specific make/model for O vehicles

[Elsquared67]

Any advice on what to do if you're looking for O scale vehicles of a specific year/make/model?  (Actually anything from 1/43 to 1/50, I guess.)  I'd like to use replicas of various cars my family has had over the years, but unfortunately haven't found any available.  (For example, my "first" car was the family car, a 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-door.)  Thanks for the help.

[fifedog]

I always check for diecast in the toy section of the Wally Mart.  Tractor Supply has a lot of farm and construction vehicles.  Diecast Direct always has a wide assortment of autos (for a price).

[Buckeye Riveter]

I look at the vehicles on display at CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, etc. My VW police car, although 1:43 is a hit with its flashing lights.  We also have large flea markerts where you never know what you will find. 

[KRM]

Try looking for NewRay classics city curiser on E-bay. I have a lot of those and they come in many models.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ray-1-43-City-Cruiser-Oldsmobile-4-4-2-American-Classic-Car-Diecast/313026536687?epid=176528880&hash=item48e1d5e4ef:g:4lcAAOSwq2heXwAq

 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=NewRay+diecast+classic+city+cruiser&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=NewRay+diecast+classic

 

 

[Rene Schweitzer]

IME, car models are often made of flashy, trendy, or muscle cars first, and not as often for family sedans. You may have to search for something similar and either paint it, modify it, or call it good as is.

For example, I drove a 1982 Buick Regal sedan (with a white canvas top) for many years. I loved that car and searched high and low for a model. There are tons of Gran Sports, two-door models, or the next body style (around 1986-87), but none for the car I had. I took a model Gran Sport and re-painted it to my former car's colors. Had to live with the fact that it was a two-door.

Just my two cents.

[arkady]

Fairfield Collectibles has a pretty good selection of 1:43 automobiles from many eras:

https://fairfieldcollectibles.com/scale/1-43/

Mind you, some of them can be fairly expensive, but not all of them.

[traindaddy1]

Just a suggestion:

Measure a car and truck on your layout, that you feel comfortable with (Length, width, height) and jot the measurements down.

Then cut a thin piece of card board or paper to the truck length and width, super imposing the car dimensions.

Carry it with you next time you go to CVS, Walmart etc.

This way, you really don't have to be concerned as to scale. Just match the car or truck to your template.

(It has worked for me.) Wish you good luck in your search.

[Joe Hohmann]

To find what is available, go to eBay and type in "1:43 1955 Dodge" (or whatever). That will pretty much tell you if the one you seek has ever been made. The example I used is a rare/expensive one. $$$ in O gauge size, and only $9. with lots of color choices in 1:64 S gauge size.

[Penny Trains]

Here's a link to Ebay's Diecast department: https://www.ebay.com/b/Diecast-Cars-Trucks-Vans/180273/bn_1865098?LH_TitleDesc=0&rt=nc&_dcat=180273&_from=R40&_odkw=ladder&_osacat=180273&_sop=1.  You can search for a lot of variables like make, model, year, color and most importantly scale by using the search filters.  Of course the seller has to use those factors too in at least the description, but I've had pretty good luck over the years.

[Curmudgeon]

Rene Schweitzer

IME, car models are often made of flashy, trendy, or muscle cars first, and not as often for family sedans. You may have to search for something similar and either paint it, modify it, or call it good as is.

For example, I drove a 1982 Buick Regal sedan (with a white canvas top) for many years. I loved that car and searched high and low for a model. There are tons of Gran Sports, two-door models, or the next body style (around 1986-87), but none for the car I had. I took a model Gran Sport and re-painted it to my former car's colors. Had to live with the fact that it was a two-door.

Just my two cents.

 

 

On another 3-rail forum, one of the members posted a photo showing a (probably) 1950 Ford Fordor (actually spelled like that) police car. I own a 1950 Ford Tudor (actually spelled like that) so was interested. Unfortunately, the chrome antenna for era police vehicles is attached to either the gas cap door on left rear wing (in 1950) or to the exposed gas cap (if a 1949). Won't be looking for one of those.

 

Friends have given be a couple of 0 sized MK2 Jags, neither the bronze color of mine, thinking of doing what Rene did and repainting one of them.

[rtraincollector]

I watch for MTH flats/ auto carriers as sometimes you can get lucky, Like I did the other day two flats with 2 cars each in original boxes, $34.99 that breaks down to $17.50 a flat car with two or $8.75 a car,  I got 7 flats with 2 cars each and one flat with a airplane, For $34.99 per set of two ( 4 x $34.99 ) + I got two carriers with 4 cars each for $44.99, With shipping and S.C. tax I paid a total of $230.92 so it breaks down to for 22 cars and a airplne I paid about $10 each but then I have 8 Flat cars and two double layer auto carriers I can sell the flats for at least $5 each and double carriers for $10 which takes me down to 170.92, so about $7.77 a car including shipping. And actually I'll probably take the airplane on it's flat and sell it for about $25 so that will make it $20 less so where less than $7 a car including shipping, so I feel I'm ahead.