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Diecast Cars Checklist

Toy makers have produced die-cast metal cars since 1910 using a process similar to injection molding. The metal, sometimes called white metal or pot metal, is either a lead alloy--no longer used--or an alloy of zinc, aluminum and copper. Although they are still in production today, collectors seek the older cars more. Collecting guides list the values of the cars. The value ranges from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars. A comprehensive reference that lists dozens of companies that produced die-cast toy cars is "Toy Car Brand Names and Manufacturers from A to Z" by Dana Johnson.

Tootsie Toys
- The first mass -producer of die-cast cars was Tootsie Toys. Carles Dowst took the concept of a Line-O-Type machine he'd seen at the Columbian Exposition of 1893 and used it to produce toy cars. The first came off the line in 1910 and were called Tootsie Toys. Dowst later changed the name to Tootsietoys.
Matchbox and Corgi
- In 1947 the Lesney corporation started the Matchbox die-cast series, with each car sold in a small box that resembled a matchbox. The tiny cars were so popular that children often referred to all small toy cars as "Matchbox." In 1956 Mettoy started a line of die-cast cars called Corgi and started putting interiors in them. In the mid-1980s Corgi boosted its "classics" line and produced a few dozen versions of a 1920s Thornycraft van.
Hot Wheels
- Mattel's Hot Wheels arrived on the scene in 1968. The toy cars had a wheel and axle assembly designed to make them go fast. They quickly challenged Matchbox in popularity. Within the next few years Mattel introduced trucks and other vehicles into the line and started a "Models of Yesteryear" series, which included a Ford Model T van and a Coca-Cola truck.
All American Toy Company
- The All American Toy Company of Oregon produced die-cast toy trucks from 1948 to 1955. Originally selling for $20, they are valued at hundreds to thousands of dollars today. The company has risen from its ashes and is back in business, reproducing some of its original models.
Anson, Barclay and Bburago
- Anson produced die-cast cars from the late 1980s into 2002. The company was known for high-quality models produced in China. Barclay, headquartered in New Jersey, manufactured die-cast cars from 1924 to 1971, including models with an Art Deco style. Bburago, which began production in the mid-1970s, manufactured from a plant in Milan, Italy, before being bought in 2007 and moved to China. Bburago's models include a line of Italian sports cars.
Imperial, Penjoy and Winross
- Imperial Diecast is known for its colorful packaging and affordable models in the range of a few dollars. Collectors are not as interested in early Imperial models because the cars are not stamped with the manufacturer's name. However, the logo appears on more recent models.
  
  Pennjoy and Winross are made in the United States. Pennjoy, of Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, boasts the Penjoy Collectors Club, which produces a newsletter. Winross of New York claims to manufacture exclusively in the U.S. Models in their Collector Series are available through their catalog and not sold in retail stores. The Winross Collectors Club of America Inc. also publishes a newsletter.

Collecting Vintage Toys