Diecast Cars - Lifelong Passion
Toy cars are a must-have for toddlers. My passion began in childhood with toy cars. As kids grow older, some manage to collect real cars. However, many, like me, continue to expand their toy car collections due to limited resources. Collecting model cars can be an exciting hobby and a good investment, as many toy cars increase in value over time. This hobby has been around almost as long as the automobile and remains a passion for many.
Scaled models are manufactured in various scales such as 1:12, 1:18, 1:24, 1:32, 1:43, 1:64, and others. The most attractive cars are those with detailed features like opening doors, hoods, trunks, and fuel caps, sliding ashtrays, and working glove compartments. Some models even have hanging ignition keys and removable hood pins. Most have working steering and suspension with real materials used in the interiors.
I love every part of these street machines - the sound, speed, and especially the looks of these rolling masterpieces. The inspiration of cars will never escape my mind. This quality about me will never change. I dream about them, feel them, and think about them whenever I have free time. You would find car magazines, brochures, and posters all over my room.
My collection may not have earned a world record, but it is still unique in Pakistan. Each of my cars has a history. “Memories may fade with time, but these cars take me back to moments in the past.” When I hold a car in my hand, I remember forgotten things from the past, which gives me immense joy. In fact, I can’t explain it in words.
Scaled models are manufactured in various scales such as 1:12, 1:18, 1:24, 1:32, 1:43, 1:64, and others. The most attractive cars are those with detailed features like opening doors, hoods, trunks, and fuel caps, sliding ashtrays, and working glove compartments. Some models even have hanging ignition keys and removable hood pins. Most have working steering and suspension with real materials used in the interiors.
I love every part of these street machines - the sound, speed, and especially the looks of these rolling masterpieces. The inspiration of cars will never escape my mind. This quality about me will never change. I dream about them, feel them, and think about them whenever I have free time. You would find car magazines, brochures, and posters all over my room.
My collection may not have earned a world record, but it is still unique in Pakistan. Each of my cars has a history. “Memories may fade with time, but these cars take me back to moments in the past.” When I hold a car in my hand, I remember forgotten things from the past, which gives me immense joy. In fact, I can’t explain it in words.
Based in Lahore, the historical city of Pakistan, I have collected more than 5,000 model cars. I started collecting toy cars at eight years old. It was difficult to collect many die-cast cars in Pakistan due to their non-availability.
I don’t know why, but I’m really attracted to cars and feel extremely happy in my toy-car showroom where these rolling masterpieces are “orderly parked.” It may seem childish, but I never feel odd living with my cars. When I was young, toys always had a special place in my heart, and I liked trains and airplanes too. My parents tried to get me interested in trains and airplanes, but I always returned to my first passion - cars.
My collection may not have earned a world record, but it is still unique in Pakistan. Over the years, I have collected model cars linked to famous personalities - cars modeled after those driven by James Bond, Mr. Bean, Michael Knight, and Batman. I also have models of luxury cars, antique cars, classic cars, vintage cars, sports cars, muscle cars, Formula 1 cars, NASCAR, and movie cars like Knight Rider, Back to the Future, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Italian Job, and the Fast & Furious series.
Whenever I look back on my childhood, I remember playing with my toy cars in “car racing,” “car jumping,” “accidents,” “rush driving of fire brigades and ambulances,” “army missions,” “cops and robbers chases,” and “copying car scenes from Hollywood movies and TV series like Knight Rider and CHiPs.”
I possess cars from numerous brands, including Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Majorette, Corgi, Johnny Lightning, Burago, Tomica, Jada Toys, Real Toy, Norev, Maisto, Welly, Siku, Kinsmart, and others, made in the USA, England, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, and Macau.
American vehicles have always tempted me, so model cars of famous brands like Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and Jeep feature prominently in my display. Additionally, British, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Swedish, and Australian automobile models are part of my extensive collection. Every toy car is equally important to me.
I was challenged by “Asian Image,” an England-based Asian community magazine, to find some British favorites in my collection. They wanted to know if I had an old Ford Cortina, a Ford Capri, and a Datsun. I was pleased to answer ‘Yes.’
I have three lovely daughters who help me manage my passion. I am a simple man with simple pleasures and have no big dreams. My love for cars has never bothered my family because I know how to balance my time between both. I have never faced any resistance from my parents regarding my passion since childhood and thank my parents for their efforts in nurturing my passion. They never refused whenever I asked for a toy car. I remember my childhood days when I would pick up a toy car at a mart and look towards my parents, who never disappointed me. I miss my lovely (late) mother very much. May her soul rest in peace!
I have models of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Citroën, Bugatti, MG, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Range Rover, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Morgan, Jaguar, Mini Cooper, Morris, Ford, Volvo, Saab, Datsun, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Isuzu, Mazda, Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Hyundai, Holden, Hummer, Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Jeep, Opel, Vauxhall, and many more.
One of my favorite cars is the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, which appeared in the Hollywood TV series “Knight Rider.” This car was used as K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) in the series.
I don’t know why, but I’m really attracted to cars and feel extremely happy in my toy-car showroom where these rolling masterpieces are “orderly parked.” It may seem childish, but I never feel odd living with my cars. When I was young, toys always had a special place in my heart, and I liked trains and airplanes too. My parents tried to get me interested in trains and airplanes, but I always returned to my first passion - cars.
My collection may not have earned a world record, but it is still unique in Pakistan. Over the years, I have collected model cars linked to famous personalities - cars modeled after those driven by James Bond, Mr. Bean, Michael Knight, and Batman. I also have models of luxury cars, antique cars, classic cars, vintage cars, sports cars, muscle cars, Formula 1 cars, NASCAR, and movie cars like Knight Rider, Back to the Future, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Italian Job, and the Fast & Furious series.
Whenever I look back on my childhood, I remember playing with my toy cars in “car racing,” “car jumping,” “accidents,” “rush driving of fire brigades and ambulances,” “army missions,” “cops and robbers chases,” and “copying car scenes from Hollywood movies and TV series like Knight Rider and CHiPs.”
I possess cars from numerous brands, including Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Majorette, Corgi, Johnny Lightning, Burago, Tomica, Jada Toys, Real Toy, Norev, Maisto, Welly, Siku, Kinsmart, and others, made in the USA, England, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, and Macau.
American vehicles have always tempted me, so model cars of famous brands like Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and Jeep feature prominently in my display. Additionally, British, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Swedish, and Australian automobile models are part of my extensive collection. Every toy car is equally important to me.
I was challenged by “Asian Image,” an England-based Asian community magazine, to find some British favorites in my collection. They wanted to know if I had an old Ford Cortina, a Ford Capri, and a Datsun. I was pleased to answer ‘Yes.’
I have three lovely daughters who help me manage my passion. I am a simple man with simple pleasures and have no big dreams. My love for cars has never bothered my family because I know how to balance my time between both. I have never faced any resistance from my parents regarding my passion since childhood and thank my parents for their efforts in nurturing my passion. They never refused whenever I asked for a toy car. I remember my childhood days when I would pick up a toy car at a mart and look towards my parents, who never disappointed me. I miss my lovely (late) mother very much. May her soul rest in peace!
I have models of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Citroën, Bugatti, MG, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Range Rover, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Morgan, Jaguar, Mini Cooper, Morris, Ford, Volvo, Saab, Datsun, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Isuzu, Mazda, Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Hyundai, Holden, Hummer, Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Jeep, Opel, Vauxhall, and many more.
One of my favorite cars is the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, which appeared in the Hollywood TV series “Knight Rider.” This car was used as K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) in the series.
Every new car model was very important to me, and I slept with it under my pillow until another one replaced it. Eid-ul-Fitr was always a day full of excitement because my parents would give me car models as Eid gifts. Similarly, I always preferred to purchase car models with my Eidy.
I have car models from yesteryears too, highlighting my collection as “Antique Cars.” I also have models of NASCAR, London Bus, London Taxi, American School Bus, Jeepney, and Hollywood movie cars like Knight Rider, Dukes of Hazzard, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Italian Job, Fast & Furious series, Back to the Future, the animated movie CARS, and various cartoon characters.
My father told me about the Matchbox dinky cars “Made in Great Britain” and Majorette dinky cars “Made in France,” which were easily available at superstores in Lahore for Rs.10 in 1977-1978. The friction-powered tin toy cars “Made in Japan” were also available in Pakistan in the '70s, priced at Rs.25. I also have a few models of tin toy cars.
I have car models from yesteryears too, highlighting my collection as “Antique Cars.” I also have models of NASCAR, London Bus, London Taxi, American School Bus, Jeepney, and Hollywood movie cars like Knight Rider, Dukes of Hazzard, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Italian Job, Fast & Furious series, Back to the Future, the animated movie CARS, and various cartoon characters.
My father told me about the Matchbox dinky cars “Made in Great Britain” and Majorette dinky cars “Made in France,” which were easily available at superstores in Lahore for Rs.10 in 1977-1978. The friction-powered tin toy cars “Made in Japan” were also available in Pakistan in the '70s, priced at Rs.25. I also have a few models of tin toy cars.
My Collection is "Not for Sale" only wish is to Donate it for a ‘Noble Cause’
This kind of treasure takes decades to build, hours and hours of care but if you have the passion then all that hard-work brings pleasure and always keeps a smile of satisfaction on your face.
AAMIR ASHFAQ
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