The Maisto and SunStar 1:18 ones are often in big general stores as "toys". Though they are not bad as a rule – unless you start looking at the oversized hinges of doors, etc.

This Speedster is Maisto, whereas the GT-R is AutoArt and costs about 4 x as much


Sunstar 1:18


If you've not got the space for 1:18, 1:43 (trouble is they cost almost as much or more than 1:18 sometimes) or 1:76 can be fine too



The more expensive ones are from model shops or their online shops – or from web sites like eBay, etc. Some from Toyfairs were you can pick up stuff really cheaply. This 1:18 McLaren was about £6 with the "wrong" box

I remember when Maisto was 'The shit!!' I was working in the business district then and would go in an office and the executives would have Maisto Ferraris on their desks.

This week I finally got a proper scale model of a Fiat X1/9 1500 5-speed Only 1:24, but better than nothing.
Pic fresh out of its packing – still got glue marks from the safety stickers keeping parts closed.


I got the AutoArt 1:18 X1/9 1300 model (already shown in this thread) a couple of years ago and keep hoping they'll do a 1500 version (wouldn't be much work for them), but no luck so far.

Today I also finally got a Kyosho 1:18 300 ZX



When I get round to it, I'll cut off the (unfortunately) fixed roof of the model, so that it is a true targa like the real one– and respray it in blue. I won't make the (too great) effort to swap it from rhd to lhd. Also, the model is not a 2+2 like my real one was, but it captures the character of the car well and is the best probably I'll get.

Oh nice. I haven't seen my neighbour's X/19 on the road at all this year.

A couple of months ago, there was an ice blue metallic X1/9 1500 for sale about half an hour from me.


I was very tempted to go and look at it...

My own X1/9 was metallic gold

– but only because no dealer in the country could supply an ice blue metallic one.

If I'd gone to view it, I'm pretty sure I couldn't have resisted it.

My wife said she would have had no objection to me buying it – if I hadn't just splurged out an equivalent sum on a set of GT3 wheels and winter tyres for the (still not accepted by her – even though she finds it good for long journeys) 997.

Trying them for size


I got them for about a third of the new price – amazing to think that you could get a beautiful little classic sportscar for similar outlay. The X1/9 is so under-rated. Enough luggage space for long holidays for two and, back when it wasn't quite so controversial, I crossed Europe in mine quite briskly. I remember cruising across the Low Countries on the motorway in convoy with a 308GTB (sort of big brother to the Fiat) at a steady 110 mph. You don't really need any more.

Saw this today while I was out shopping for quite a different reason. tried to resist it, but couldn't!

1:18 308 GTS




I always thought of it as a "big brother" to the X1/9. Such a neat car.

Me too as it basically is. Beautiful car and excellent model!