The Novice Brand of the Year award is given to a relatively new diecast company that makes a big splash in the collector community, either through huge marketing success or incredibly high-quality offerings. Velasor definitely qualifies in that second area, making extremely limited-quantity masterpieces of vintage European racing scenes. Not just the cars, but also full dioramas. For this artisanal effort, Velasor is the MCHOF Novice Brand of the Year for 2024.
It’s rare to see perfection from a new diecast company, but Velasor comes out of the gate as a fully-formed maker of intricately detailed racing classics, as well as hand-built dioramas of vintage racing scenes. Each model utilizes the most up-to-date measuring and molding technology combined with traditional hand-formed artistic talent. The result feels like the kind of manufacturing of cars of the era. The perfect blend of quality that used the best of either method to get the best result.
In addition to their still-frame dioramas, Velasor also makes some of their cars available as slot cars. They realize that sometimes it’s nice to see a car in a museum, and sometimes on the track. The compromises that are often required to adapt a design to the function of a slot car are hardly visible with Velasor’s models.
“Our journey begins with our passion for engine history,” the company says on its website. “The precision and development carried out in each model.” While the design of an individual car is of utmost importance, the historical context matters to Velasor. To that extent, they do intense research for archival records and images of the cars in action and replicate these iconic scenes in 1/32-scale. “We create unique pieces associated with personalities, iconic brands, and emblematic places in the world of motorsports.”
“The places are captivating, the stories are exciting and the roar of the engine is the background music. All this together allows us to reproduce at scale the circuits, dioramas, and races that are emblematic of the history of motor racing.” When that kind of detail finds its way into a company’s models, the results will be magical. That’s why Velasor is the Model Car Hall of Fame’s 2024 Novice Brand of the Year.
The Model Car Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, on January 30, 2025. Thanks to everyone at Spielwarenmesse for having us as a part of their event.
