Longtime Matchbox and Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada has died of cancer at 42 years old. Asada started with Mattel in 2004 designing mostly licensed, not-too-outrageous vehicles based on real cars. Even his original Matchbox concepts were vehicles that looked like they could be miniatures of actual production cars. In 2009 he started “guest designing” […]
Most people spent 2020 looking for ways to make life seem “normal” even when that was not really possible. One of our favorite diecast projects, CastHeads Magazine, really hit that mark in 2020. For their ability to make the diecast collecting world feel a little more “real,” CastHeads is an inductee in the Model Car […]
Building plastic models of cars is fun and rewarding, but how many people would call it relaxing? A video channel on YouTube presents an argument that assembling and customizing models can be downright Zenful. And for that, Jun’s Mini Garage earns a spot in the Model Car Hall of Fame. Jun (the only name he […]
Car shows and diecast conventions were one of the sadly missing real-world events in 2020. Lucky for fans of such things, the Isolation Island Concours d’Elegance stepped in to fill the void. As one of the most fun online “conventions” and a showcase of astonishing model making, Isolation Island gets a spot in the Model […]
It’s good to have a hobby during downtime. Theodore “Ted” Gray’s hobby is documenting the early and often obscure history of Hot Wheels products. And his latest book, published in 2020, is just the thing Redline Hot Wheels enthusiasts needed last year. For that, and all of his other endeavors to preserve history in miniature, […]
Inductee Larry Wood is a huge figure in the diecast world. As designer for Hot Wheels, Larry penned some of the brand’s most iconic designs, like the Bone Shaker. For his work, we inducted Larry into the Model Car Hall of Fame in 2009 as Model Car Designer and again in 2011. Larry has since […]
Larry Wood has recently unveiled a collection of trading cards that encapsulate some of the artwork from the legendary Hot Wheels designer. Entitled “The Ones That Got Away,” this high-end, 10-card set features the never-before-seen work of the Model Car Hall of Fame class of ’09 inductee. Larry has the distinction of being a two-time […]
The Model Car Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 2021 class of inductees for several categories. Each person or brand is worthy of their inclusion because of current or historical contributions to the model car collecting world. Model Car Designer of the Year – Ryu Asada Ryu Asada found his dream job right […]
The Model Car Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 2021 class of model vehicles for several categories. Each model represents the finest achievements in detail, innovation, and character for various scales. 1/10 Scale Model of the Year – Schuco ZĂĽndapp KS 50 Once known primarily for their basic but nice windup car models, […]
