Model Car Icons

The Mercedes-Benz O 317 race transporter is one of the most evocative support vehicles in motorsport history, and Schuco's 1:18 scale replica in Porsche Martini Racing livery captures exactly why these transporters have become collectible in their own right.

The Porsche 935/78, better known by its nickname Moby Dick, is one of the most distinctive race cars Porsche ever built, and CMR has released a 1:12 scale resin replica that captures it in genuinely striking detail.

No manufacturer dominates the collector diecast market quite like Porsche. The combination of motorsport history — Le Mans victories, Nürburgring records, Group C supremacy, and GT1 dominance — and an extraordinarily diverse road car lineage gives Porsche collectors a subject range that is effectively inexhaustible. At every scale, from the highly detailed 1:12 showcase pieces through to the deep 1:43 catalogue, Porsche is the most consistently well-served manufacturer in the hobby.

The diecast model car market has never been in better shape. Whether you collect 1:18 racing legends, curate a 1:43 Formula 1 grid, or pursue the premium 1:12 sector where craftsmanship begins to approach fine art, the range of subjects, manufacturers and price points available today is genuinely extraordinary. This guide covers what the serious collector needs to know: the scales that define the hobby, the brands worth following, and the categories that drive the most interest right now — and where to browse a deep European catalogue of collector-grade model cars.