This collection began in the early 1970’s with models bought at three different shops in London – Hummels in Burlington Arcade off Piccadilly, Beatties in Holborn and Ralph & Kathleen Avis’s excellent and much-missed shop, St Martin’s Accessories. In more recent years, the collection has been added to with models bought from over 20 countries worldwide. It is hoped that the following recommendations are helpful.
UK
British Heritage Models was founded by enthusiast Frank Jones. BHM has an ever-growing range of high quality models. http://www.britishheritagemodels.co.uk
McLaren Models is run by expert Brian McLaren and is Scotland’s leading model car supplier. www.mclaren-models.com
Touchwood Models – founded by Stuart Delf and specialises in speed record models. E-mail: stuart.delf@touchwoodmodels.com
Diecast Legends – a wide range of recently released models and an excellent pre-ordering service. www.diecastlegends.com
Racing Models – specialises in models covering many aspects of racing and with an excellent pre-ordering service. www.racingmodels.com
R M Toys Ltd. – a vast selection of model cars covering the mass produced to many rare white metal models. www.rmtoys.co.uk
Collectors Fairs – a monthly list of all fairs is published in Diecast Collector magazine. www.diecast-collector.co.uk www.collectors-club-of-great-britain.co.uk
Beaulieu Autojumbles – May & September. www.beaulieu.co.uk/events
Argentina
Autos Inolvidables partwork series – contact Nicolas Aguilar. E-mail: nicolass.aguilarr@gmail.com
Shop:- Milou Hobbies, central Buenos Aires
Australia
Microcar Models Australia – contact http://www.microcarmodelsaustralia.com.au
Trax model cars – contact http://www.topgear.com.au
Belgium
Autoworld Car Museum, Parc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels – gift shop. Also an excellent Aviation Museum opposite.
Brazil
Carros Inesqueciveis do Brasil – partwork series.
Czech Republic
Hynek Knopp model cars – http://www.info@knoppmodels.cz
Foxtoys – model car shop in the centre of Prague.
National Technical Museum, Prague – gift shop
France
Most towns in France seem to have a model car shop. For example Angoulême, La Rochelle and Pau all have shops worth visiting.
In Paris, AJC Miniatures has been an excellent family-run business for decades. Located in Rue des Pyrenees, the nearest metro is Maraichers. E-mail: ajcminiatures@gmail.com
Dan Toys model car shop, Rue de la Croix Nivert – the nearest metro is Commerce.
Retromobile. The world’s oldest classic car show which began in 1978. Held every year at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre, the nearest metro is Porte de Versailles. Always has a great range of model car dealers.
Chez-Achille – specialists in French cartoon cars partwork series.
Cité de l’Automobile (Collection Schlumpf), Mulhouse – gift shop. http://www.musee-automobile.fr
NB: Mulhouse also houses the Cité du Train railway museum.
Museum of The 24 Hours of Le Mans. Located at the Circuit de la Sarthe – gift shop.
Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot, Sochaux – gift shop.
Germany
Aachen – Collector’s Fairs held at Eurogress, Aachen.
Modell Center Hunerbein, Aachen – near the Rathaus. Model cars and trains.
Robert Budig Modellautos, Berlin – a wide range of models including an extensive selection of microcars.
Techno Classica Essen – the world’s largest classic car show. Held in the Spring at Messe Essen – take the U-Bahn No.11 from Essen Hauptbahnhof. Always lots of model car dealers . www.techno-classica.de
Technik Museum Sinsheim. Great museum with a large shop. www.sinsheim.technik-museum.de
Technik Museum Speyer. Sister museum to Sinsheim – an excellent museum plus shop. www.speyer.technik-museum.de
Audi Forum Ingolstadt. Audi Museum and gift shop.
BMW Welt, Munich. BMW Museum and gift shop.
Mercedes-Benz, Unterturkheim, Stuttgart. Mercedes-Benz Museum and gift shop.
Porsche, Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart. Porsche Museum and gift shop.
Italy
ABC Brianza – Top quality model cars. http://www.abc@abcbrianza.com
Mantovani Modellismo – model car shop in Como.
Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile, Turin (founded by Count Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia). Gift shop.
Monaco
Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. Prince de Monaco – gift shop.
The Netherlands
NAMAC (Netherlands Association of Model Auto Collectors) organises Europe’s largest model car fairs at Houten, near Utrecht. Utrecht also houses the Dutch Railway Museum.
The Louwman Museum, The Hague – gift shop.
San Marino
Mularoni Marta Modellismo – model car shop in the historic old centre.
Sweden
1:43 Models – shop in Vasastan, Stockholm
Switzerland
Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, Lucerne. Transport Museum and gift shop.
USA
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum – gift shop.
The Miniature Car Dealer, Pike Place Market, Seattle.
Le May America’s Car Museum, Tacoma – gift shop.