ANSON:
Quality varies widely from one model to another, sometimes even from one sample to the next. The best Anson model I have is the Ferrari Dino 246, of which I have three specimens -- in Rosso Corsa (Racing Red, commonly called Ferrari Red), Giallo Modena (commonly called Fly Yellow), and Prugna Metallica (Metallic Plum). This is a fine model, with individual chromed window cranks, separate side marker lights, and some details where they might not even be noticed. General fit and finish is quite good.
Other Ansons in my collection include the Ferrari 550 Maranello in Rosso Corsa (only mediocre in quality), the Porsche 996 Turbo in Arena Red (except for the body paint finish, surprisingly good), the Ferrari 328GTS in Fly Yellow (embarrassingly bad model), the Bugati EB110 (mediocre at best), and two specimens of the Lamborghini Miura, in red and purple (not real good; the purple one is especially poorly fitted). In addition, I have examined their Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabrio and come away unimpressed.
Ansons will generally give you opening doors, hood, and trunklid. The Ferrari 550 Maranello is an exception, failing to offer an opening trunk.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Most Ansons will probably never be particularly valuable, because of the generally low quality associated with the brand. I would anticipate the Dino and the Ferrari 328 to be possible exceptions, since nobody else made the cars, and the Mattel deal will result in their discontinuation. There was a special "Heuer" edition of the Dino 246 offered; that might become valuable. Then again, it might not.
Some of these cars were marketed in French by Majorette (as the "Platinum" line), but are essentially the same model. My red Miura, for instance, is one -- its quality is marginally better than the Anson-brand Miura, but it's clearly from the same assembly line. Some of the "Platinum Majorettes" have both the Anson and Majorette names on the bottom -- they might gain curiosity value, but on the whole I doubt that they'll ever be worth much.
DISASSEMBLY: Ansons can be disassembled with a little care and imagination, but might not be as easy to put together again. Some plastic parts are heat-riveted into place, and would need to be cut and then reglued. A couple hints to remember: 1) Often the steering column snaps into its dashboard bracket from below, and can be left during reassembly until after the body is put on. 2) When it seems that the body should just lift off and it doesn't, try opening the doors. Ansons' doors often have long hinge arms with oversize "elbows", that serve in part to keep the body on.
AUTOART:
This high-end branch of UT just started offering models this year, but already they've made a significant impact. I don't have any yet, but I certainly have my eye on both their Lamborghini Diablo Roadster and their Lotus Turbo Esprit.
Why? Because of my general satisfaction with my UT models, and knowing that AutoArt is by the same people, but better. Because I've heard good things from those who have bought them. And because nobody else makes either of the cars in question.
COLLECTOR NOTES: AutoArt's models have been snapped up by collectors since their first release, and any limited editions are bound to appreciate in value. They seem to be positioned directly across from Kyosho on the quality scale, and they are generally priced a little lower. But that low price seems to be rising steadily as a result of the enthusiastic reception by collectors. Either way, it makes them a good investment.
BBURAGO:
One of the mainstays of my collection, I have, at last count, approximately 16 Bburagos. These cars are made in Italy and retail for about $20-25, but can often be found discounted as low as $10. For this low price you get a generally high-quality model, with Ferraris being the historic forte of the brand. (This may change with Mattel's exclusive license deal with Ferrari).
Probably the best of the low-priced brands, Bburagos suffer a few common weaknesses that I'd like to see addressed. First, most of the late-model, high-performance cars have tires with beautifully accurate sidewall moldings, but the tread is always the same: Pirelli P7. In addition, the tires swell across the center of the tread, and they only seem to come in two sizes: wide (front) and wider (rear). While this is accurate for some of the cars portrayed, it's wrong for a lot more.
My second complaint is a little more minor: these same cars use a steering linkage with flexible tips, giving a strong self-centering action. This is fine in a real car, but annoying in a display model where angling the front wheels makes for a more dynamic-looking display.
Finally, Bburago's accuracy to scale is questionable -- some of their cars may be as large as 1:16; others as small as 1:20 or so.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Bburago offers several different "levels" of models: kit, base model, and Executive. The Executive models come in a fancy box, with a beautiful (and heavy!) wood base, but are otherwise identical to the base models. Most Bburagos are produced by the hundreds of thousands, even millions, and will never be valuable collector's items. They do tend to keep a model in production once released, but they often discontinue a color and offer a new one for different years (except, of course, for red Ferraris!). They also occasionally do release limited editions, such as the Ferrari F40 Evoluzione, and these cars can be expected to appreciate in value. But in general, Bburagos are not a good investment -- just a good value in a good model. Buy them for that.
DISASSEMBLY: One of the things that I like a lot about Bburagos, besides their general quality, is the fact that they are engineered to be easy to build. Most Bburago models are available as kits, and, except for some screws, pretty much snap together. This means that they also snap and screw apart, which makes them especially friendly to the detailer.
On the whole, I highly recommend Bburagos.
EAGLE'S RACE:
See JOUEF.
ERTL:
Once an American brand, Ertl was recently bought by Racing Champions. Ertl specializes in American cars, but the models themselves are made in China. Ertl's primary focus seems to be on American musclecars of the '70s (their American Muscle line), though they do a number of cars from both earlier and later, and a few European cars. In addition, they recently launched a line of classic cars from the 1930s, starting with an Auburn that is said to be magnificent.
One of the common elements (and complaints) about Ertl's models is that they seem to feel no need to give an opening trunk. This is fine if you expect it, but any potential buyers should be aware of this.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Ertls have proven sentimental favorites, probably due to their coverage of the cars many Americans remember from their high school years. So many Ertls have appreciated considerably in value. In addition, Ertl often creates genuine limited edition models, frequently in partnership with other companies, some of which can gain in value quite respectably -- 300% or more. Still, it's not a guaranteed good investment, as Ertl also produces many models -- of mediocre quality -- by the hundreds of thousands.
DISASSEMBLY: I have not disassembled an Ertl yet.
EXOTO:
This Japanese firm is widely known for making racing models of absolutely the highest quality, with exquisite finish and attention to detail. The models are at the extreme high end of the price spectrum, generally starting at prices over $100. Since I don't collect racing cars, I haven't bought any Exotos yet, but I'm considering bending that to get at least one of their Daytona Cobras.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Exotos are consistently expensive. This means that you probably would not lose your entire investment in buying them, but it also means it's hard to get a bargain price. Because if the high entry price, they might not be a good investment for speculators, but their general excellence will be very satisfying to the collector who just wants the best models available, and can afford to pay for them.
Note that Exotos are a prime example of exactly WHY I choose not to collect racing cars: they offer Shelby's Daytona Cobras in six different marking schemes, with detail differences to accurately reflect the prototype cars; in addition, they offer an undecorated, chrome-finished model. To some collectors, happiness is having each version of the car offered. To me, it means they sell you the same model seven times over. To each his own...
GATE:
This is UT's entry-level brand, priced to be competitive with Bburago or Maisto. I've only looked at one Gate model in person so far, but it seemed nicely done. It seems one of the cost-cutting differences between Gate and UT is that Gate will use parts molded in a color, where UT's will have the parts painted (preferable).
One comment I've heard about Gate's New VW Beetle, compared to the Bburago model of the same car, is that the Gate is smaller, but more accurate to scale. Given Bburago's reputation for variable scale, I can believe that.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Gate is a relatively new line, and as such, doesn't have the millions of cars out there that Bburago and Maisto already have. The Big Two also have mass-market distribution well established, where Gate is still generally found in specialty retailers. So the odds are that Gate's models will never be as common as the others, and this rarity can translate into exaggerated value, even in an inferior model (e.g., Polistil or Techno Giodi). Given the relatively high quality of Gate's offerings, they are probably a somewhat better investment than Bburagos, but not as good as their parent brand, UT.
INTEX:
See MAISTO.
JOUEF:
I have only two cars by Jouef, and both suffer serious disadvantages. The first I got was their Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione, which I consider to be one of the ugliest Ferraris ever built. The second is their model of one of the three 1964 250 GTOs Ferrari produced. It's an OK model, but, unfortunately for it, Guiloy produced a much nicer model of another 1964 GTO, one with an interesting roof spoiler -- and it sells for about the same price! So both models end up in disfavor.
But it's not just the unfortunate subjects. The '64, for instance, has doors that don't open much at all, knock-offs on the wheel hubs that don't turn with the wheels, and an engine pathetically lacking in detail. The Evo is no better.
Jouef has on occasion offered some models made from Kyosho tooling: a Nissan 300ZX and Acura NSX. Given the source of the tooling, I would be surprised if they aren't significantly higher in detail and quality. Jouef was sold to another company recently, and the cars are now being offered under the Eagle's Race name. I've been told that the '64 GTO, under the Eagle's Race name, is now somewhat improved. I'm not sure I believe it -- I looked at an early Ford Mustang by Eagle's Race and was surprised to find the instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard, rather than in front of the driver! (I didn't buy that one.)
COLLECTOR NOTES: Jouef has made at least one car that is highly sought-after -- their 1962 Ferrari 250GT Berlinette. I've read a review of their 1:24 Ferrari 330P3 that raved about the quality -- they also make the same car in 1:18, but I haven't seen it personally.
DISASSEMBLY: I haven't disassembled a Jouef yet.
KYOSHO:
This Japanese brand is also known for making high-quality radio-controlled models. Their diecast cars tend to be more expensive than the usual Bburagos, Maistos, or even UT's AutoArt line -- but, based on my single example (Ferrari 512BB, to be reviewed soon!), they're worth it. Expect greater detail in nearly every area: movable popup headlights, carpeted trunks and interiors, spring-loaded doors with fully framed windows, and greater attention to painting throughout the model.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Kyoshos are expensive, and will continue to be. When their Toyota Supras were out of production the prices climbed from the initial $50 range to well over $100 -- I've actually seen one go for over $200! Of all the brands represented here, with the possible exception of UT, Kyosho probably represents the best investment -- and a fine model besides.
Is it a bargain? No, but neither is a real Ferrari. It can still be satisfying and a fine investment.
DISASSEMBLY: I haven't disassembled a Kyosho yet.
MAISTO:
These cars, produced by the May Cheong Toy Company, come from eight factories located throughout China, Taiwan, and Thailand. They retail for about the same prices as Bburagos, maybe a little less ($15-20 range), but they are easy to find discounted to about $10 at Kay-Bee Toys, warehouse stores such as Sam's Club and Price/Costco, and sometimes drugstores and the like.
Maistos will generally give you doors, hood, and trunklid that open, often staying open with either detents or prop rods (but their prop rods are often too thick for the scale, and look ugly).
Unlike Bburagos, Maistos don't tend to focus quite so much on Ferraris, though they have produced the 348tb, 550 Maranello, and F50. They do more American cars, and more lower-end European cars such as the Citroen 2CV. In addition they seem to like doing show cars and prototypes, such as the Porsche Boxster, Ford GT90, and Ford Mustang Mach III concept cars.
Continuing the inevitable comparison between Bburago and Maisto, there are a few quality notes I'd like to add. First, let me say that Maisto's overall quality has improved tremendously in recent releases. In addition, Maisto does possibly the best tires in the business, with good feel, accurate tread patterns, and beautiful sidewalls.
That said, I have to complain about the paint quality in general. Many Maistos -- with the possible exception of the most recent -- seem to have been sprayed indifferently, by robot sprayers on a bad day. The paint is too thick in some places, leaving rough edges at vents and panel lines; too thin in others, fading along corners, and the lack of care really shows when you open the hoods: usually you can see the overspray fading to bare metal. (Possibly the worst offender is their Dodge Viper GTS, where they sprayed right through the louvered hood vents without bothering to mask them, producing a slatted paint pattern under the hood!)
In what seems to be a corporate policy of getting maximum use from their tooling, Maisto will often produce several variants of a given model of car, with just minor variations. I'm not talking about different colors -- I don't consider them to be different models -- but slightly different bodies instead. For example, they offer four different models of Lamborghini's Diablo (Diablo, SE, SV, and Jota), two different Porsche 550 Spyders, and at least two different Corvette C4 Coupes (regular and ZR-1), three if you count the limited-edition "Last C4," which had special wheels.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Almost ALL Maisto boxes are labeled, somewhat misleadingly, "Special Edition." This doesn't usually mean Limited -- it's just a marketing schtick. Maisto does produce a few limited editions, mostly pace cars and the like, which don't usually show up in the little models list they include in the boxes. Some of these genuine limited editions do seem to gain value with the specialist collectors -- such as pace car collectors -- but don't mortgage your house to invest in them. Maistos, like Bburagos, are made by the millions.
You might also see some cars marketed under the name "Intex." These models, in Intex boxes, are undisguised Maistos -- they even have the same Maisto bases. My Maisto Lamborghini Diablo is identical, in every way, with my Intex/Maisto Lamborghini Diablo.
DISASSEMBLY: To a large extent, Maistos can be disassembled with a screwdriver. But they also have some parts that are either heat-riveted or glued, and won't cooperate. In addition, the wheels on Maistos are notoriously difficult to get off the axles, and usually break if forced.
MAJORETTE:
This is a French brand. The only Majorettes I have personally encountered were the "Platinum" line, which are rebadged Ansons in boxes with French markings. See Anson.
MATTEL:
This American toy megacorp has finally jumped into the 1:18 pool, and the waves are huge. No stranger to diecast cars, Mattel has been making the (approximately) 1:64 Hot Wheels line for years. They finally decided the 1:18 market was too big to ignore, so they went out and signed an exclusive licensing deal with Ferrari. This gives Mattel control over all toys and apparel bearing the Ferrari name or logo; the terms have not been released publicly, but the buzz is that it's for ten years. The effect has been that everybody else who made a Ferrari model has had to discontinue them -- this is especially hurtful to Bburago.
Mattel's website announced that their own 1:18 Ferraris would be released in the summer of 1999, starting in May, but I have yet to see one (as of September). I'm told they are finally shipping, and the quality is mediocre.
The Mattel/Ferrari deal has generated a tremendous amount of resentment among collectors, both by depriving them of models they wanted and variety in the marketplace, and just the general fact that this megacorp comes in and BUYS its way past everyone else, steamrolling over the little guys. There are some people who say we should boycott Mattel's diecast cars; sentimentally, I want to agree with them, but I'm also curious as to how well Mattel will pull it off.
Incidentally, Mattel actually managed to get a few non-Ferrari models on the market first: most notably, in my opinion, a ZL-1 Corvette and the TVR Speed 12. If they had begun this way, competing on an even footing rather than slapping everyone else in the face, they might have generated enthusiasm rather than resentment. The exclusive deal with Ferrari suggests to me that they were afraid of competition, so they paid to ensure that there wouldn't be any.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Mattel doesn't do anything on a small scale; the profit margins aren't high enough. Since I'm sure the Mattel diecasts will be produced in millions, I doubt that they will have a very high collector value. I do expect them to release some limited editions, with more detailing and unreasonably high prices; they've done it with Barbie dolls and collectors snap them up. So in the world of corporate economics, they'll probably make a bunch of money. Caveat emptor.
DISASSEMBLY: Not having handled a Mattel 1:18 yet, I obviously haven't disassembled one. But my emotional reaction is that a large hammer and crowbar should do the job quickly.
PAUL'S MODEL ART/PMA:
This is the parent company of UT, Gate, and AutoArt, and is itself a division of Minichamps. Under the Paul's Model Art or PMA name they offer models of racing cars, primarily Formula 1 racers, at a price significantly below that of Exoto. I don't have any, since I don't collect racers, but based on my UT models, I expect the PMAs to be quite good. The general opinion is that Exoto's models are better, but again, they cost significantly more.
POLISTIL:
This Italian brand, which was owned by Tonka for a while, has been out of business for a few years now. These cars become available occasionally on the collector market, but the prices are usually higher than they deserve. I have only two Polistils: their Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari F40 -- I expect to be getting a Ferrari 288 GTO soon. The Countach was the first I got, and I had high expectations, which were generally disappointed (see my Polistil Countach Review). The general design and execution was similar to that of a Bburago, but the paint finish was poor, with lots of "orange peel", and the wheels are solid. The only opening parts were the doors and engine lid -- no trunk. (By contrast, Bburago's Countach has TWO opening trunks, like the real car!)
When I bought the F40 I based my expectations on the Countach, and got pretty much what I expected. Again, the trunk doesn't open, but at least the headlights pop up. This model is better than the Countach, and comes close to its Bburago counterpart in quality.
COLLECTOR NOTES: Before they went out of business, Polistil made a few cars that nobody else has done, and they have become expensive collectors' items: especially the Porsche 959 and the Ferrari California Spyder. I've seen both of these cars exceed $100, far above their value as mediocre models, simply due to rarity. Other Polistils include the Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari 288 GTO, Ferrari 348tb, and Lamborghini Miura. If you want to pay collector prices for their rarity, go ahead -- just don't expect them to be great models.
When Polistil went out of business, Bburago bought up their tooling, which made me, at least, hope they'd make the Ferrari California Spyder and the Porsche 959. Well, it hasn't happened yet.
One more note: Polistil made a number of models in 1:16 scale, which can be easily confused with 1:18 -- especially since they were sometimes different models of the same car! Make sure of what you're getting.
DISASSEMBLY: Polistils disassemble pretty much like Bburagos, generally snapping apart and together easily. This would make them easy to detail, but I prefer to keep mine original. Bburagos are a better starting point for detailing projects, and less expensive to boot.
REVELL:
While related to the American injection-molded plastic model company, the 1:18 diecast models sold by Revell are from Revell of Germany. Revell's offerings include the Pininfarina Mythos (a concept car based on Ferrari's Testarossa), ItalDesign Nazca (concept car for BMW), Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet (slope nose model), Audi Avus Quattro, and BMW 850Ci. They also offer some weird little cars like the Goggomobil, which some collectors seem to find irresistible. The only one I have is the Porsche. On the whole, it seems well executed -- the front turnklid doesn't open, but the convertible top lifts off neatly. If it's any indication, Revell's models should be well executed.
They do tend to be a little more expensive than most Bburagos and Maistos, probably because of the high cost of German labor.
COLLECTOR NOTES: None at this time.
DISASSEMBLY: I haven't disassembled any Revells yet.
ROAD LEGENDS and ROAD TOUGH:
See Yat Ming.
UT:
These fine models, retailing in the $30-35 range, are made in China, and represent several allied brands: UT stands for Unique Toys, which is owned by Paul's Model Art, which makes F1 and Indy cars in 1:18 under the PMA and Minichamps names. In addition, they have added a slightly lower-market brand, Gate, to compete directly with Bburago and Maisto, and added AutoArt to compete at the high level with Kyosho. Finally, there is another division, Biante, which makes models of Australian cars. Quite a mix.
My experience of UT models is admittedly limited: I own their Ferrari 355 Berlinetta and 550 Maranello, and know people who own their BMW Z3 and M Coupe. But examining those four cars will show quite a lot about the models UT produces.
First, their paint is, without exception, excellent. The colors are rich and smooth, without the "orange peel" often found in other makers' products. UT uses strategically placed spots of paint to highlight things ignored by other brands: windshield washers, dashboard vents, and the like. They also include details others skip: for instance, the Ferrari 550 has "drilled" brake rotors with floating calipers. On the underside of the BMW Z3's hood you can see "Z3" painted in red letters on the black. Many of their cars feature a tint stripe at the top of the windshield.
But they fall down in a couple of ways, too. Three of the four UTs listed here have only opening doors and engine compartment -- no trunk or hatch. (The excellent Ferrari 550 is the exception.) All of their tires have plain sidewalls -- no brand name -- and generic tread, though they are more crisply cast than Bburago's. And the engines aren't models of engines in an engine bay -- they are complex extrusions on plates, detailed with paint, to represent an engine. The result is that you can't see through the engine bay, as you can on a real car, or on most other models.
Still, those are niggling complaints, for the most part. The details are usually excellent, and a UT model stands a fair chance of being the best of its type. (See my Ferrari 550 comparison, for example.)
COLLECTOR NOTES: UTs aren't hard to find, but they aren't made in the mass quantities that Bburago and Maisto work in. Many collectors specialize in, or swear by, UT, and they will almost certainly gain in value. While not cheap, UTs represent both an excellent model and a good investment.
DISASSEMBLY: Sorry; I haven't disassembled any UTs yet. But the wheels can be popped off the stub axles without damage, if you're careful.
YAT MING:
This company markets models under the names "Road Legends" and "Road Tough," as well as their own Yat Ming name. My experience is limited to their Road Legends BMW 850i, of which I have a very low opinion (see my review for details), and their Road Tough brand 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which impressed me substantially more. Like most diecast model companies, Yat Ming seems to be improving the quality and detail of their products.
COLLECTOR NOTES: My impression is that it is unlikely that any Yat Ming models will ever be particularly valuable or sought-after, due to their generally low quality.
DISASSEMBLY: Sorry, I haven't disassembled any Yat Mings yet.
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