This page lists model car brand names past and present. The list is inclusive with slush mold, tinplate, pressed steel, diecast zamac, white metal, plastic and resin models and toys from all over the world. A few are even made of crystal, glass, wood, coal or other materials. Some of the brands here are more toy-like and others are purely for adult collectors. Some are from design model organizations and were never intended for sale. The price of some when new was less than 50 cents, while others cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Some are kits, some are kits that are specially handbuilt, but many are factory preassembled. Some are promotional in approach while others are solidly set in the retail realm. Some are stationary and do not roll while others roll or have friction or pull-back motors. At a different end of the spectrum, many are remote control. Models of all different sizes are represented, but the typical range is between 1:18 (about 11 inches) to 1:87 (about an inch and a half).
A AB Minicars – Diecast model cars made in Thailand. AB-Models – AutoBarn Models Abrex Kovove Modely Aut – Czech firm, Škoda models in 1:43, 1:24 & some 1:18. Also 1:18 scale Jawa motorcycles. A.C. Gilbert Company – American manufacturer of 1:32 scale slot cars and sets, 1930s–1960s, though mostly made erector sets. Academy Plastic Model – Korean plastic model maker, mostly military vehicles. Associated with dinky Accurate Miniatures – Molded kits made for this company by Monogram. 1:24 scale. ACME – Hong Kong maker of plastic toysRalston 2007, p. 98 Action Collectibles – Mainly NASCAR, other stock car diecast, drag racing cars. Agama Racing – 1:8 radio-controlled buggy specialist Agat (previously known as Tantal and Mossar) – Soviet/Russian model car brand from Saratov, making 1:43 scale metal models of Soviet and Russian car brands Airfix – British plastic car and airplane kits. Some built plastic HO military and other toys. Almost Real Aluminum Metal Toys (AMT) – American promotional model and kit company dating from 1948. Amalgam Collection - Artisan hand-made 1:8 scale model cars. Headquartered in Bristol, England. Also makes 1:12 and 1:18 scale models. American Diecast Company (ADC) Amloid – Mostly cast plastic toys, like Gay Toys or Processed Plastic – often very clever and realistic. AMR Andre Marie Ruf / AMR Century – White metal built and kits, supplied Danhausen and bought by Danhausen. AMW – German 1:87 scale (HO) plastic, mostly trucks and buses/coaches with authentic liveries. Name was changed to AWM. Anguplas – Spanish 1:87 scale maker from the early 1960sRalston 2007, p. 52 Anker – Plastic toys from East Germany 1960s-1970s. Name later changed to PikoRalston 2007, p. 111 Anson – Mostly 1:18 scale from Hong Kong, mostly European vehicles. Engine compartments can be especially detailed and colorful. Aoshima – Japanese plastic & metal model manufacturer. Includes Skynet brand, Miracle House brand, DISM brand and FunnyKnights brand. Aoyagi Metals Company – Japanese slot car and radio controlled car Apex Replicas – Australian producer of 1:18 and 1:43 scale diecast and resin model cars Arcade – Primitive producer of cast vehicles mainly in the 1930s ARCO – Plastic toys from USA, later diecast, but not sure if it was the same manufacturerRalston 2007, p. 86 Ari Unic – East German plastic reproductions of French Norev models – 1980s 1:24 scale kits from Japan, became Micro Ace. Arnold – West German tinplate and later plastic toysRalston 2007, pp. 68, 71 Artin – Chinese manufacturer of 1:64, 1:43, and 1:32 scale cars and track. Asahi – Japanese tin, but also diecast "Model Pet" series as agent in Japan for Corgi & Lone Star. Atlas – Chinese 1:76 (buses), 1:87 (tram cars), and 1:43 scale diecast models, some recasts of Norevs also reissues of old Dinkys with old packaging designs. ATMA Paulista – Plastic 1:24 scale cars made in São Paulo, especially notable for the DKW-Vemag Belcar, apparently a promotionalRalston 2007, p. 116 Auburn Rubber Company – Early American producer of rubber cars. Aurora Plastics Corporation – American manufacturer of 1:24 static kits and developer of the pioneering Model Motoring and AFX lines (HO) as well as 1:32 and 1:48 slot cars. AUTOart – Established in 1998. Other lines of diecast vehicles formerly associated with AUTOart were Gateway, Gate and UT Models. The latter was originally a German company with diecast cars made in China and associated with Paul's Model Art which produces Minichamps. AUTOart makes diecast and composite (ABS + diecast) model cars, and diecast motorcycles. The car models have been divided over time into various series, including the Millennium series, Performance series, Signature series and the Composite series. AutoBarn Models – AB-Models AutoDux – German windup metal and plastic toys from the 1960s. Also known as Dux.Ralston 2007, p. 78 Automodello – Hand-built, highly detailed, signed/autographed, limited and standard edition 1:43 scale resincast manufacturer. Features TVR, Griffith, Fitch, and Bricklin. AUTO METAL - AURO METAL – Yugolasvia 1:50 scale during the communist era and after it. Only built a single model Yugo- ZASTAVA KORAL. Auto Pilen – Spanish manufacturer of die-cast models in 1:43 and 1:64. Made by Pilen S.A. Auto Place Model – Based in Hong Kong. Autosculpt – Auto World – American brand of die-cast models and slot cars in 1:18 and 1:64, which specializes in American-made cars. Owned by Round 2 LLC. Avanstyle AWM – German 1:87 scale (HO) plastic, mostly trucks and buses/coaches with authentic liveries. Axial R/C – famous for rock crawlers.
B Bandai – Formerly large tin plate; plastic kits; now produces toy cars often related to anime merchandising (e.g. Transformers). Ban Seng – Malaysian manufacturer from the 2000s, specializing in 1:43 concept cars made in very short production runs. Bang – Italian manufacturer, later 1980s, specializing in 1:43 Ferraris, picked up where Box Models left off. Banthrico – Die cast car banks in 1:25th and other scales. Promo maker in the early 1950s. Made banks through the 1990s. Bapro – Swedish toy maker in the late 1940s, early 1950sForce 2002, pp. 30, 98 Barclay – American simple metal toys of the 1950s & 1960s – similar to Tootsietoy. Known for tiny cars about long. Barni - The brand name indicated on the base of some 1:32 Chinese-made diecast models for the Iranian market. Base Toys – Similar to Hartoys, or Lledo, oo scale or 1:76. Bauer Models – Bauer Exclusive – metal die-cast in 1:18 and 1:12 scales. BBR Models – Luxury Italian 1:18 & 1:43 scale model manufacturer. Offers both diecast and resin models Bburago – Italian, made by the brothers who made Mebetoys and Martoys. Made 1:18 scale diecast popular. Beeju – British company making plastic trucks and busesRalston 2007, p. 16 Benbros – British diecast of different sizes. Best Box – Dutch brand of three-inch diecast models, precursor of EfsiForce 2002, pp. 107-108 Biante – Australian 1:18, 1:43 and 1:64 scale model manufacturer Bing German manufacturer of tin-plate models Bizarre – Spark model product. Blitz Model Tecnica (BMT) – 1:8 IC track radio controlled cars late 80s through 1990s Blue-Box – Hong Kong maker of plastic cars and trucksRalston 2007, pp. 94–96 BoLink – radio controlled cars Bos-Models "Best of Show" – 1:87 & 1:64 1:43 & 1:18 resin car & truck models, owned by the German company : "Model Car World GmbH", made in China Boss Bodies – Slot car aftermarket 1:32 scale body manufacturer in New Hampshire, USA Box Model – Made by Grassini & Co. Italian manufacturer in the early 1980s of mainly Ferraris that later split & became Bang models & Best models. BP – Not 'British Petroleum' but 'Brothers Petersen' in Denmark, made a handful of models in the late 1940sForce 2002, pp. 30, 96 Brekina – German manufacturer for highly detailed plastic models of the 1940s – 1970s in 1:87 scale (H0). Brimtoy – British maker of larger plastic cars and trucksRalston 2007, pp. 17–18 See also Wells-Brimtoy. Brio – Swedish wood toys, but also marketed diecast Saabs and other vehicles. Britbus – highly detailed bus models for British market but made in China. 1:76 scale. Britains – British manufacturer of soldiers and animals with Land Rovers, Jeeps & farm equipment mixed in. Brookfield Collectors Guild – Wisconsin maker of metal and plastic American promotional models. Brooklin – Handbuilt 1:43 white metal cars originally made in Brooklin suburb of Toronto, Canada and now made in England (incl. related brands Lansdowne, RobEddie, U.S. Model Mint, International Police, Buick Collection '34–'39). Bruce Arnold Models (a.k.a. BAM) – handbuilt 1:43 white metal / resin post-war American cars. Officially licensed by General Motors. Bruder – German manufacturer, plastic large trucks, farming and construction models. Brumm – Italian manufacturer of die-cast models in 1:43 scale. BS (Beuzon et Sordet) – Simple plastic cars from FranceRalston 2007, pp. 27–28, 41-42 Buby – Argentine maker of many scales. Buddy L – Tonka like toys; mostly pressed steel. Budgie Toys – diecast cars and trucks made in England. Similar to Matchbox. Busch – German manufacturer for plastic models in 1:87 and 1:160
C Calsito Models – Dutch model cars Capricorn – Italian nitro radio-controlled cars Cararama – Mostly 1:43 scale, also HO, made in China by Hongwell. Carette – Very early tinplate toys. Germany. Carousel 1 – Carousel 1 produced high quality and detailed die cast 1:18 scale Indianapolis 500 Race Cars. From 1998 through 2009, seventy models were released covering the “golden era” of the famous race. Carousel 1 is no longer in business. Carrera – Current Austrian manufacturer of 1:43, 1:32, and 1:24 beautifully detailed slot cars, track, and digital control systems. Castle Toy – British die-cast manufacturer Castline – Makes M2 Machines replicas of US and Japanese cars of the 1950s to 1970s. Chad Valley – Die-cast cars and buses made in England since the 1920s. Che Zhi – Chinese Brand of diecast cars, usually 1:32 scale. Chibi – Plastic copies of Dinky Supertoys made in ArgentinaRalston 2007, p. 115 CF - Hong Kong brand copy to Tomica models. Chrono – 1:18 scale cars, mostly of British marques from the 1960s and 1970s. Made in China. CIJ – see Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet. CKO – see Kellerman – pressed steel German cars and trucks. Dies later acquired by Czech firm Kovap Nachod, and still later, Kaden. Classic Carlectables – Manufacturers of Australian Touring Cars and V8 Supercars Classic Model Cars (CMC) – German manufacturer of precision high end die-cast collectible model cars and race car transporters in 1:18 and 1:12 scale. Classiques CCC – 1:43 scale resin models made in France. Classic Model Replicars (CMR) – Cle – Name from Clement Gaget. Plastic toy cars and trucks from 1950s – 1970sRalston 2007, pp. 27, 45-47 Clifford – Hong Kong maker of plastic toys like the VW Transporter with opening side doorsRalston 2007, p. 100 CM – Hong Kong maker of London / Hong Kong double decker plastic buses CMNL – See Creative Master Northcord ltd. Cofalu – Mostly figures and accessories but plastic motorcycles and some vehicles alsoRalston 2007, p. 47 Collectors Classics – Argentine-produced 1:43-scale models of classic American cars (primarily '50s). Colourful Model – Comando – See Juguetes Joaquin Valero. Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet – Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet (CIJ); French die-cast manufacturer, name now brought back by Norev. Companion – Russian model car brand from Gelendzhik, making models of Soviet/Russian trucks and buses of plastic (scale 1:43) Conquest- Handbuilt 1:43 white metal cars (incl. related brand Madison). Most models made by SMTS. Line discontinued and brought back in 2005. Conrad Models – Conrad Modell; German maker of promotional trucks and some cars.