Manufacturer | Year | Make & Model | Nationality | Quality Rating | Price Rating | Top 100 Lists | Alternatives | My Collection

The manufacturer is named along with, in many cases, the edition (e.g. American Muscle, Prestige, Precision 100). I state here what scale the model is made in if not 1:18 scale.

This is the make and model of the car. Sometimes the model makers get it wrong. I believe that Revell's Alfa Romeo Giulias are actually Giuliettas. And Yat Ming's 1949 Coupe de Ville Convertible is a problem because CdeVs were, as far as I know, always hardtop coupes.

The year of listing is the year that the model manufacturer states. Sometimes there is no year given. In order to place the model in context, I have given it an approximate date, which I have signified by a ~.

Also, some manufacturers release the same model, with slight or even no modifications, as a different year model. Unless there is a significant difference, I will make only one listing, although I will try to alert the viewer to the alternate releases in the comments section.

This column indicates the nationality of the original car. (I know Bugattis were mostly made in France but they seem very Italian to me.)

It is obvious that some models have a sparkle, a magic that captures the essence of the original extremely well. Makers like Exoto, Auto Art, Kyosho and UT seem able to capture that magic most or all of the time. Some rarely do. Most are in between. If you want a particular model, you usually do not have a choice of manufacturer. This site will help you to decide if the model is worth acquiring, learn what compromises have been made, and also help you find the 'gems'.

I am using the ABC rating system for quality:

• I have created an AA rating for the finest models, ones that are unusually fine in their fit, finish and detail. But everything must be right, and extras such as motor decalling, soft wiring, operating details (aerials, gas cap, etc.), flocking, and so on, must be in evidence. For example, a model cannot earn an AA if it uses the common dogleg door hinges. Needless to say, these models capture the 'magic' perfectly (e.g. Exoto, AUTOart).

• An A rating is given to very fine models (e.g. Auto Art; Kyosho). It is unlikely that an A rated model will have deficiencies in engine detail, interior or dashboard modeling, fit or finish, or lack of an operating trunk. However, keep in mind that the 'look' of the model gives it the quality rating. + and - ratings are given for models that have more or less effort given to the other areas relative to other A rated models.

• A B rating indicates that the model has captured some of the 'magic' of the finest models, but falls a little short of the best releases. Note that a C rated model will not be lifted to a B by a better than average motor, interior or trunk area. Similarly, a great interior or motor will not save an otherwise A rating if the model falls short in exterior look. + and - ratings are given for models that have more or less effort given to the other areas relative to other B rated models.

• I have given some B models a B* rating. This is to acknowledge an exterior look that has something a little special about it. Deficiencies in the motor, interior or trunk areas prevent awarding a B+. Also, the exterior doesn't deserve an A. But these models are better looking than the B rating would suggest.

• I used to rate average models a C. I now think that the industry average is higher than a C. More and more I am seeing modestly priced models, perhaps with nothing special in the interior or motor, but with a very good exterior look that puts it (in my new rating system) into B category. Because I am starting to hit the limit of my available display space, I am now starting to have second thoughts about acquiring C rated models. I am also replacing them with higher rated models when available. + and - ratings are NOT given in this category.

• A D rating is given to poor quality models, ones that you probably don't want in your collection unless you really desire a model of that particular car. Cost isn't the point here. I avoid acquiring them because they bring down the overall 'look' of my collection and take up valuable display space.

Again I am using the ABC rating system, but for Price Ratings I use lower case (abc) to distinguish from the Quality Ratings.

Because there is so much disparity in prices (and exchange rate fluctuations) I am now giving only a general guide to prices. Prices where you are may differ, especially when models are on sale or otherwise discounted.

• Top priced models rate an aa
• Premium priced models rate an a
• Regular price models rate a b
• Budget models rate a c
• Prices which vary due to collectivity or a multiplicity of variations are denoted by v.

With the change of Century, many 'Top' lists came out. I have indicated in this column if the car was mentioned in any of the three following lists. If the notation is in (), it means that the model is of a car similar to that mentioned on the lists.

R&T: In their January 2000 issue, Road and Track listed "The 100 Best Cars of 100 Years" according to the R&T staff. The list is quite eclectic, encompassing race cars, 'oddball' vehicles, and other sometimes unusual choices. Their aim was to include cars know for "superlative technology, styling, marketing, social significance or even personality".

Adler: The incredible photographer and auto enthusiast Dennis Adler has produced the beautiful book: "The Art of the Automobile The 100 Greatest Cars" (HarperCollins, 2000; ISBN 0-06-105128-4). Adler says "To make the final selection of cars, opinions [were] gathered from many of the world's leading car collectors..." "Every automobile...was chosen for its exceptional styling, its advanced engineering, or its influence on the automotive world."

COTC: Unlike Adler's book, which contains unique automobiles, The Car of the Century idea is a more populist one. As their guidebook explains, the automobile industry, experts, connoisseurs, clubs, and others produced a list of 1500 candidate cars. The cars had to be passenger transportation, had to have at least 50 samples produced, and had to have three still existing. From the 716 that met these criteria, a committee of experts reduced the number to 200, based on general design, historical significance, handling and roadworthiness, performance and technical innovations. Then, a jury of 135 professional automotive journalists from 32 countries reduced the number to 100. The public were then invited to vote for the top ten. These were put together with the jury's top 25 and the jury then had the task of selecting the top five. (The top five are coded with >COTC in bold type. In case you haven't heard, the #1 Car of the Century is the Ford Model T.) More details may be found at the Car of the Century website.

This column lists models of the same or very similar car as made by other manufacturers. Also, alternate but similar versions made by the same manufacturer. Alternates which are somewhat different will be in brackets.

The 1/18 scale models in my collection are designated by the letter X.

Manufacturer | Year | Make & Model | Nationality | Quality Rating | Price Rating | Top 100 Lists | Alternatives | My Collection

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