouts. To many they are just scenic fillers and the make, year and model do not matter much. There were 5-6 different makes including M-B.   Was not trying to FORCE you to go out and buy anything..........was trying to offer very nice alternatives for those that want fillers that are well made regardless of era. Thanks!