The automobile has always been a source of fantasies for lovers of beautiful mechanics. The diversity of manufacturers and their specificities have created an incomparable emulation around this attribute, a symbol of our industrial societies.
From the Ford-T to the latest electric models from Tesla, cars exert a strong attraction on enthusiasts which is fueled by heated debates on the respective qualities of the different productions from all the workshops around the world. Showcases of a culture, a way of life and sometimes even political visions, wealthy collectors struggle during Dantesque auctions to acquire the model of their dreams.
However, the inaccessibility of the most sought-after models has produced a parallel world where mechanical enthusiasts can live their passion without breaking the bank, automobile miniaturism. Here, a Ferrari 250 GTO or a Bugatti Chiron becomes accessible to everyone and the dream becomes reality.
Article summary
Scale models: everyone has their car show
Car miniatures, the road to history
The miniature wheel community
Scale models: everyone has their car show
Becoming the owner of a luxury model is not for everyone. This is surely one of the reasons why the craze for automobile miniaturism is not waning. You don’t always have room for three dozen Lamborghini in your garage. So display them in your living room! Especially since the prices, all in all reasonable, of the miniature market help to arouse the admiration of enthusiasts without ruining them. Model cars are easily found on the Internet thanks to numerous specialized sites. Fans of “oldies” like the 1939 Chevrolet Panel Truck or those preferring contemporary and sporty mechanics like Renault’s Formula E SRT, all are able to satisfy their preferences thanks to an incomparable diversity of brands and models.
The scales also vary, 1/18th, 1/87th or 1/43rd format, the most common, everyone has their preferred area and suppliers respond very largely to this increasingly heterogeneous demand.
Car miniatures, the road to history
The first model of the miniature car listed dates back to 1897. Suffice it to say that the fascination with scale models has always existed. The 1930s marked a turning point in their history. The famous English brand Dinky Toys then popularized its reproductions thanks to the quality of their finish. Even today, they are highly sought after by enlightened collectors.
The enthusiasm of amateurs could have declined over time, but this is not the case. Sales continue to increase with the renewed interest in vintage. Contemporaries from the time when the car was still a symbol of luxury coexist with new generations hungry for authenticity. Automotive miniaturism still has a bright future ahead of it!
The miniature wheel community
Automotive miniaturism has spread rapidly on the Internet thanks to an active and involved community. As evidenced by the numerous specialized blogs where amateurs can exchange advice, photos, and good deals. Naturally endowed with a certain taste for precision and attention to detail, these “self-addicts” share their favorites, rants, and spins of the wheel to the delight of their co-religionists. These virtual playgrounds are teeming with relevant activities and analyses. There we meet enthusiasts from all walks of life ready to debate for hours on the finesse of the latest Hot Wheels model or the impeccable quality of CMC productions. Seeing the enthusiasm of Internet users and the enthusiasm of their comments, who wouldn’t want to go on a journey with them? So if you are in your forties and you don’t have the means to go crazy, enter the world of miniatures, you won’t regret it!
