A question about models... :-)

Hi all,

I was just sat here thinking whilst looking around various model shops and started thinking, why are there so many US cars and yet so few European cars...

There are hundreds of different types of cars from the US from the different decades, and yet over here we seem to only have either high end sports cars or race/rally cars, none of the standard family type cars, it's something that I have never understood...

Does anyone have any idea why this is...

Andy...

I’m not keen on supercars but I have always liked American vehicles, especially the 1950’s and ‘60’s - so I have no problem with the balance - but I wish a lot more British cars were produced.
My view is that the US is a car dominated country - compared to European countries, and has a population grown up building model kits. The models produced were more or less product placement, and the industry expanded in the 1960’s. Drag racing was always more popular than circuit racing over there, and this fed the modified model car market, because it had more zing and gloss than a daily driver, and a kit with extra sporty parts was always a winner.
Compared to the US market, the Europeans had little to offer, except for ANOTHER Porsche, Lamborghini or Ferrari (which would sell well in the US) - and there was little demand for models of cheaper cars - and business is all about profit.

Hi Ron,

I love the old American vehicle too, I just wish we could build vehicles from our past too, I know over here it seems more of a military WWll hobby, but I'm sure, if the model companies started to make standard vehicles from this side of the pond, people would definitely buy them...

Andy...

Hi Andy,
I built the Airfix series of modern European and British cars, from the early days like the Sunbeam Rapier, Frogeye Sprite - even the Renault Dauphine....and the later ones like the Marina , Escort, VW Beetle were good in 1/32nd......but they would have been better if they were in 1/25th or 1/24th.
Having watched a couple of programmes about Hornby Toys, one episode showed just how much time and cost was involved in tooling up new moulds, but they still have to ensure the market is there before manufacturing by asking for pre orders. Again, it’s about making the right model to bring in a good working profit, and is there really a strong demand for the product. 🥴