Classic Carlectable V8 Supercars for sale

I have just updated my Biante/Classics 'for sale' page with five surplus models from my diecast garage. Sorry - these have sold (in less than 12 hours to a BIN on Ebay).

They are:

• John Bowe Caterpillar V8 AU Falcon - V8 Supercar. Mint. $15.00 
• John Bowe - Dick Johnson Racing - Shell V8 EL Falcon - V8 Supercar. Mint. Some marks on box.  $15.00
• Mark Larkham - Mitre 10 - V8 AU Falcon - V8 Supercar. Mint. $15.00
• Craig Lowndes 2004 FPR BA Falcon - V8 Supercar. Mint. $25.00
• Garth Tander 2002 Valvoline Holden Commodore  - V8 Supercar. Mint. $25.00

These are also being auctioned on Ebay here.

Granville Diecast Swapmeet February 2011

 Setting up

Steve Maher is a comrade of mine from the Leyland P76 movement and knowing that I am a diecast tragic, has long recommended that I make the journey from Canberra to Granville for the regular diecast swapmeet that the Sydney Model Auto Club run. So yesterday I decided to drive up today and have a look. The drive up from Canberra was actually quite pleasant for Sydney traffic, and took less time than anticipated. The swapmeet venue is at a Catholic school in Granville, using their hall as the main trading area with tables arrayed quite densely, and tables also available outside the main hall. 

As I arrived early, I started spending money even before I went inside! Some of the vendors on the tables outside had cars I was looking for, and also cars I already have. I resisted, mostly... I wandered around the tables setup outside for a good 20 minutes before walking in - where an efficient but friendly gatekeeper arrested my passage and tapped his watch indicating I had a good 15 minutes to wait. This was OK, and I chatted to fellow diecast tragics also waiting. 

I was genuinely surprised at the great range of cars arrayed. Everything from tinplate to the latest 1:18 Supercars. There were quite a few professional traders and also a lot of people with a small table selling spares or a few bits. I was really pleased to see that one vendor had a few boxes of spare dinky, corgi and matchbox tyres. Now I know - I can take a few samples and fit out some of my cars that are up on tiny diecast blocks. 

Main area

Once inside it took me a good 90 minutes to make my way from the main entrance right around. You would be amazed how many tables and people you can pack into a school hall. I also went back to a few vendors a second time to pickup and scratch my chin and think about some cars I passed on earlier. The doors open at 6.45 PM, but all of the vendors arrive earlier, and I am in no doubt that collector/vendors probably swap or snap up a few choice cars before 6.45! 

It was interesting to note that the Hot Wheels XB GT Falcons are readily available at the Granville swapmeet with prices ranging from $4 to $25. The market in Yellow XB's appears to have been satisfied, red XB's are still scarce but a few vendors had them. Saw a few Matchbox VE utes as well. In general - if you want Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars - go to Granville. New in blister pack Hot Wheels - a buck. Mint loose - from 50 cents. Many holes in my collection were filled.  I doubt I will ever use Ebay to buy Hot Wheels ever again, if I cant find it at Granville i'd be surprised. 

I didn't spend a great deal of money, but I did manage to pick up a few cars I had been after for some time, and also a few that I thought were bargains. There were cars I passed on due to the vendors price, but overall I would say that prices were reasonable with haggling welcome. As I have already mentioned the range of diecast on offer was extensive. There was also some odd items - such as a timplate Zeppelin about 5 feet long.  

It was a really good educational experience as well, with lots of tiny cars that I was interested in and was able to pick up, have a close look, ask a vendor a question. They all knew their stuff. They would also ask what I was interested in. Surprisingly I managed to find some Fun Ho! and some Streamlux.  As I am interested in 'pre-going broke and remade in the 80s/90's Fun Ho!' I found but passed on some others. 

As I am also interested in getting a Canberra Swapmeet running, I spoke to a few vendors about that as well, they seemed quite keen - which is a good sign. One in particular spent quite some time explaining how he operates, what he likes, what he doesn't like etc. Every question I asked him he answered with a carefully considered view or opinion, based on years of experience. Exactly the info I need. 

See those plastic boxes in the lower right corner... full of spare dinky/corgi/matchbox tyres!

There were also a few vendors from Canberra that I introduced myself to. Every one of them told me that Canberra used to have a swapmeet. I did forget to talk to a few vendors about it, usually they were in the middle of a transaction and I didn't want to interrupt them, or I got lost in a moment with a car trying to figure out if I had it already etc. If they read this I apologise to them for forgetting, it wasn't personal and I will try and speak to them about it next time. Or they can email me... capdiecast at gmail dot com

The only odd moment of the night for me was quite surreal. 

I bought some cars off a vendor, he had older pre 1970ish diecast and good stuff too. We haggled and he knocked five bucks off two cars. A good deal I felt, not cheap but reasonably priced.  I was chatting to him about my proposed Canberra swapmeet, he seemed interested - then I gave him my card and he looked at it, the cogs started whirring, and he remembered me - I had given him a neutral rating on an ebay transaction a few years ago and he was still furious! To say he went OFF would be an understatement. He gave me back my card, said I could insert it somewhere, he didn't want to talk to me, I wrote crap about Leylands etc. He was very emotional. I was quite taken aback. It all sort of poured out... I tried to reason with him, but it didn't help. Let me put this in perspective - I'm a qualified mediator - and I still couldn't even begin to reach a point where we could discuss the matter. Glad I didn't give him negative feedback!

Wow - I would have given neutral or negative feedback a handful of times. Seriously - very very few times. The incident he recalled quite clearly related to two Trax cars I bought from him - he did not mention in the ad that they had no boxes. They arrived. I was pissed off. I gave him a neutral feedback. 

He still felt very raw about it, so I apologised to him. He refused to accept my apology, saying he had to live with that damaged reputation for a year on his feedback profile. As I said - he was quite emotional, it had really affected him. Then he walked off on me and went to talk to someone else. 

When I got home I had a look through the emails relating to the transaction,  and I must admit he has a point. I perhaps should have emailed him after I received the cars and discussed it with him. I can understand why he was and still is pissed off. I was fairly new to ebay at the time, so I probably acted far too hastily. I guess I have to be honest here and recall the key thing I have learnt on how to deal with people that I have found to be truly effective - treat people how you would like to be treated. In this instance, I didn't. I was in the wrong. What can I do? I have already apologised to him in person, in private, but perhaps it should be public - like Ebay feedback.

I publicly apologise to Bob Williamson for affecting his Ebay feedback score. I should have discussed the matter with him before posting the feedback that I did. I was wrong to act so hastily before discussing the transaction with him.

Apart from that, the rest of the evening was tremendous. I had a long yarn to Steve about Leyland matters (all car clubs have politics and gossip), but was slightly disappointed he didn't have the prototype of the 1:43 resin Leyland P76 London-Sydney 1973 Rally car with him.   

The Sydney Model Auto Club organise and run the Swapmeet very efficiently. It had a good mix of professional stall holders and people selling off spares, with a great atmosphere. Everyone was knowledgeable and friendly, and really interested in what you collected when you talked to them. Its definitely worth the trip from Canberra. I wont bore you all with a detailed report on my trip back to Canberra in the XF V8 Panelvan in the rain with a wiper intermittently failing to wipe... but I did get back home in time to catch the Abu Dhabi V8 Supercar race  on TV.

See also: Canberra Diecast Swapmeet 2011?

Fire trucks and Hummers for sale on Ebay this week!

Currently I have some small bulk lots of Fire trucks on Ebay. Tomorrow night I will list Hummers in small bulk lots. The auctions will run for a week.

They are all three inch scale and a mixture of Welly, Maisto, Hongwell, Real Toy, Fast Lane brands pre 2002ish.

Have a look at the photos below, and then have a look at the listings. I can take better photos for you if you email me.

You can see all my current Ebay auctions here.

I have also placed better quality 1:64 diecasts on my 'for sale' pages, see Emergency Service vehicles here and 'other cars' including some taxi's, here.

I have thousands of Emergency Services Vehicles which I will be selling off this year. If there is something specific you are after - email me at capdiecast at gmail dot com

$8000 for a Hot Wheels car!

I cant imagine ever paying $8,000 for a hotwheels car - but someone has! This Ebay auction of a car from the Mike Strauss collection sold recently for that sum. The car was  a Rodger Dodger from 1974. The photos are from the Ebay ad for the car.

The ad description talks a lot about the provenance of the car, the collection it is from and the fact that it was used as the model for the Tomarts price guide. The details of the actual condition are rather shorter than the schtick. It says"REDLINE FC BLUE RODGER DODGER BP. This car is SMOKIN nice!!!..The card is unpunched but has some wear. The bubble has a slit top rear as seen."

The Rodger Dodger model was designed at Hot Wheels by Larry Wood and debuted in the 1974 Hot Wheels Flying Colour range in a colour called Plum. it stayed in the range until 1979 and the casting was then retired. It was brought back in 1998 and is currently used in the Hot Wheels Military Rods line in Satin Olive Green and white tampo printing.

Interestingly, this variation was not listed in the Hot Wheels Wiki, but I did find it at my other favourite Hot Wheels info resource the South Texas Diecast Collectors Hot Wheels guide. They had its value at loose - $2200 and in card at $3500. It came out in two colours that year, Blue - as seen here, and Plum. The Plum variant is also scarce, and is listed at $70 for a loose version. This appear to be the only time the casting ever appeared in blue, plenty of pinks, blacks, chrome and gold, but only once in blue. 


I do not know what the highest price paid for a single diecast car is, or what the highest price for a Hot Wheels has been, but you have to concede that $8000 is a lot for a car that can still be bought for a few dollars in its new guise, down at Toyworld. I cant see myself ever paying eight grand for a diecast car, especially since I have beaters in my 'wrecking yard' box of the same vintage as this car! Still, I'm glad that someone has placed a value on this car as it makes a diecast collection more than a hobby - its an investment portfolio! 

How not to ship model cars - damaged in transit ebay purchase

When I sell things on Ebay, I mail them to their new owners using a new Australia Post box, and plenty of bubble wrap. I believe you should receive your car in the same condition as I would like to receive it. After you have paid me - it is your car. This is not how everyone thinks. Recently from Ebay, I bought a 1:32 Carrera brand 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird. I dont collect slotcars and I dont collect 1:32, but I do collect Superbirds. I won it really cheaply - it cost $8.95. 

A few weeks later, I receive a card to come and collect a parcel. The card from Aus Post asked Darren Raggs to come and collect a parcel. It took some minutes of negotiation to convince Aus Post that I was who I was, that the seller had just scribbled a name instead of printing it, Raggs sort of looked like Haas etc, and that I could predict the contents if they opened it at the PO counter. They were convinced, and let me take the parcel. I use this PO several times a week, so I think that also helped.

As I walked off with it I could hear rattling, could feel hard plastic or a box, and noticed several tears on the plastic reg post envelope. Not good.

I decided to photograph the opening, and sadly I was presented with a Superbird with no wrapping, protective or otherwise. None whatsoever. The seller has just jammed the car and display case into a plastic envelope. Jammed is the right word too, as the plastic envelope had been stretched and pulled over the plastic display case. No bubblewrap or foam beads to be seen anywhere. I could see the first breakage as I made the first opening cut. It was very disappointing.

 Completely smashed right through.

 Same on this corner

 Back is smashed also

This is the Ebay ad for the car. 

As can be seen, by not wrapping the car in bubblewrap and then placing that into a box, then mailing it, the seller has guaranteed that the item will be damaged in transit. I just cannot understand the thinking of the person who would do this.

I paid for registered post, so obviously the seller is thinking of their own protection, and there's nothing wrong with that, but they certainly were not thinking of the safety of the item they had sold me.

If there is one positive, it is that the Superbird is undamaged. The display case is unusable though.

After looking at the damage, I emailed the seller to tell them what had happened. I indicated I would be leaving negative feedback. That was four days ago, and they haven't responded. Today I left negative feedback and a comment that the item was sent with no protective wrapping, resulting in damage.

If any reader mails cars, please look at these photos and appreciate how a few moments with some bubblewrap and tape, and using the correct mailing media for the item can ensure that damage such as that shown here, will not occur. Bubblewrap is your friend. It is also the reason I use Aus Post boxes, foam beads and bubblewrap when I mail cars. People occasionally whinge at the cost ($7 minimum) but perhaps now they can understand why I wrap cars so carefully before mailing them.

Related posts:
Ebay Paypal Dispute Resolution unfair to sellers

Out of the Garage - Sold on Ebay

I photograph all the models that I sell, and sometimes these little cars look simply amazing. Im trying to be strict about what I sell, whittling the collection down to my core interests - instead of the Magpie ' I like that car' approach I previously held. This hasnt stopped me buying new cars though, especially Hot Wheels and Matchbox. Sometimes I will also buy 'lots' of car if I see one Im after, and sell the rest.

I thought I might post some photos of cars I have sold here, as a way to remember them. I am glad they have found homes where they are appreciated.

Look at that pickle! Beautiful model.

Great colour scheme, and nice for the Yesteryear collector. 

Great graphics. 

Deep glossy black and period advertising. Nice.

Red and blue Unic taxis.

Three pre-war Brumm 1:43 models. Bentleys sold quickly.

Trio of 1:64 Nascar Hot Wheels. Good detail for scale.

Hot wheels insanity. 

Majorette Golf and a caravan, also sold quickly.

LLedo MG racer, beautiful model. Popular, wish I had more to sell!

Matchbox VW ambulance. 

Vivid yellow Matchbox Ford Transit. Lots of watchers, but took awhile to sell. 

Matchbox Corvette. Very nice colour scheme.

Matchbox Porsche. Common model, but nice and crisp.

I was amazed when this sold, but VW's are always popular.

This went quickly as well. Maisto colour scheme. 

I now regret selling these. Trio of Matchbox Vipers.

Maisto Tonka. Hey - its got four wheels...

Matchbox Error cards

They say that more than three of anything is a collection... so I guess I have a small collection of Matchbox error cards. The problem is that apart from the VW 181, I dont really collect these other Matchbox cars, so i have decided to let them go to another persons collection via my Ebay store. 

I find these error cards interesting, and I guess that with the millions of cars that the factories churn out, there has to be a few mistakes made such as these. With the bulk of these cars bought by kids, who dont care about errors, error cards are scarce - especially as the years go by. 

I always keep my eye out for these errors for some reason, and end up buying them. With enough cars in the Capital Diecast Garage, I dont need to start another large sub-collection, so I will let these go.