The first toy cars to be made were die cast models made of metal and plastic. The die casting method commonly used ZAMAK (or Mazak) which is an alloy of zinc and aluminium also known as white metal or pot metal.
It was the innovative Frank Hornby who introduced die cast cars to Britain in 1931. He developed ‘Modelled Miniatures’ to accessorise his 0 gauge railway. These included figures of people and domestic animals, mailboxes, railroad signals, as well as cars. In 1934, the cars were sold under the Dinky brand. Die cast models were cheaper and easier to make than tin toys, and gave manufacturers the ability create more accurate scale models.
Later in the 20th century, the development of battery technology enabled the manufacture of toy cars that could move faster and longer than the clockwork-driven models. By the 1960s, Japan was the major producer of battery-powered cars.
The popularity of Grand Prix led to the development of Scalextric in 1958. This game allowed users to race model racing cars around a customisable formula one track.
At the end of the 1960s, a new type of model toy car hit the market. This was Mattel’s Hot Wheels. Using low friction wheels allowed users to propel the model car over long distances with a single push. The introduction of Hot Wheels caused a shake up in the market with competitors rushing to upgrade their model ranges.
In addition to cars, trucks, buses, agricultural implements, and construction equipment, die cast aircraft and military models were popular. While Dinky had made such models decades earlier, new companies entered the field in the '80s and '90s.
It was the innovative Frank Hornby who introduced die cast cars to Britain in 1931. He developed ‘Modelled Miniatures’ to accessorise his 0 gauge railway. These included figures of people and domestic animals, mailboxes, railroad signals, as well as cars. In 1934, the cars were sold under the Dinky brand. Die cast models were cheaper and easier to make than tin toys, and gave manufacturers the ability create more accurate scale models.
Later in the 20th century, the development of battery technology enabled the manufacture of toy cars that could move faster and longer than the clockwork-driven models. By the 1960s, Japan was the major producer of battery-powered cars.
The popularity of Grand Prix led to the development of Scalextric in 1958. This game allowed users to race model racing cars around a customisable formula one track.
At the end of the 1960s, a new type of model toy car hit the market. This was Mattel’s Hot Wheels. Using low friction wheels allowed users to propel the model car over long distances with a single push. The introduction of Hot Wheels caused a shake up in the market with competitors rushing to upgrade their model ranges.
In addition to cars, trucks, buses, agricultural implements, and construction equipment, die cast aircraft and military models were popular. While Dinky had made such models decades earlier, new companies entered the field in the '80s and '90s.