Taking the Chequered Flag

Taking the Chequered Flag

Race to own model cars and motorbikes shows demand for scale replicas

15/01/2021    

Our first specialist auction of 2021 saw all 136 lots of scale model cars and motorbikes sell from a private collection dating back to around 1990.

Collectors and the wider motorsports fanbase seized the opportunity this January to buy brilliantly detailed and perfectly preserved scale replicas of some of the most iconic motor vehicles of the 20th century at our online auction. 

The extensive collection featured covetable racing cars, motorbikes, locomotives, tractors and tanks. The models included examples of scale 1:18 to 1:4 from leading scale model manufacturers such as Exoto, Javan Smith, Glen English, and Jeff Luff.

“We were delighted with the strong results at this sale which achieved just shy of £50,000 against an estimate of £34,000,” comments Gildings’ scale model specialist, Andrew Smith. “As you would expect from a dedicated and discerning private collector, the auction included many models that are now out of production and therefore highly sought after. This was reflected in the consistently high results achieved across the entire auction.”  

The seller traces his fascination with all things motorsports back to November 1958, when he came across the latest issue of Motor Sport magazine, which featured a colour photo of Mike Hawthorn driving a Ferrari Dino 246 in the Belgian Grand Prix on the cover. Collecting models was a natural progression from collecting magazines and of all the lots in the auction, the seller found his Jeff Luff and Glen English racing machines the most difficult to let go.

The highest hammer price on the day was a fine example of a 1961 Glen English hand-built 1:4 scale motorbike; Manx Norton 500cc which sold for £1800. On four wheels, a silver GMP Real Art Replicas 1:8 scale model Porsche 550 Spyder won the bidding race, selling for £1,600 despite a few signs of wear and tear including a snapped exhaust pipe.

“This auction followed our highly successful scale model railway auction in August 2020, which was also notable for the fact that every single lot in the sale sold,” says Andrew Smith. “This, combined with the high results achieved at both sales is testament to the current strength of the market for scale model cars, motorbikes and locomotives.

Those with similar items to sell can arrange a Covid-secure valuation by visiting our Valuations pages.

 

A Gentleman's Collection of Scale Model Racing Cars and Motorbikes