BRANDS
Now that you know about
the scales and paint styles lets move on to the manufacturers and
product lines available. These can be confusing as well to a new
collector or someone who does not collect. Not every driver is made in
every brand or product line.
American Diecast
Company aka
“ADC”: ADC has been focusing on dirt racing late models and modifieds.
Great detail and low productions as well as a large list of driver
offerings have made ADC a major player in this line of diecast. They
also offer local, lesser known drivers a chance to have a diecast
replica made of their late model in quantities as low as 12.
Action Performance
– aka “Action” – The leader in NASCAR diecast, they have excellent
quality and detail and are also the most popular brands on the market.
They have endured some name changes with its product lines as well as
the company name over the past few years. They are also known as
Motorsport Authentics (MA)
·
Standard Series /Driver Select Series /Platinum Select Series: These are the most popular NASCAR Diecast collectible
product lines in the market place right now. The different names reflect
the name changes of the product line over the years. These cars are
highly detailed an limited in production. Detail has increased on these
and all cars over the years. Older models have significantly less detail
than today’s releases. Some of the current upgraded features include:
o
Outside the Car:
o
Die-cast body and chassis
o
Opening hood and trunk with stamped metal hood hinges
o
Realistic hood pins
o
Realistic splitter supports
o
Opening roof flaps
o
Tampo-printed
graphics and high-quality paint
o
Inside the Car:
o
Working steering wheel
o
Manufacturer-specific engine detail
o
Detailed interior compartment
o
Upgraded interior seat with leg bolster and added roll bar detail
o
Ignition boxes on passenger side dash.
o
Sequential numbering in rear window
o
Underneath the Car:
o
Rear
spring detail-separate axle and protection ring
o
Die-cast tie rod assembly
o
Independent coil spring front suspension with sway bar and detailed disc
brake assembly
o
Accurate header contour and simulated exhaust openings
o
Separate transmission, axle, and gearbox
o
Realistic Goodyear sticker decals on tires
o
Detailed front shocks and rear shock
·
Banks:
Detail is the same as the standard car with lower production quantities.
Banks came in two styles from Action. The first style was a BWB. They
then added the CWB. With both BWB and CWB’s, the coin slot is located in
the rear window. A “key” is attached underneath the car to open the coin
door. Most collectors do not actually use these as “banks.” These banks
were very popular for some time in the early days of collecting NASCAR
diecat. The trend has moved towards CWC’s. Not every driver or paint
scheme is or was available in Bank form.
·
AP+:
These cars have slightly lower quality and detail compared to the
standard cars. These are usually HO but not TO. The detail level is
slightly lower and there is less diecast and more plastics used in its
construction.
·
Trackside Elite:
These cars have a little higher detail level than the standard cars.
They are generally only HO cars. These are also initially made available
at the trackside trailers during race events.
·
Pit
Stop Series:
These are generally lower quality and detail than even the AP+ line.
With a lower retail price point, they are geared more for children than
adult collectors. Usually any alcohol sponsor will not be displayed on
this product line.
·
Gas
Pumps: These
were diecast replicas of old fashioned gas pumps. They held one roll of
quarters. When you filled the pump with a full roll, the light inside
the top globe would illuminate.
·
Pit
Wagons:
These were replicas of the Wagons on pit road that the teams stored
their tools and such in. These were also Banks.
·
Duallys:
replicas of a Dually Pick up truck painted in the scheme of a drivers
race car.
·
Transporters:
Made mostly in 1:64 scales or smaller, these replicate the haulers that
transport the drivers race car to and from the track.
Racing Collectibles
Club of America
– aka “RCCA” and “The Club” – Owned by Action, their product lines are
released initially to club members only who sign up for a club
membership, but these items sometimes end up in the general market place
as well.
·
Owners
Elite (aka “Elite”):
The highest detailed diecast that is offered by Action. Very low
production numbers and extremely high detail. Some of the Elite detail
includes:
o
Fully detailed die-cast body including:
o
Opening hood with stamped metal hood hinges
o
Opening trunk with stamped metal trunk hinges
o
Opening roof flaps with cables
o
Realistic mesh screen in lower grill
o
Rear
window funnel access
o
Tampo-printed graphics and high-quality paint
o
Realistic hood and deck pins
o
Detailed front mesh grill
o
Fully detailed die-cast chassis including:
o
Die-cast tie rod assembly
o
Independent coil spring front suspension with way bar and detailed disc
brake assembly
o
Accurate header contour and simulated exhaust openings
o
Separate spoiler bracing
o
Silver
wheel rotors rotate through the brake calipers
o
Red
primer on center section of cars rear-end
o
White
drive shaft required by NASCAR® safety rules
o
AERO
wheel design
o
Realistic Goodyear tires with stickers
o
Working rear shocks and rear suspension
o
Manufacturer-specific engine detail including:
o
Manufacture specific valve covers
o
Braided hoses
o
Radiator inlet box
o
Drive
shaft loop
o
Pliable spark plug wires
o
Rubber
fan belt for air cooler
o
Enhanced electronic ignition system colored in silver, black and red.
o
Detailed interior including:
o
Working steering wheel
o
Interior hoses painted black
o
Simulated fabric window net
o
Detailed trunk compartment with authentic red painted fuel cell
o
·
Club
Car: This
has the same quality as the Action Standard cars, some times it is only
HO
·
Club
Bank: This
has the same quality as the Action banks, mostly CWB’s.
Team Caliber
– Team Caliber was purchased by and then merged with Action. With
product lines from Mass retail to higher end collectibles, Team Caliber
had exclusive contracts with a small handful of drivers. Most notable
are the Roush drivers since Jack Roush was the owner of this brand. The
following styles were discontinued when the purchase of the company was
finalized. Again, not all drivers were available in these product lines.
·
Owners
Series;
Similar to the Action Elite. These cars offer high detail but unlike the
Elite, you do not need to be a member of a club to purchase. These cars
can be bought direct from the dealers. For a short period of time, the
Owners Series of diecast were produced with the body of the car
removable from the chassis so that the collector could truly appreciate
the level of detail and the workmanship that went into these.
·
Historical Owners Series:
These cars were older body styles from the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Very
good detail.
·
Owners
Series Banks:
Same level of quality and detail as the owners series. The coin slot on
these cars were usually located inside the trunk. They were all CWC’s.
·
Preferred Series:
Similar to Action’s standard car. Although the under carriage is more
plastic than diecast.
·
Pit
Stop Series:
similar to the AP+ cars with a little less detail.
Motorsport Authentics
– (MA) This company was formed by merging Team Caliber and Action
product lines. They kept the product lines from Action when this
occurred and dropped all of the Team Caliber Product Lines.
Lionel - in late 2010 early 2011, Lionel, the same company known
for it model train product lines, took over the production of NASCAR
diecast collectibles from MA. They, like MA, kept the "Action" name alnd
use the same manufacturing facilities that MA and Action have used for
years. The attention to detail is the same. Just a new company name is
now involved.
Checkered Flag Sports
(CFS) –. CFS Started releasing product in 2007. The have only a
handful of drivers that they are able to produce at this time.
