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When you’ve got three brothers, it’s a challenge to find the perfect Christmas or birthday present that’s not the same old shirt from L.L. Bean, or cheesy golf paraphernalia, or Starbucks gift card. This year, I’m going all out in the nostalgia department— I’m going all the way back to our childhood. Everyone knows that little boys love models, whether it’s model cars, or trucks, or airplanes, or ships. And our house, like many others with lots of boys, had a monstrous collection of Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars in every size, shape and color imaginable. That’s why I decided to look into finding some high-quality die cast collectibles on the Internet. I figure it’s something they’d never buy for themselves, but would love to have nonetheless.

The question for me was where to start. Do you go to the local Toys ‘R’ Us, or do you have to find some specialized dealer? I found the answers to lots of my questions online. There are literally dozens of websites featuring die cast collectibles, with a staggering variety of products to choose from. Just looking at some of these sites and seeing the John Deere and Case/IH models, from tractors to combines, reminded me of being a kid and playing for hours on end. The old classic Ertl farm toys may have been our favorites, but when it comes to the die cast collectibles that are available today, they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

If it’s cars you’re after, there are tons of sites and brands to check out. The obvious choices are still Matchbox and Hot Wheels, but Maisto makes some amazing cars and trucks with incredible features and great attention to detail. And you can still find many of these models that are all metal— no plastic balances at all. For the serious collector, you can browse on the Internet by scale, with everything from 1/18 to 1/64 scale readily available. Some sites allow you to type in the exact car, truck, or other collectible you’re looking for, and you’ll find out within a few seconds whether or not it’s in stock. And it’s amazing, because some of the newer die cast collectibles are just as well made as the ones we grew up with.

Even when the exact model or models of die cast collectibles you’re looking for are elusive, there are sites out there that produce mint-quality replicas. Thankfully, I didn’t have to look far to find what I wanted for my big brother. I found an HO scale 1965 Shelby Cobra that was white with blue stripes and absolutely beautiful. When it came in the mail (with free shipping, of course) it was like unpacking a piece of our childhood. I know my brother’s going to love it, and I know it will be a one-of-a-kind gift that he’ll really cherish. I can’t wait to see his face when he opens it!

Die Cast Collectible items at Amazon
Matchbox Collectible items at Amazon
Hot Wheels Collectible items at Amazon