Monthly Archives: July 2011

Diecast Errors 68

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One of the most frequent questions I get asked is:  “How much is this diecast error worth?”  The answer is:  It varies.  Most are worth a couple of dollars more than a non-error although some may approach the $100 mark.  It really depends on the error.  More sought-after castings will command a premium for their errors and common castings will demand less.  One of the more popular errors, lately, has been the no-tampo error.  Some castings, especially muscle cars, just look cleaner with no tampos and these are often popular errors on the secondary market.

Wheel errors are another type of error frequently seen.  These include mismatched wheels or as is often the case, all small wheels or all large wheels, when the back wheels are normally larger.  Here is a recent example of an all-large wheels error found on a Ford GT.  This one sticks out like a sore thumb as the front wheels are way to large on the top car.

Another type of common error is when the car inside doesn’t match the blisterpack.  This Pontiac GTO showed up in on a Treadator card.

I personally think the GTO is a better casting but it’s an interesting piece regardless.

Oftentimes an error will get confused for a variation but they aren’t the same.  A variation is when something on the casting or packaging is intentionally changed.  Variations often carry a higher premium because many people will buy them to complete their sets, or they may try to buy every variation of a certain casting.

Either way, collect what you enjoy and you can’t go wrong.  If you have errors you want to show off or you would like to see what our other members have found, check out the errors thread on our forum.

If you are looking to buy or sell any type of diecast, including errors, visit DiecastMarket.com.  Here you can sell at no risk because there are no listing fees.  And because the low (5%) selling fee beats Ebay and other competitors, buyers don’t have to worry about all the fees being passed onto them as high “shipping and handling.”  Buyers can also take advantage of our “Buy Now” feature with no expiration, effectively giving you a no-cost online storefront.

Hallsguide: First Look (7/18)

This entry was posted in Blog Archives First Look Gallery Posts Hot Wheels on by

A few more New Models and some repaints have hit the shelves this month.  Here is a look at some of the newer releases.

2011 New Model #33 Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X   –  I love this casting.  This is a look back at the history of racing and great automobiles.  Due to it’s unavailability in the US, the Skyline is one of those cars most people can only dream of.  I applaud Mattel’s efforts to bring us lesser-known cars from racing history.

2011 HW Performance Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 – This is a really cool off-road casting.  It began as a Jeep-like offroader and has morphed into the more highway-friendly FJ Cruiser of today.

Thrill Racers – Raceway ’11 Fire-Eater  – I love firetrucks, as does my 2 year-old and this is just a great casting.  It has great details, a great paint job, and the red-rimmed OH5 wheels really set it apart.  I would love to see an entire firetruck series by Hot Wheels in the future.

Keep an eye out for these at your local retail locations or search for them among the ever-growing selection of diecast at DiecastMarket.com.  Show off your latest finds on our forum or see what other collectors are finding.

Matchbox Price Guides Expanding

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I started up the Matchbox price guides last month with the 2011 Series.   I am working my way backwards from the current year and today I have added the 2010 Series. Can you guess what will be next?

In researching the secondary market values of Matchbox cars, I made a few observations. First, Matchbox are produced in lower quantities than Hot Wheels. While they are popular, Matchbox is not usually the first brand name you think of when you think of diecast. Hot Wheels is the brand that sticks out to most. Smaller print runs mean less supply, making the more popular models harder to acquire after they have disappeared from the retail stores. Another thing that drives secondary market values of Matchbox is their appeal to so many different people. The 2010 and 2011 series have used the same sub-series: Sports Cars, Heritage Classics, Metro Rides, VIP, Construction, Emergency Response, City Action, Outdoor Sportsman, Desert Endurance, and Jungle Explorers. Every year they have a great selection of European cars, modern compact cars that many people identify with, and a great variety of construction equipment, firetrucks, and rescue vehicles. They also include a fair number of VW makes that are very popular with collectors.

So now, make Hallsguide.com your stop for Hot Wheels and Matchbox collecting information. Stop by our forums to ask questions or share your expertise with other collectors. Browse the selection of Matchbox on the Diecast Market or sell your own items at no risk with no listing fees.