Numbers Don’t lie

Nov/Dec 2018 edition
Issue #2 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
Marshall Buck

There are many rarities in the model car market; along with said rarities are countless false claims made every day of the week by model manufacturers and dealers. To make good purchases, you need to do your homework. It helps to get the advice & opinions of a very knowledgeable collector, and/or expert in the field, or a dealer that you trust. Many of us learn the hard way, which can dilute some of the pleasure of this great hobby. I’ll address a couple of the ‘pit-fall’ catch phrases commonly used these days. “Rare” and “Limited Edition.”

The use of the word “rare” in descriptions has become so abused that maybe it should only be applied to cooking food. If a model is one that hardly ever comes up for sale and was produced in small numbers (250 or less), then it is generally considered to be rare, and most certainly if fewer than 100 have been made, it is rare. Numbers don’t lie.

Only one of the items on this plate is rare, and here's a hint: it is not the 1:18th CMC model (thousands were made).

    

Once in awhile a model accidentally becomes rare only because it was a dud when new. But that still doesn’t mean you should run out and buy one if you can. Here are two very different examples.

Accidentally rare! Classic Collectibles 1:10th Bugatti T-36. Issue price $495. Value now $1,500.

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