Toy Cars

December 23, 2008

I was being interviewed by NPR when the reporter asked me if I thought the troubles in Detroit would effect the sales of toy cars. That was a good question and I responded that it probably would. The two major purchasers of toy cars, kids and collectors, would probably go through a period of some bewilderment and loss if American companies went out of business..

On a practical level, there would simply be far fewer real world cars to replicate in miniature. On the inspirational level, enthusiasts would lose the source of their zeal, those cars they see on the street, the race tracks and television.

Interestingly, little is being written on this issue. If you are active in the toy car industry or are an enthusiast, please give us your feelings on which way this sector of our industry is going.

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on December 23, 2008 | Comments (3)

November 27, 2011

In response to: Toy Cars
Blondie commented:

I like to party, not look atrceils up online. You made it happen.

November 25, 2011

In response to: Toy Cars
Latoya commented:

Frkanly I think that's absolutely good stuff.

December 31, 2008

In response to: Toy Cars
Bill Cawthon commented:

Loss of one or more of the Detroit automakers would have a significant impact on fans of automotive miniatures, whether they are youngsters or collectors. While there is certainly interest in European and Japanese vehicles, some of the hottest-selling items have been replicas of the Hummer, Jeep and Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger. I can say from experience that our best-selling product is our Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and companies that have licensed the Hummer line have enjoyed good results, especially from younger fans. As it is, Hummer is already on the block and we may never see the promised H4 and Chrysler's future is still in doubt, though Jeep would probably be a survivor. And who could imagine a toy car market without a new Corvette or Mustang? Detroit iron also serves as the inspiration for many custom vehicles, both real and toy. Don't forget, Americans young and old have a taste for unique vehicle types not manufactured or sold in most other parts of the world. Muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger and upcoming Chevrolet Camaro are distinctly American and the full-size pickup is almost the automotive symbol of our nation. So the survival of the American automakers is not just important for our economy, it's important for our toy industry. I certainly hope Chrysler, Ford and General Motors will be able to devise strategies that will restore them to profitability and long-term health.