In this economy, hardly anyone is buying frivolous products. People are hoarding cash. As a consequence, the scale model car market has taken a nosedive that will even take AIG stock holders' breaths away. If you can spare a few dollars a month, this is an excellent opportunity to pick up some raging deals.
Here are my three favorite stores, in no particular order.
- EWA. This is an East Coast outfit. They have a huge selection and its website is very easy to navigate. They have a 30% off everything 30th anniversary sale. I just got an IST Uaz 452 and a Minichamps Alfa Romeo 159 today. More on that later. The packaging/shipping has always been top notch.
- Not A Toy. An outfit in Michigan run by a really nice and helpful guy. Though there is no sale going on now, their prices are always low and extremely competitive.
- Scale Cars. This business has a physical store in Napa. The owner is really cool and lets me at his cars whenever I stop by. I really want this place to succeed. If you go to the store, check out the helmet signed by every F1 driver (save DC) at the USGP a few years ago.
Buying a few cars a month (or even more) will not only keep the manufacturers in business, but it will keep these American small businesses going. Go for it. You know you need a 1/43 model of that obscure car only you and three other people in your time zone covet.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6NbaepMkARJzEEBfhDUUA4Qk6br87V40S_LpWI_KyEt_HWbputhkNa5ILr1d20TyAtqsjPKjjMV-sjBZMwDR-U7TY5bAH1NJ5Sc0b5nve_tau1PNIbsxKGlUF8YnvxZ6uXH83g/s320/uaz+452+43.JPG)
As for what I got today. First, I got an IST
UAZ 452. It was advertised as an IXO. IST may well be a subsidiary of IXO.
IST has its own website and it is a virtual Garden of Eden of 1/43 Soviet/Warsaw Pact goodness. It's got UAZ, Volga, EMW, Barkas, Melkus, and even ZAZ! The 452 I got for $17 rivals in detail with $40 Minichamps models. I am very happy.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHn-H6V74xi1hpGpGozo0jRFebK4s1Oq1dP88LAhPDQR36r8e3UhxpX13XuCRyl-F2DR-ssPDzL5_xpdKYVhJw7ICm700dEEhBuIcTie6HZSQvJpKRDrVYrOdRL50wn5lg4nuQQ/s320/alfa+159+minichamps.jpg)
The other car I got is a Minichamps
Alfa 159. Since I can't buy the real thing in America, I might as well settle for a 1/43 version.
CKY