AMALGAM'S ONE-OFF FERRARI 296 GTB MODEL COSTS ALMOST R400,000.

Model cars are great, they’re a way for many of us to own cars that we’d never normally have access to. Sure, they can’t be driven or shown off down at the car meet, but they can still make us feel cool. The earliest scale model cars were often handmade by craftsmen and were typically made of wood or metal. These models were not just toys but also promotional items used by car manufacturers to showcase their new models, in the 1920s-1930s era of model cars, the use of tin became popular, particularly in Germany and Japan. These tinplate models were usually clockwork or friction-powered, adding a cool and dynamic element to the toys. During and after World War II, around the 1940s-1950s: the production of scale model cars saw a significant increase and the use of die-cast metal became widespread. Companies like Dinky Toys, Corgi, and Matchbox led the way. These models became a lot more detailed and realistic compared to earlier versions. In the late 1950s and 1960s, plastic became a popular material for scale models, companies like Revell and AMT began producing highly detailed plastic model kits, which enthusiasts could assemble and paint themselves. The rise of Hot Wheels by Mattel started in the 70s and they introduced highly stylized, vibrant, and robust die-cast cars. These models were designed to be durable and collectable, often featuring fantasy and custom designs in addition to real car replicas. The 1990s is when the detail and accuracy of scale model cars continued to improve with advances in manufacturing technology and we now see high-quality plastics, resins, and advanced die-cast metals. Companies like Tamiya, Minichamps, and Autoart have set high standards for realism and detail. We see loads of these companies online, and we’re also lucky enough to know a few people with large disposable budgets who collect scale model cars and so we’ve seen some amazing models in person. While we’ve only ever seen an Amalgam model inside its plastic housing, it’s clear that they really seem to have no equal. They’re ridiculously well-detailed and sell for unbelievable amounts of money. The Ferrari F40 model we saw cost over R200,000.