Diminutive vehicles from the likes of Matchbox and Hot Wheels once raced across bedroom carpets and backyard dirt tracks, carrying imaginations to distant roads.
For Bayleys Nelson Tasman realtor Steve Thomas, his most crowded development might be his collection of 3000 diecast cars, and he’s excited to host a fair at the Nelson A&P Showgrounds this Saturday, 14 November, to ramp up the local interest.
“I think there's been quite a resurgence of diecast collecting, possibly in the world, but definitely in New Zealand,” he says.
“Matchbox started in 1953, and Hot Wheels started in 1968, so a lot of people in their 50s and 60s, possibly with a little bit more disposable income, are now remembering these toys that they had in their youth, and want to buy back some of them.
“The collecting scene is quite interesting because I'm specifically a Matchbox car collector, I have a good mate who specifically collects just Hot Wheels, and interestingly, I was speaking to a gentleman the other day that is building up a collection of race cars that have numbers on them.”
Steve says at least 15 stallholders from Nelson Tasman will be displaying or selling diecast models of all makes and models.
“I've been to a similar fair in Auckland and was amazed at the number of people there. It's a great opportunity to pull together collectors and people that are interested in it, and to introduce the exciting hobby to children to get them off screens,” he says.
The fair runs from 9am to 3pm, with entry by gold coin donation.
