Classic Cars

John -

Kinda depends on how old you are!

Classic means different things to different people. Are you looking for "classics" from the 60s and 70s. 40s or 20s and 30s???

AMT has a line of great Mopars from the 60s/70s for example, but don't think they'd have a lot from the 40s, but I could be wrong. 8^)

Archer out.

John -
You'll probably find that 1/24 or 1/25 scale will provide you with the greatest variety in subjects - but I don't think there's very many classic cars (as opposed to muscle cars) out there.
Jo-han used to make a number of classic cars - big fin Caddilacs, a few of the older cars with running boards.....but I think they were an odd scale for autos - 1/32 or something similar.
I'd hunt out a model shop (there's lots of them online) and ask them for their help. I'd be surprised if you don't get help from them.

You will find much of what you want in 1/43rd scale but in the larger scales or plastic as the other 2 respondents have said I don't think you'll find so much.

Thanks for the responses. Perhaps I should subsitiute "antique" for "classic." I have been looking at the Minicraft 1930's and older in 1/16th. Anyone know anything about these kits? Similar?

OK that helps. Bandai had a range in 1/16th called Classic Car Series which included a Bugatti Royale, and several other cars back to the 1905 Italia. They are quite basic to build but have reasonable moulded detail. Detail painting will bring a lot more out of them. Availability - who knows?

If you are looking for accurate replicas, I would recommend again picking up Bandai's 1905 Mercedes-Benz. At best, it's a somewhat toylike representation of a generic 1900's automobile, but bears little, if any, resemblance to anything produced by either Mercedes, or Benz, in 1905 (they were separate companies until 1926, so there realy is no such thing as a 1905 Mercedes-Benz).
If you're willing to consider 1/24-1/25 scale, both Heller and Italeri make some very nice classic kits, with a fairly wide range of subjects. Jo-Han did make kits of a Mercedes 500K and a V-16 Cadillac, but they were in 1/25 scale, and I can't say enough good things about them. If you see them for sale, buy them. AMT did make a 1940 Plymouth, and their Chrysler 500C is very nice if you're willing to consider cars from the 50's.

Monogram do a series of classic cars in 1/24 scale.I have the 1932 V-16 Cadillac and the 1930 Packard Boattail Speedster and they are both magnificent kits,coming with full engine detail,etc.Tamiya also do a few,I have the Morgan 4/4 and this kit is superb!!

Like Richard says, the old JoHan kits is a must have for the serious builder of vintages cars. May be not so easy to find but worth hunting for. I built them as a kid back in the seventies, the Cadillac V-16 Phaeton and roadster and also the Mercedes. Somewhere I still have the Mercedes laying about in the scrapheap and I think it still could be saved with some restoration, maybe I'll give it a go someday. The Morgan from Tamiya is a real gem, my wife got one in the "still to build pile" and I think I have to get one for myself to.

Niclas