Over the years, preferences have changed in a big way when it comes to toys. Things like the typical toy truck or model car have fallen out of favor with today’s youngest children, taking a backseat to things like iPad games, lifelike robotic pets, and a whole host of other high-tech items that seem to get more sophisticated with each holiday shopping season. Though today’s youngest toy buyers may forego the toy truck and things like it, plenty of people still actively purchase, collect, and show off these novelty items all year long. In fact, toy trucks represent one of the biggest collector’s markets currently in active operation around the world. With a wide range of items to choose from, at various scales and from decades that span the entirety of the 20th century, it’s no wonder why that remains the case.
Scales: What to Know When Selecting a Toy Truck Size
Today’s buyers have more options than ever when they set out to purchase a collector’s edition toy truck, and those options start with the size of the truck itself. Since the creation of toy trucks over a half-century ago, manufacturers have been searching for the perfect scale to recreate real-life trucks for collectible and recreational uses. That has resulted in some pretty popular scales, but few of them are as popular as the 1:64 scale, sometimes written as 1/64.
Manufacturers of collectible toy trucks typically manufacture a 1:64 scale model as a standard offering, especially when the toy vehicle is designed to be used with model railways or other mock environments. Other popular scales include 1:34 and 1:50 for model commercial vehicles, like the legendary Hess trucks, as well as for transit vehicles like buses and trolleys that appeal to some types of collectors.
Today’s buyers have more options than ever when they set out to purchase a collector’s edition toy truck, and those options start with the size of the truck itself. Since the creation of toy trucks over a half-century ago, manufacturers have been searching for the perfect scale to recreate real-life trucks for collectible and recreational uses. That has resulted in some pretty popular scales, but few of them are as popular as the 1:64 scale, sometimes written as 1/64.
Manufacturers of collectible toy trucks typically manufacture a 1:64 scale model as a standard offering, especially when the toy vehicle is designed to be used with model railways or other mock environments. Other popular scales include 1:34 and 1:50 for model commercial vehicles, like the legendary Hess trucks, as well as for transit vehicles like buses and trolleys that appeal to some types of collectors.
A Look at the Appeal of this Growing Collectible Niche
Toy trucks have been pretty popular with both kids and collectors for decades, though they’re slowly becoming a mainstay mostly of collectors with an eye for detail and an appreciation for classic models that aren’t being produced anymore. The appeal comes in several variations among today’s toy truck collectors, and it can best be broken down into a few key groups.
1. Model Truck and Train Collectors
Lots of people collect toy trucks as an accessory to benefit their toy train setup, and this interest is so significant that manufacturers are now making toy trucks designed to the same scale as model rail cars. This helps trucks fill cargo cars, sit alongside the tracks, and bring more lifelike detail to collections.
2. Family Heritage
Plenty of people collect toy trucks because several generations of family members did the same thing in years past. In fact, many toy truck collections are handed down from generation to generation, since many models from earlier decades are difficult, expensive, or impossible to find.
3. Occupational Heritage
Plenty of people spent their lives driving many of the collectible trucks that are currently on the market. Whether it was for a company like Hess, beverage companies like Coca-Cola or Pepsi, or something else entirely, many of these trucks are sold with real, sentimental value to collectors who are paying tribute to a significant part of their own history.
4. Hobbyists with a Passion for Trucks
Let’s face it: A passion for automobiles can translate into any number of specialized hobbies, form auto detail work to toy truck collecting and building model cars. Collecting these trucks simply appeals to people who have a passion for vintage cars, vintage graphic design or marketing, and collectible items that pay homage to a given era, brand, or interest.
Toy trucks have been pretty popular with both kids and collectors for decades, though they’re slowly becoming a mainstay mostly of collectors with an eye for detail and an appreciation for classic models that aren’t being produced anymore. The appeal comes in several variations among today’s toy truck collectors, and it can best be broken down into a few key groups.
1. Model Truck and Train Collectors
Lots of people collect toy trucks as an accessory to benefit their toy train setup, and this interest is so significant that manufacturers are now making toy trucks designed to the same scale as model rail cars. This helps trucks fill cargo cars, sit alongside the tracks, and bring more lifelike detail to collections.
2. Family Heritage
Plenty of people collect toy trucks because several generations of family members did the same thing in years past. In fact, many toy truck collections are handed down from generation to generation, since many models from earlier decades are difficult, expensive, or impossible to find.
3. Occupational Heritage
Plenty of people spent their lives driving many of the collectible trucks that are currently on the market. Whether it was for a company like Hess, beverage companies like Coca-Cola or Pepsi, or something else entirely, many of these trucks are sold with real, sentimental value to collectors who are paying tribute to a significant part of their own history.
4. Hobbyists with a Passion for Trucks
Let’s face it: A passion for automobiles can translate into any number of specialized hobbies, form auto detail work to toy truck collecting and building model cars. Collecting these trucks simply appeals to people who have a passion for vintage cars, vintage graphic design or marketing, and collectible items that pay homage to a given era, brand, or interest.
The Most Famous Models: Toy Trucks for the Ages
When it comes to collecting toy trucks, every model has a particularly high value to a different type of collector. In some cases, however, toy trucks have nearly universal appeal and value because they’ve cultivated their own fan base, their own legends, and have become a mainstay of holiday shopping and routine collecting. For those looking to add real value and historical significance to their collection, a few trucks really stand out.
Hess Toy Trucks
For decades, Hess fuel stations have unleashed a new model truck or toy with each holiday season. Originally, the company released only a new toy truck each season. In recent years, however, Hess has expanded its reach to include toy helicopters and other vehicles can that can really enhance any model vehicle collection. With vintage logos, decades-old trucks, and a legion of fans that spans the globe, these high-value trucks are found in virtually every serious collector’s possession.
Coca-Cola Vehicles
No beverage is more famous around the world than an ice cold Coca-Cola, and few toy trucks compare with the popularity of the company’s models. Throughout the past century, Coca-Cola has unleashed trucks in virtually every decade, with styles that date back to the 1920s. As with most of the company’s merchandise, however, prices for vintage Coke trucks can soar well above virtually any other toy truck on the market.
Vintage, Now-Defunct Company Trucks
Exxon-Mobil might be the most profitable company in the world, but that’s only because Exxon and Mobil merged some time ago. Among the most popular trucks on the market? Vintage “Mobilgas” trucks from the middle of the last century. Other popular fuel trucks, like Shell and Union 76 models, are also among the most famous and the most widely sought-after models currently available to hobbyists.
When it comes to collecting toy trucks, every model has a particularly high value to a different type of collector. In some cases, however, toy trucks have nearly universal appeal and value because they’ve cultivated their own fan base, their own legends, and have become a mainstay of holiday shopping and routine collecting. For those looking to add real value and historical significance to their collection, a few trucks really stand out.
Hess Toy Trucks
For decades, Hess fuel stations have unleashed a new model truck or toy with each holiday season. Originally, the company released only a new toy truck each season. In recent years, however, Hess has expanded its reach to include toy helicopters and other vehicles can that can really enhance any model vehicle collection. With vintage logos, decades-old trucks, and a legion of fans that spans the globe, these high-value trucks are found in virtually every serious collector’s possession.
Coca-Cola Vehicles
No beverage is more famous around the world than an ice cold Coca-Cola, and few toy trucks compare with the popularity of the company’s models. Throughout the past century, Coca-Cola has unleashed trucks in virtually every decade, with styles that date back to the 1920s. As with most of the company’s merchandise, however, prices for vintage Coke trucks can soar well above virtually any other toy truck on the market.
Vintage, Now-Defunct Company Trucks
Exxon-Mobil might be the most profitable company in the world, but that’s only because Exxon and Mobil merged some time ago. Among the most popular trucks on the market? Vintage “Mobilgas” trucks from the middle of the last century. Other popular fuel trucks, like Shell and Union 76 models, are also among the most famous and the most widely sought-after models currently available to hobbyists.
Showing Off: The Best Venues for Commanding Toy Truck Attention
Collecting toy trucks is decidedly only half the fun when it comes to being an avid collector of models that span the 20th and 21st centuries. With a wide variety of trucks in hand, many collectors enjoy setting up model environments to show off their equipment and cultivate just a bit of jealousy among fellow collectors or even family members. Among the most popular ways to show off a burgeoning collection of modern and vintage toy trucks:
1. In a Model World
With model trains, helicopters, and whole towns, toy trucks can easily fit into a model universe where everything has been reduced from life-size and made to fit in a basement, garage, or another designated area. A broad array of modern and vintage models can add visual excitement to any collection, and they can serve as conversation pieces among those who collect the trucks or originally drove some of the trucks in the collection.
2. At Toy Truck Shows
Toy truck enthusiasts have never been as organized into groups as they are in the era of the Internet. Facebook groups abound for collectors in certain cities, states, regions, or whole countries. Other social media tools, like Meetup.com, allow truck collectors to set up exhibition and toy truck shows, where they can showcase, discuss, and even trade items in their collection with others who know the industry and get excited when they see something new.
3. Online Exhibitions
Plenty of toy truck collectors take to the Internet to show off each of their models, creating whole websites that showcase vintage trucks, new purchases, and other model vehicles that have recently joined the collection. The Internet, combined with advanced digital photography tools, is a great way to showcase and document each truck. With tools like Google Hangout and Skype, it’s even possible to show each truck in action, especially Hess trucks with built-in lights, horns, and more.
Collecting toy trucks is decidedly only half the fun when it comes to being an avid collector of models that span the 20th and 21st centuries. With a wide variety of trucks in hand, many collectors enjoy setting up model environments to show off their equipment and cultivate just a bit of jealousy among fellow collectors or even family members. Among the most popular ways to show off a burgeoning collection of modern and vintage toy trucks:
1. In a Model World
With model trains, helicopters, and whole towns, toy trucks can easily fit into a model universe where everything has been reduced from life-size and made to fit in a basement, garage, or another designated area. A broad array of modern and vintage models can add visual excitement to any collection, and they can serve as conversation pieces among those who collect the trucks or originally drove some of the trucks in the collection.
2. At Toy Truck Shows
Toy truck enthusiasts have never been as organized into groups as they are in the era of the Internet. Facebook groups abound for collectors in certain cities, states, regions, or whole countries. Other social media tools, like Meetup.com, allow truck collectors to set up exhibition and toy truck shows, where they can showcase, discuss, and even trade items in their collection with others who know the industry and get excited when they see something new.
3. Online Exhibitions
Plenty of toy truck collectors take to the Internet to show off each of their models, creating whole websites that showcase vintage trucks, new purchases, and other model vehicles that have recently joined the collection. The Internet, combined with advanced digital photography tools, is a great way to showcase and document each truck. With tools like Google Hangout and Skype, it’s even possible to show each truck in action, especially Hess trucks with built-in lights, horns, and more.
Toy Truck Collecting is a Major Industry That Just Keeps Growing
Toy trucks were once considered a staple of toy boxes across the country, but they’re now increasingly being seen as a high-value part of any collector’s stock. With model trucks that date back nearly a full century, and plenty of vintage models that celebrate an earlier era in American and world commerce, these trucks build value based on nostalgia, scarcity, and age.
With plenty of scales available and new models being released every year, diecast trucks represent a great way to cultivate a high-value, long-lasting hobby that will continue well into the future.
Toy trucks were once considered a staple of toy boxes across the country, but they’re now increasingly being seen as a high-value part of any collector’s stock. With model trucks that date back nearly a full century, and plenty of vintage models that celebrate an earlier era in American and world commerce, these trucks build value based on nostalgia, scarcity, and age.
With plenty of scales available and new models being released every year, diecast trucks represent a great way to cultivate a high-value, long-lasting hobby that will continue well into the future.