Table of contents for Winter 2023 in Die Cast X

We’re excited to ring in the new year, because a new year means new castings and new colorways of our favorite vehicles! 2022 was huge for the die cast industry, but 2023 looks like it’s going to be even bigger thanks to the ongoing resurgence of die cast collecting. We can’t wait to see what new releases will be dropped and what new custom die casts will be created. In this issue, we go vehicle feature-heavy and take indepth looks at a wide collection of die casts spanning different genres and scales. Our cover cars are all about speed; one is a classic and the other is as modern as it gets. The Bburago Bugatti Bolide is a 21st century hypercar, while the Auto World ’57 Chevy Bel Air next…

There’s a reason why the Buick nameplate gained such popularity from the 1930s through the 1940s. The marque innovated the automotive industry with new engine and transmission designs and backed up that technology with eye-pleasing styling. During the post-war period, Buick continued turning out popular cars that are still sought-after today. One of the most collectible Buicks today is the Skylark. Original survivors and fully restored examples are known to have sold at auction for north of $200,000. To mark Buick’s 50th anniversary in 1953, the Roadmaster Skylark was offered as the brand’s top-of-the-line convertible. Much of the Roadmaster Skylark was hand-built and many of its parts were crafted especially for the car. The limited-edition convertible was positioned as Buick’s ultimate personal luxury vehicle, blending every aspect of luxury and…

Ford’s latest generation of Bronco has heralded a major shift in the balance of power between off-road vehicle makers. For decades, Jeep has owned the space for fun vehicles that can take their owners far beyond paved roads. That is, until just a few short years ago when Ford came up with a worthy challenger to the venerable Jeep Wrangler. Ford’s Bronco has stepped up to go toe to toe with Jeep, vying for the loyalty of off-roaders everywhere. The Bronco is a revived name that comes from a long and proud line of SUVs that have worn the nameplate. While previous Broncos had the ability to go off-road, this latest generation of truck takes what was previously a secondary use for the vehicle and makes it its main purpose.…

FIREBALL TIM LAWRENCE Fireball is owner of Fireball Publishing, works as a concept artist and is as diehard an automotive enthusiast as they come. He’s been in the movie, TV and commercial business since 1981 and has a line of successful automotive-based coloring books. You can follow him on Facebook @fireball.tim and find his books on Amazon.com at: tinyurl.com/fireballcolor. I’m very fortunate to draw cars for a living, whether it’s for movies or our latest coloring book. It’s an addiction to the creative process. So, any chance to dream up ideas for movie cars, die cast or conceptual art of any kind… I’m on it. When I was in high school, I carried a stack of index cards around with me wherever I went. It allowed me to quickly sketch…

01 JADA NEXT LEVEL I LOVE THE…70’S 1979 FORD F-150 The “I Love The…” collection is inspired by American design styles throughout the decades. Each 1:24 die cast vehicle is highly detailed and crafted to authentically reflect the styling cues from its respective decade. With fully functioning doors, hood and tailgate, and groovy era-inspired decals, this 1979 Ford F-150 will pick you up. Scale: 1:24 P/N: 31609 MSRP: $19.99 URL: jadanextlevel.com 02 MAISTO 1986 CHEVY MONTE CARLO LOWRIDER Released under the Maisto Design Series, this 1986 Chevy Monte Carlo Lowrider is painted in metallic blue with intricate pinstriping. The 1:24-scale car features a die cast metal body and opening doors and hood as well as a detailed interior. The boulevard—and your display shelf—will never look the same with the addition…

Classic SUVs are making a big-time comeback not only on the car show circuit, but back on the trails as well. When you’re around one, it’s easy to see why. They have the look of a bygone era that many of us miss. Overlooked for years, classic SUVs are admittedly not as sexy as classic sports cars, but they do maintain a certain look and feel about them that is irresistible to automotive aficionados and laymen alike. Jada Toys agrees and has released the 1973 model Ford Bronco under their Just Trucks line of die casts. Jada’s Just Trucks line pretty much explains what it’s all about… just trucks. Released in three scales, including 1:64, 1:32 and 1:24, the Just Trucks line covers trucks of all sorts, including modern as…

Most of the vehicles we cover in DCX are static in nature. These scale miniatures that we are enamored with are all about representing realism and detail. But what is more realistic than a model that actually moves? Here’s where FMS Model comes in. FMS produces vehicles that are essentially highly detailed drivable models that look as good as any die cast or plastic model-kit. A good example is the company’s ultra-realistic Chevy K10 pickup. It not only features interior and under-the-hood details; it can be driven around via a radio transmitter and even has working lights, too. Chevy’s C/K series of pickups were offered for an astonishing 40 years over four generations, the final edition being released during the 2000 model year. The C/K may be unavailable at Chevy…

Quarter-mile-trouncing Funny Cars are some of the quickest and loudest cars to ever launch off the drag strip line. They’re built for one thing only, and that’s going ultra-fast in the quarter mile. Auto World has recreated one of the racing legends of the 1970s in 1:18 scale, a 1973 Ford Mustang Funny Car they call the Blue Max. The legend of the Blue Max spans several years and it has worn various liveries over its famous history. In the beginning, the Blue Max didn’t have a name or its distinctive German cross. Harry Schmidt hired Don Hardy to build a Ford Mustang for the 1969 season with a staggering powerplant built by famed engine builders the Ramchargers. A year later, Schmidt added the distinctive Blue Max regalia, debuting at…

Die Cast X loves to see our readers’ rare and customized die cast rides. If you have a rare collectible or custom die cast that you’d like to “show and tell” in a future issue of DCX, submit your ride at: www.diecastxmagazine.com/dcx-readers-collection. In this edition of Show & Tell, we asked our readers to send us pictures of some of their favorite vehicles in their collections and we received a fantastic response. Let’s see what our readers have to Show & Tell! AIDAN PARSONS Location: Phoenix, Arizona Instagram: @AP.Diecast Brand: Kaido House Series: Custom Model: BLKLTD4 Custom Scale: 1:64 From The Owner: “This custom BLKLTD4 is one of the top pieces in my collection because of the story behind it, a mirror-less car turned into a custom masterpiece and the…

To automobile enthusiasts, the name Bugatti instantly conjures up images of cutting-edge design, elegant luxury and outright speed. Its sculpted-bodied supercars are works of art inside and out and readily catch the attention of anyone who sees one in person. A Bugatti’s looks is what draws you in, but it is its engineering that really places Bugatti vehicles on another level. Bugatti is a storied brand with an interesting history. The name sounds Italian, because its founder, Ettore Bugatti, was indeed Italian-born, but the company was actually founded in 1909 in Germany—in Molsheim, Alsace, to be precise. Without getting into a protracted history lesson about the Alsace region, which traded hands between Germany and France more than a few times over the last hundred years, all we need to know…

Is any car more iconic than the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air? It’s an icon of not only an era of automotive history but of an entire decade as well. From its instantly recognizable tailfins to its handsome chrome-clad grille and sculpted headlight assembly, the entire construct is simply one of the most beautiful cars to have ever hit the road. The ’57 Bel Air was not only a hit with car buyers of the time, but it also caught the eye of moviemakers, too. You may recall that the Chevy played a part in Sean Connery’s first outing as James Bond in the movie “Dr. No.” In the 1962 film that launched the James Bond saga, Connery’s Agent 007 battles mysterious Dr. No, a scientific genius bent on destroying the…

Custom die casts seem to be popping up all over the place, and we’re loving it. We see it on social media, on YouTube, and even at our local shops and collector meets. It’s official; the die cast customization movement is here to stay. We’re fans of repainting, adding and creating parts to personalize your die cast, and we think it’s one of the most exciting things to happen to die cast in a long while. The amazing work that hobbyists perform on their die casts is impressive to say the least. There really are some talented artists among us die cast enthusiasts. If you’re interested in trying your hand at die cast customization but don’t know where to start, we have good news for you. Maisto’s Assembly Line catalog…