Models on a Roll Since Early 1900s

WHAT IS IT?

These are die-cast metal model cars by the British manufacturers Corgi and Dinky from the 1960s and ‘70s.

WHAT’S ITS HISTORY?

Model cars were being made soon after full-size cars were on the road, after the turn of the 19th century. In Germany, Marklin, Bing and other companies produced detailed tin-plated replicas. These models were bought largely by wealthy parents for their sons.

The tin-plated cars were made in large scale; later, die-cast cars were released on a smaller scale and cost much less.

The American company, Tootsietoys, was one of the first manufacturers producing die-cast models in the 1920s. In the 1930s, several companies released their first models in about 1/43rd scale, the size of the O-gauge model railways. Dinky Toys began in 1934 and made models based on vehicles in TV shows and movies. Corgi began in 1956 producing models with windows and interior detail.

WHAT’S THE LEGEND?

This collection belongs to Anaheim resident John Prothero. “I estimate that the collection is close to 100 cars. Most are in excellent condition, and some even have the original boxes that they came in,” he said. “I began collecting these cars when I was 7 or 8 because my brother, Jim, and I had a best friend who was British. We grew up in Glendale near a store that sold them, so they were easy to find. Some we bought ourselves and some we bribed our parents into buying for us. I stopped collecting them in the early 1970s when I was in junior high school.”

The collection includes firetrucks, ambulances, TV’s Batmobile and “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” car, a James Bond car and everyday cars.

WHY IS IT POPULAR TODAY?

The cars made in the ‘60s are more popular because they are authentic copies of the originals. In the 1970s, one-piece plastic wheels mounted on thin, fast-running axles replaced authentic wheels with rubber tires. “The cars are really well-made,” Prothero said. “The doors open on them and some even have headlights.”

WHAT’S IT WORTH TODAY?

As with all collectibles, condition and rarity affect price. There are 23 pages of Dinkys for sale on https://www.ebay.com, with prices from $5 to $39.95 for a Dinky 1965 Ford Mustang to hundreds of dollars for other models. Corgi has 41 pages of cars for sale on EBay, with a James Bond gold-plated Astin Martin going for $50, a Penguinmobile for $34.99 and a 1968 Citroen Olympics model for $350. Other models are as little as $10.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

There are many books on collecting, including two by Edward Force: “Dinky Toys” (Schiffer Books, 1999, $16.95) and “Corgi Toys” (Schiffer Books, 1997, $16.95). Daniel Beck’s Model Car Collection Web site at https://hammer.prohosting.com/~dbeck /e/index.html information and links to other die-cast car sites.

* To have an item considered for this column, send information, a photo of it and a phone number to: What’s It Worth?, Home Design, The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.