1/18th Die Cast Model Values

[Guest]

Thought this poll might be interesting.

What is the most desirable (based on average selling price) 1/18th die cast Thunderbird model?

This can be a Maisto, Beanstalk, or other make as long as it's a 1/18th.

Some of you who have posted selling prices on NMs, 007s, etc., have a better handle on values/prices.

Don't vote for your favorite color, but rather the color that is bringing, or has brought, the highest retail price.

I know the elusive 'Whisper White' and 'Merlot' are near the top, but supplies of other colors have become harder to find of late.

Comments and other input is always welcome.

I'm not sure if all the 2002-2005 colors were offered, so I've listed all the colors I can think of.

Have fun!

[wcoates]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Thought this poll might be interesting.

I'm not sure if all the 2002-2005 colors were offered, so I've listed all the colors I can think of.

Phil gotta say your memory is pretty dang good. Interesting side bar might be to list the 2 or 3 or 4 that Phil forgot to do a complete list of all the colors Ford, Maisto and Beanstalk produced.

Phil, I voted other. Reason being that as I understand it there were 7 colors that were not mass produced. MSB, PS, DSB, Cashmere, Inca Gold, Bronze and PCR. Any of those 7 could have been procured from our Friend FritzB for I believe $180 in very Limited quantities. Dino has I know painted at least one of each of the seven. (Am painting a $4 Beanstalk basket case so I do not begrudge either gentleman their fees as it has been/still is a royal PIA). Any of the Dino cars required a donor to be procured and shipped. Any of the 7 Dino's could theoretically cost the same and would rival the WW average (especially if we throw the abnormal $305 purchase out)

So a seven way tie goes to the ones not massed produced.


from the ones we've followed (prices include shipping):

150.45 06/01/13
$153.75 7-18-2013
$183.48 6-17-2013
$172.55 06/01/13
$145.00 07/22/13
$305.00 05/01/13
$150.45 08/01/13
115.32 08/08/13
$127.48 08/09/13
$142.55 10/18/13
average $ $164.60 Whisper White


$83.88 5/30/2013
$77.68 5/30/2013
$100.50 6/1/2013
$95.07 5/3/2013
$103.05 5/6/2013
$105.07 5/11/2013
$80.89 6/6/2013
$115.07 6/18/2013
$110.07 6/28/2013
$75.00 7/22/2013
$83.00 8/1/2013
$75.65 8/8/2013
$105.96 8/20/2013
$90.07 9/20/2103
$77.88 10/10/2013
$114.00 10/30/2013
$115.07 1/16/2014
$80.05 2/3/2014
$68.00 2/4/2014
average $92.42 Neiman Marcus


$61.00
$51.05
$16.50
$73.51
$51.98
$0.00
$44.00
$40.98
$41.95
$0.00
$37.85
$42.99
$40.00
$40.55
$30.50
$40.57
$35.50
$28.95
$34.00
$42.99
$30.50
$38.45
$49.95
$34.90
$33.15
$28.74
$39.40

$37.99
$41.07
$40.33 ave 007 Movie/coral

85.98 +59.75= $72.86 ave 007 Production/white


at least we forget the Christmas Eve Merlot $29.95

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Thanks again Phil for contributing to TBN! I voted for the elusive Merlot only because of what I read here on TBN. My really meager collection is all in black, two of which are custom made be Dino. I thank God I was able to quit there and maintain some marital harmony. So instead of just the diecasts, I've collected as much retro tbird 'stuff' that I've run across. Just a different addiction. Most of the items are featured on Dot's site. A poll of 'whatcha got' would be cool..like what's the hardest to find or nearly impossible?...and Phil send me the Paypal info for the grill surround....

[Guest]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Great information and sales stats Bill. Thanks for compiling and sharing. Are the prices you listed with or without shipping included?

The figures are very close to what I've paid recently for a NM and a 007, within a few dollars if shipping is included. Can't get much more accurate than that.

Regarding the 'Frits' and 'Dino' cars, if not for them the colors that were not mass-produced wouldn't even exist. Some of the photos I've seen of their work is fantastic. Detailed, accurate, and beautiful.

I wonder if any of their 'custom' die casts have ever been offered on Ebay or elsewhere. I realize that the ones that they created were 'commissioned' by owners who wanted an otherwise unavailable color or to complete a collection of all colors, but it would be interesting to see what one of those might bring.

So another question: Would you expect the prices for the TB diecasts to increase or decrease over the years? I wonder how many are 'waiting in the wings' for prices to increase before they're put up for sale. Seems to me the prices should continue to go up, but who knows?

[wcoates]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Are the prices you listed with or without shipping included?
The figures are very close to what I've paid recently for a NM and a 007, within a few dollars if shipping is included. Can't get much more accurate than that.
Seems to me the prices should continue to go up, but who knows?

Phil prices in post 2 include shipping.

Am stealing Paul's post from another thread (mea culpa!) as I think it is very relevant to this post and also extremely accurate!

I've posted this somewhere else before, but here is my thoughts (for what they are worth):

Beanstalk 2004 Merlot - $150+ (not really sure what one will go for since a well advertised auction for one has not come up in over a year)
Maisto 2002 Whisper White - $130+
Maisto 2002 Neiman Marcus - $80 - $100

All 4 of these I'd put between $50 - $70

Beanstalk 2003 007 White Top
Beanstalk 2004 Vintage Mint Green
Beanstalk 2003 Desert Sky Blue
Beanstalk 2003 Mountain Shadow Grey

Maisto 2002 Inspiration Yellow $40 - $60

Maisto 2002 Thunderbird Blue $30 - $40

All of these I'd put between $20 - $35

Maisto 2002 Evening Black
Maisto 2002 Torch Red
Maisto 2003 Mountain Shadow Grey
Maisto 1999 Concept Red
Maisto 1999 Concept Black with Red Interior
Beanstalk 2002 007 Movie Car

Maisto Yellow Concept Car $10 - $25

[Guest]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Thanks Bill (and Paul) for the additional info.

Since I'm guessing your data includes both 'new' and 'used' models, what premium does a NIB warrant over an undamaged 'used' die cast? I'm guessing that a NIB would fall on the upper end of Paul's estimates.

The reason I ask is that I recently found a 'stash' of 30-40 Maisto 1/18th in 'Evening Black' that could be bought for $ 22.00 each ... brand new in box. That would seem to be a 'fair' buy, but hardly a steal, and I'm not in a position to buy them all.

Thoughts?

[2K2BIRD]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Phil,

I haven't voted in your poll, primarily because I don't think there is enough information out there to really come to an accurate conclusion.

Even if all that were being considered were the production models from Maisto and Beanstalk, the conclusion might change from day to day. Well, not really day to day, because the truly rarest in the bunch aren't available with predictable regularity. There was a run of Maisto Whisper White models available for a few weeks last year (probably due to a couple of extremely high selling auctions). Since then there have been less than a handful available for bid, so it's hard to know what a well advertised open auction Whisper White Maisto will bring at this time. Do I think that there would be more than more one buyer lined up for a straight sale at $150.00 - yes!

Contrast that with the Beanstalk Merlot model that has not had an open auction in well over a year. How could anyone guess what a well advertised auction for one would bring? We know several TBN members that are looking for one. Some are more vocal about it than others. I recently received an email from a member that I do not know that is looking for one - who knows how many more there are lurking in the TBN woodwork. I believe it would be higher than the current average for the Whisper White, but I do not know if it would reach the $300+ that the Whisper White has brought twice that I know of over the years. Of course, all it takes is two folks with deep pockets and big desires to drive the price up. Do I think there would be more than one buyer lined up for a straight sale at $200.00 - possibly!

When you add in the short run of customs made by Frits, all bets are off. Frits' models exceed the quality of both manufacturers' mass produced versions. They originally sold for $180 each including shipping from The Netherlands which was very reasonable considering the amazing work and craftsmanship that went into them, plus over $30 of that total was postage to get them to the states. Throw on top of that the fact that Frits would customize the exterior and interior to your specifications based on the car you owned or wanted replicated. For example, if you purchased a platinum silver model you could specify whether you wanted an 04 or 05 with a sand package, partial blue, standard black or black accent package interior. That means of the total run of 15 painted silver, there are much less of any one particular model than that. So, if you own a fairly rare 1:1 '05 silver Thunderbird with the partial blue interior, what would you be willing to pay for one of the less than a handful available? $200? $250? $300? More?

Then one could argue that the run of 10 Inca Gold he did is shorter still and we already know that the 82 Inca Gold owners are pretty proud of their exclusivity. What is one of these models worth to them? Hard to say, but it could be a whole lot. How about the limited editions - Cashmere & PCR? They have some exclusivity associated with them as well, so they are probably worth a lot to several folks. Remember, it only takes two to have a bidding war.

Then there is an even shorter run of models that is not listed. The three identical Dusk Rose with Colonial White top Beanstalks that were made for the Heartland Thunder event. I have one, Dot has one and I don't remember who won the third one at the SGK auction. Not sure about the other two, but mine is priceless - so, maybe I should check other on the poll because of these three.

I'm not including Dino's models here as he is still actively customizing them based on a customers specific desires. Therefore, they are true one-offs that are worth what Dino values them at with a specific buyer. Same goes for other customs that are out there.

As for diecast values over time, they are about as fickle as collector cars themselves. The best advise for diecasts is buy what you like and enjoy them for the pleasure they give you at the moment. Let your kids/grandkids worry about what they are worth after you are gone. Hopefully, at least one of them will love them as much as you did and want to keep them. If not, who cares what they get out of them? I don't.

As for perfect "new" box verses used box? Depends on whether the person is planning on displaying them in the box or out of the box. In my mind the only two boxes that matter in the 1:18 retrobird runs are the NM and the Yellow Concept box from the Detroit Auto Show. The rest are best seen in the attic. At $22 each, the common black models are not a good buy in my opinion. I'm not even sure I would go there at half that amount.

[Guest]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Thanks for the insight and comments Paul. Good advice for sure. And your point about the limited amount of sales data for say the Merlot is well taken.

I'm wondering what, if anything, would happen to values IF Maisto re-introduced the Retrobird die cast. Anyone with say $ 20,000 to spend/invest could probably have them made, but they'd all have to be the same color.

But what if someone 'commissioned' the manufacture of 1,000 in WW or Merlot? Seems to me that number of 'new' models would bring prices down. Too bad we can't get a group of TBN'ers together to do that ... 100 members investing say $ 200 each, or 200 members investing $ 100 each. But I doubt we'd get even a dozen to agree on a single color.

Probably just so much 'daydreaming' anyway.

The figures and data that you and Bill (and others) have compiled is about as good as it gets.

So how many total Retro die casts in your collection now?

[SixPac]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

I bought a Frits Merlot edition (#6 of 15) for $180.00 plus a small shipping charge from one of our TBN members. This is the only Frits resale that I'm aware of.

[Guest]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Sounds like a fair price Charlie, given what Frits was charging to do the custom models (I think Paul said $ 180).

Now I've heard Frits is 'out of the business,' but Dino still makes them ... or do I have it backwards?

Maybe Frits and Dino could comment?

[wcoates]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Sounds like a fair price Charlie, given what Frits was charging to do the custom models (I think Paul said $ 180).

Now I've heard Frits is 'out of the business,' but Dino still makes them ... or do I have it backwards?

Maybe Frits and Dino could comment?

Early in my desire to collect 1:18, I asked FritzB who advised me that he no longer does Bird re-painting. Dino currently has a donor of mine waiting to be done.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

I know Ron McCloud has sold a few of his Frits models to folks that have the same models in 1:1 that didn't get one when Frits first offered them. One I know of and saw recently was the Whisper White with full red accent interior he sold to Chromedome.

Charlie was extremely lucky to get the Frits Merlot for same price he sold them for - that is for sure. Frits has said more than once he is out of the diecast repaint business - I think we can take him at his word. I have tried to coax him out of retirement to do a Torch Red Beanstalk model exactly like our car, but he has not budged.

As for my collection, I think I can easily count the 120+ metal diecast retrobird models listed in my signature in all scales including some multiples of the same model, some customs, some prototypes, and some company promos while sitting in my chair and typing this. I also have at least 12 plastic/resin retrobird models and one cloth (beanie baby type) one. Of these 130+ replicas, over 50 are Torch or Concept Red. Virtually all of them have been liberated from their original packaging - in general, I collect models not boxes. I did not include two donor diecasts - one Beanstalk 007 and one black Maisto - in this count. Someone help, I'm sick I tell you .....

[SixPac]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Several years ago a TBN member was selling all his Thunderbird stuff. In that stuff was a Beanstalk Merlot. At that time I didn't have a Merlot and really, really wanted one. I sent him a PM offering $_ _ _.00. He accepted and included shipping in that amount. I doubt that I could sell it and recover my cost.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

I know Ron McCloud has sold a few of his Frits models to folks that have the same models in 1:1 that didn't get one when Frits first offered them. One I know of and saw recently was the Whisper White with full red accent interior he sold to Chromedome.

I also sold a Merlot, a silver and Cashmere to 1:1 owners here, wish I had the Cashmere back. I sold mine for the same price that Frits charged. As Capitan Jack Sparrow said "I will not be doing that again".

[Guest]

Re: 1/18th Die Cast Model Values

Interesting stories about the Frits models. Too bad he's not doing them any longer. I can understand, what with the labor, time and great attention to detail required.

Dino is still doing them though, right? I'm sure he has a long waiting list.

Paul, that's some collection. Must take up a lot of room. Good thing that Rosetta indulges you in your 'affliction.' LOL!