Diecast is my preference, 60's onward.
Dave
In the $10.00 each range for good models you have Oxford and Classic Metal Works. These are both plastic.
1960s models are kind of slim, but there are a few.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Quite a few 60's models.........prices are high, I think though......
https://www.american-excellence.com/index.php?p=list&new=1&scale=87
Do some browsing.......many Mfg'ers and prices:
https://www.ebay.com/b/1-87-Scale-Diecast-Cars-Trucks-Vans/180273/bn_55249931
Take Care!
Frank
You said 60's and onward - so assume 1970' included.
Classic Metal Works makes 1978 Impala's which I've been collecting to populate a couple of tri-level autoracks. They also make a 70's Buick station wagon more recently. The prices on the Buick wagons is around $16 - as long as they are it looks like only 4 will fit per level on a tri-level.
You can farm Ebay for Fresh Cherries HO AMC Gremlins and Pacers, as well as Mercury Bobcats and Ford Pinto wagons. Those originally sold for just a few dollars and many sellers are asking silly high prices for them, but I've been able to gleen enough to popular a rack with AMC cars and another with Ford/Mercury cars buying most of the for around $6 each and a few a bit more.
Woodland Scenics just came out with some 70's era cars but they aren't good for autorack because they have things on the roof, like luggage, or work ladders on the vans etc.
Trident makes Vans and Trucks good for 70's and early 80's. They can be had for around $10-12 on Ebay, but I got lucky and found two lots of 10 vans which came out to about $4 and change per fan - good for populating a couple bi-level open autoracks.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
If your layout is sixties, you can certainly use at least a few 50s cars, as they don't have expiration dates on them.
I was at a show where an exibitor had populated a lot of open autoracks with diecast cars, a couple of dozen autoracks. He was having trouble pulling them around a completely flat show layout. These were old Athearn autoracks, with real sprung trucks, and the weight of the autos was bottoming out the trucks and more than the engines could handle. Die cast is nice, but not for autoracks.
I have a number of Classic Motor Works and Oxford cars that are diecast. You may find them in shops or shows. When shows open up again, get there early.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have a couple of the Oxford cars and they are quite nice for the price. Classic Metal Works are nice, too, but are more in the $15 and > range.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Although I model the 90's to now I like the older autos from the 60,70's,and some 80's. They just seemed to have more style. Maybe they don't go with my era but hey it's my railroad.
Thanks guys for your tips and yes Oxford models do have some nice cars and the prices are reasonable.
I have found that diecast direct has some of the best prices on 1/87 vehicles. Most are from the 50, and 60's though.
The nice think about Oxford is they are doing different vehicles than the normal Ford/Chevy/Ford/Chevy offerings (Rocket 88s, Desotos, Pontiac Chieftans, Dodge Pickups)
Just search around on ebay. I like the model power and malibu customs ( I think theyre the smae brand as the packaging is the same all around) but I have a '70 cuda and a '67 c10 both look great on they layout and have great detail! Ive also found some OO scale from japan on ebay that look great even though theyre slighly larger.
I only paid $5 for the cuda at a hobby shop and $15 for the c10 off ebay ( dang shipping costs)
azrailThe nice think about Oxford is they are doing different vehicles <SNIP> Pontiac Chieftans,
The Pontiac Chiefton is one of their newer releases, and it is a beautiful model.
Yes, it is great to have some real variety now.
Busch makes a Plymouth Fury and a Dodge Monaco (might be the same car) that look like they are from the early 1970s.
riogrande5761 You said 60's and onward - so assume 1970' included. Classic Metal Works makes 1978 Impala's which I've been collecting to populate a couple of tri-level autoracks. They also make a 70's Buick station wagon more recently. The prices on the Buick wagons is around $16 - as long as they are it looks like only 4 will fit per level on a tri-level. You can farm Ebay for Fresh Cherries HO AMC Gremlins and Pacers, as well as Mercury Bobcats and Ford Pinto wagons. Those originally sold for just a few dollars and many sellers are asking silly high prices for them, but I've been able to gleen enough to popular a rack with AMC cars and another with Ford/Mercury cars buying most of the for around $6 each and a few a bit more. Woodland Scenics just came out with some 70's era cars but they aren't good for autorack because they have things on the roof, like luggage, or work ladders on the vans etc. Trident makes Vans and Trucks good for 70's and early 80's. They can be had for around $10-12 on Ebay, but I got lucky and found two lots of 10 vans which came out to about $4 and change per fan - good for populating a couple bi-level open autoracks.
The 1975 Buick Estate Wagon was a whopping 231.8 inches long, nearly 20', only a foot shorter than my extended cab F250 pickup with its 8' bed.
Those Buicks were some of the biggest station wagons ever built.
Yes, only four to a deck on an auto rack......
Sheldon
Trainworld sells vehicles from a variety of manufacturers. You might keep a eye on them for discounts. I've bought some CMW vehicles there for good prices.
Scale vehicles at reasonable prices? Good luck! I need to purchase several more cars for my 50's era layout but the prices! Ouch! Yes, Model Train Stuff and Trainworld do have occasional sales but the selections are usually rather limited. I used to find inexpensive scale vehicles at train shows (remember those?) but the prices for even used vehicles at the last couple of shows I attended were above MSRP! Pretty crazy when you could buy an Accurail or Athearn freight car kit for 5 or 6 bucks while a used scale vehicle would set you back $20! I think the Oxford selection is the best deal right now but 8 or 9 vehicles will still set you back $100! If we were modeling the current era, there is a fairly decent looking 50-car set available for under $20 from various sources. Too bad there aren't similar sets for older eras.
Hornblower
hornblower I think the Oxford selection is the best deal right now but 8 or 9 vehicles will still set you back $100!
I used to think along the same lines... but then I started buying vehicles one at a time. $10.00 here, $14.00 there, and before I knew it, I had a pretty good collection of vehicles.
I've been collecting HO vehicles for a bit over 40 years, the last count was 87 with headlights and I've added about 20 in the last year. I think I have more $$ in vehicles than trains.I bought a bunch back in the 90s mostly kits and they just sit on the shelf until I retired in 2007. About a month ago I started assembling some kits. It was an error on my behalf for not assembling them earlier. I particular the Highway Miniatures kits, they are not easy to assemble with shaky hands.I have been trying to assemble a 28 Model A for a week and do more damage than good. Trying to install 0402 Micro LED headlights is a real task with shaky hands.I really like the Oxford vehicles, I haven't bought any of them but I do plan on buying some.These are 0604 LEDs.
Ain't model railroading fun?Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Nice work, Mel! What are you using to affix the 0603s inside the headlights?
I discovered that Testors Clear Parts Cement works really well and stays liquidy long enough to apply & manipulate it with the tip of a toothpick. I've found it very beneficial with my brass locomotive headlight installations. It also helps insulate the back and sides of the SMD LEDs from inadvertantly shorting inside the brass headlight housing.
That's what I use to fill in the headlights Tom. It makes them look like a lens. The 90+ vehicles have 1mm micro bulbs for head lights, I can't find them anymore so I was forced to go to LEDs. I went with Arduino connector for the vehicles with LEDs to prevent the 1½ volt bulbs from getting the higher voltage used by my vehicles with LEDs.
These have Mel brass rod connectors for 1.4 volt headlights.
Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.