Marshall Buck - Editor:
Collecting Model Cars Column
and so much more...
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Marshall Buck has been immersed in art & culture from childhood. His career has been diverse; from professional photography to television production and exotic car sales. In 1982 he founded CMA Models, Inc.
Since then he has been involved with high-end automotive miniatures as a collector, model maker, manufacturer, and boutique dealer; catering to serious collectors worldwide. In addition to models, he is an avid collector of a variety of vintage automobilia. For over 30 years, Marshall has authored numerous articles and regular columns on models and collecting in various classic car publications including Cavallino, Vintage Motorsport, Sports Car Market, and others. He was also publisher of AutoMobilia Resource magazine from August 2018 to March 2024. CMAmodels.com [email protected] |
Some of Marshall's Articles: Collecting Model Cars Column
1935 Morgan Three-Wheeler.
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Since I Was 4 Year's Old: Issue #1 Sept/Oct 2018
Models and toys date back centuries. For real model cars, it may have been just a few miniatures during the 1700s replicating some of the finest horse drawn carriages of that time, and certainly there are a handful from the 1800s. The few that were made would have been for the very well- heeled and royalty. Nowadays the rest of us mere mortals, can acquire some rather fantastic models of all types of automobiles. Most are pieces manufactured from the 1950s to current day, with prices ranging from under $100 to over $100,000. |
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).
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Numbers Don't Lie: Issue #2 Nov/Dec 2018
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. |
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Time for a Watch Story Part I: Issue #2 Nov/Dec 2018
You just never know who you will meet or what you’ll come across during Monterey Madness, a.k.a. “Car Week.” Case in point; during my day at Laguna Seca for the historic races, I was strolling around the paddock visiting friends and customers who were there to race, and I happened upon the BRE racing display where race driver John Morton was sitting at a table doing a signing session. (John had a diverse and successful racing career, including when he drove for the BRE team from 1969 through 1972, winning national championships in 1970, ’71, and ’72.) |
1:43 Bugatti Type 54 Chassis, by Alain Bouissou. Extensively detailed. Brass, copper & aluminum construction. Steering wheel is made of wood. Value $2,800+.
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It's a Matter of Scale: Issue #3 Jan/Feb 2019
Whether or not you’re new to collecting models, I would bet you have a preference of scale (size) for models. Of course, not everyone does, though most collectors I know do have a preference, and some will only collect in just one scale no matter how great the model if it’s not in their scale. Which is your favored scale? 1:87, 1:72, 1:64, 1:43, 1:24, 1:20, 1:18, 1:16, 1:14, 1:12, 1:10, 1:8, or even bigger = ginormous scale, which can be in sizes such as 1:6, 1:5, 1:4, or 1:3. My preference is 1:12, but the majority of my collection is in an assortment of all of these scales….except for ‘ginormous.’ With that said, for many years the bulk of my collection was made up of 1:43 models. |
1:8 scale 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2600. Pocher kit, built to an OK standard (better than the majority of ALL built Pochers). Thousands of parts, many working features along with very many poor fitting parts typical of all built Pochers. Never will be worth much, many thousands of these produced, difficult to sell. Price range depending on build quality… $1,200 - $4,500. The one in the photo sold for $1,750 at auction incl. buyers premium.
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Perceived Value Part I: Issue #4 Mar/Apr 2019
There are many variables with collecting models, which a good many collectors fail to realize; and of course, there is perceived value, good or bad, which always comes into play. Before we dive in, the first, and most important rule for collecting in general is, enjoy it. The second important rule is, if you have no concerns about value now & selling later, or ever, and you like it and can afford it, then buy it. However… if you want to assemble a good or great collection (with value) then the “second rule” changes! Some people make funny comparisons when justifying what they are buying/collecting; either by kidding themselves that a truly overpriced model is worth it, or conversely that a very expensive model is not worth the price. Both are somewhat right but mostly wrong. And, it is simply not only about what someone is willing to pay. |
1:24 scale resin Ferrari California Spyder tied to a brick for “value.” The brick weighs 6 pounds, the model weighs all of 1/2 of a pound. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and don’t judge a model by its weight.
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Perceived Value Part II: Issue #5 May/June 2019I’m back on my soapbox… there are several very common perceptions & misconceptions which I see all the time with collecting good to great models, as well as with selling them. And then, on a lengthy sliding scale, there are always exceptions to the rule, which we don’t have room for here… and I don’t want to bore anyone to death. All of the aforementioned get more complex and confusing if your tastes are eclectic (mine are).
Dealers and manufacturers will often tout special extras or various features to try to emphasize value, which usually do not add any or much value, such as an included display case, and/or parts count, and working features…Well it all depends, there is no simple answer on working features, though with that, you should always consider… How good and accurate are they? No point in having them if they are far out of scale and/or the part(s) appear to have been made by The Three Stooges. |
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Time for a Watch Story Part II: Issue #5 May/June 2019
In issue #2 of AutoMobilia Resource, I wrote about one of my finds of sorts last year during “car week” in Monterey, California at Laguna Seca. That is where I met watch collector, and vintage car fan, Eric Iskin with a wonderful Heuer that had been awarded to race driver John Morton. Well… Eric has two other special race related timepieces! I’ll let Eric tell about these.… |
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Interview with Toby Wilson: Issue #5 May/June 2019
As many of you know, auctions are one of the main ways to obtain, and sell great collectible items. Over the years I have seen everything from commonplace trinket,s to some of the most sought after and valuable items of automobilia selling at auction: signs, documents, art, models, mascots, and the long list goes on. My two cents worth of advice - always go for quality and rarity. Of course, sometimes there are just those “I don’t care, I want it” items too. I have bought more than a few of those! |
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The Search for Two Original Tucker License Plates:
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Cunningham Model CollectionInterview with Lawrence Berman by Marshall Buck
Photography by Mark Karlsberg, Studio Eleven, Inc. AR: Tell us a little about yourself, and your interest in cars & collecting.
Lawrence Berman: I have been interested in sports cars – Jaguars – since high school when I got to drive an XK120 Cabriolet. I attended my 1st U.S. Grand Prix race in 1964 at Watkins Glen & met historian, Bill Green. We are still friends and he has been a great mentor. From 1978–1998 I had owned & vintage raced two Jaguar XK120 roadsters, a 1950 and a 1951. Also, showed the 1951 in many concours events with its best being 3rd in Class nationally in 1993 JCNA concours competition. In addition to the model car collection, my hobby is the website BriggsCunningham.com which has been a great learning experience. |
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Perceived Value Part III. Exceptions to the Rule...Quality, Quantity or Both?With all types of collecting, there are always exceptions to the rule. I’ve found that no matter how stringent one may set their guidelines, there will inevitably be at least one (usually more than one) exception.
This time I have a few examples of these “exceptions.” A few mass-produced gems, some limited-edition junk, and one… that may appear to defy all logic. |
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Psst... want to know a great secret?The amazing and captivating works from Racing Dioramics have to be one of the best kept secrets in the field of specialty car models for collectors. The two partners behind the magic are Crittenden Rumford and Nestor Spinelli. I own four of their fantastic works, and am hoping to acquire a few more… if & when I find any!
Racing Dioramics, based in California, specializes in classic Grand Prix and road racing scenes (mini dioramas or vignettes) in 1:43 scale. Their first little scenes were made in the mid 1980s, and by 1990 they started making them steadily for collectors. Currently prices vary from $450-$650, though some can be higher depending on details and degree of difficulty. |
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Time for a clock story: Issue #26 Jan/Feb 2023
Special Feature by Dave Nichols with notes from Marshall Buck [Editors note: As I’ve written before, most “motor-heads” have a keen interest in timepieces, watches and special clocks, new and old. So when I came across this very cool Lamborghini clock by Breguet, offered for sale by Dave Nichols not too long ago my interest was piqued..] Being in the memorabilia business (DaveNichols.ca), I am always on the hunt for rare and interesting pieces, and I found this timepiece by chance in a small local classified ad. |