World Record Model Collection

[Xcesiv308]

Ok,, so you guys think your collection is growing in number,, have a read of this guy from Dubai, god help me if my collection ever gets this big.
Regards Tys

(Information taken from V8 Supporters Newsletter)

V8 fans report: For the partners of model car collectors.
So you share the house with a model car collector, and you find your partners collection spreading through the house.

Well spare a thought for Mr Suhail Mohd's partner (If he has one). Mr Suhail Mohd of Al Zarooni Dubai (UAE) has amassed a World record collection of 1,500 miniature model cars. This huge collection, his passion since 1990 is said to be worth nearly three million US dollars.

[Mark Wicks]

I wonder how the V8 Supporters Newsletter determined that 1500 model makes a world record? I know of a guy down Geelong way who has a collection that is now up in the 5000s...

I've also read articles of people with HUGE collections; one a Japanese guy with (if memory is correct) well over 10,000 models, and that was back in the early 1980s!

[GT40]

By my calculations this means that each car in his collection (on average) is worth US$2000 (Aus $4000):(
Maybe they meant he has 15000 cars although that still would have each car cost around $200US or $400AUS. sounds fishy.

[berkut76]

I have to agree with Gt40. Otherwise, with an average price of a model reaching $2,000US (Does this guy collect only 1/8 scale Amalgam's F1 models?) this dude should be a sheikh. That means that he has a harem and the "significant other" pent up frustrations with the "childish pursuit" are spread among several lovely wives of his.

Regards,
Sergey

[Nick Short]

Well I reckon I hold the UK record for collecting Biante models, with an astonishing 8 cars, and do I get a mention anywhere? If there's a Pom out there with more, I'd like to hear from him.

[ferrari fan]

There was a article a couple of years ago of a dentist who collected everything Porsche and had at that time over 10000 models and the like!
this arab is only a beginner and a VERY late starter plus ,I agree with that the value is grosly overstated by someone.

[Aussiecollector]

I think this guy has a collection of 1/8th scale cars and above like half scale wind tunnel models used by f1 teams and alike. Some of these sell for US$10,000.00 to $30,000.00.

The man with the greatest collection is the Sultan of Brunei, this guy has some of the worlds rarest cars around, 3 years ago he brought 16 chassis off of Mclaren as well as a couple of special order F1 Mclaren road cars. It is reported that he has around 15 F40 Ferrari's and some one off Ferrari station wagon's.

That would be a garage I would love to take a look in.

Cheers Glenn

[ET351]

GO NICK!!!

Go you good thing! I reckon you'll be unbeatable when you crack 20!

Cheers, ET

[SmartyMarty]

Hey Nick...what about a contest who has the biggest Biante collection in Europe? I got 12 so far...hehehe cheers Marty

[Nick Short]

That sounds like a challenge! So now I have to choose between staying married and being Europe's Top Dog......Hmmmmm. I'll get back to you on that one, but I'll be up to 9 with the red A9X 2 door.

Further to the Sultan of Brunei - his brother is actually a bigger collector than he is, and has all his vehicles painted yellow! This isn't some half rumour or pub talk, there was an article (with photos) in a UK magazine a few years back. The Sultan himself ordered 4 Jag XJ220s when they came out, all in different colours, and 4 F40s (all red) back in the late 80s. When Dauer won Le Mans with their road-legal 962 he bought the prototype, and there is a garage within the complex with many old F1 cars, with ex-pat mechanics tending them. I can't remember all the details, like numbers of cars, but between the 2 of them, it's mind-boggling! And if you've ever been to Brunei, you'll realise that there isn't a great deal of road to play with around BSB (the capital). That's the only reason I buy models rather than the real thing - lack of space......

[biante3413]

Kevin Pickell, has approximately 3000 1/18 diecasts. He has a catalog that lists cars I've never heard about nor seen. Stop over:http://scale18.com/diecast.html

[ferrari fan]

An extremely handy site with pictures and a very handy search system indeed.

[SmartyMarty]

Hmmm..i wonder if that sultan of Brunai is the same guy as that "sheik" i ve seen in tv a while ago...he had a huge garage with a GT1 Mercedes which he sent back to germany for tuning.He thought it was a bit too slow for him so AMG gave it some more horsepower etc.....He also own s a Citroen 2CV which he said is one of his favourite cars(he s so damn right!!!!!) and an Audi 4WD with about 850!!!!! hp...for cruising....or shopping or camel chasing...who knows...

[Nick Short]

Different guy (no camels in Brunei!), but clearly another bloke with too much money. I'm obviously in the wrong job.....

[SmartyMarty]

..at last you got a Falcon Nick *whinge*...

[Nick Short]

Hey, I'm a Pom - that's what we do! You should try owning a Cobra sometime - there's the insurance, road tax, not to mention the petrol costs. It's more trouble than it's worth. I think I'll go back to driving my wife's 1 litre Suzuki Swift.......

[SmartyMarty]

:p Hahahaha ..i bet you will NEVER do that...
I m going to move to oz later this year...a Falcon seems to be affordable under those circumstances....my gf wants a Commodore so we will buy that first...*sniff sniff* ...but damn..i can smell a Falcon coming closer...cheers Marty

[Nick Short]

You're right - the only way I would get rid of the Cobra is if I bought a Bathurst Special Cobra......If you want to get a classic Falcon, buy it before the Americans strip Oz of all the good ones!

[xa351gt]

Ouch !!! I see people have been reading the propaganda machine. About yanks taking all the "good" coupes . I own a 72 XA GT replica coupe in the states and I'd like to tell you all about the cars that we have received over here. I personally have spent a fortune restoring my car to respectable condition. Of the whopping 50 coupes here 90 % are project cars. So the pics you may have seen in magazines or on the web are a result alot of hard work ,dedication and desire to preserve a piece of automotive history.Had someone cared enough to take care of these cars in the 1st place then the claims of us taking all the good coupes would be closer to the truth.A car buff should have no boundries placed upon him. If a Brit wants a Boss 429 Mustang and would take care of the car and treat it the way it should be I'd help load it on a freighter. There are 1000's of primo US cars in Oz ,probably the result of a lot of hard work the part of the owner. I choose to thank you for preserving the breed instead of criticising you.If I've come on too strong I apologize ,but I'm getting tired of defending why Yanks can or should buy Aussie muscle cars.

[mustang1966]

XA351GT,

I have to agree with you. I saw in the current NSW mustang club magazine several restored XB coupes in the USA. Personally I think it is great that a aussie made mussle car has a following over there in the USA.

I am guilty of taking a car from the USA and bringing it here to Australia. I hope one day very soon to have "Christine" back to her full former glory just as you have done with the XA.

Look at some cars here in Australia which would fetch a pretty penny back in the USA and I know the Owners.

Several Shelby GT 350's & 500 inc 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, & 70. The First 3 years are the one which fetch the big bucks and I am sure some americans feel the same way as Australians about Coupe etc. These cars are restored and are in mint condition, I am sure many sepo mustang freaks would drool over these cars and the resto's done.

Several Boss Mustangs inc 69 302, quiet a few 70 302's and the odd 429 Boss. Again these cars would fetch big bucks back in the states.

Other cars I have seen here are many 50's Chevs, all models of Vettes, not much Mopar stuff which is a pity and on sale recently here in Australia a Plymouth Superbird (very rare car)

It is not about stealing cars from other countries. It is about buying something that you love and bringing it back to it's former glory and/or making it into a tough mussle car.

Guys you don't buy them to make money, you own it cause you love it.

Enjoy it XA351GT you have great taste in cars and the Mrs and I are looking for a XA GT Coupe to go with the Mustang and XY.

[Nick Short]

Sorry, that wasn't meant to be controversial - after all I've brought a Falcon XC Cobra to the UK! It's certainly true that many of the Falcons shipped over to the States were in dire need of a bit of TLC, and it is great that they're getting the recognition they deserve outside Oz, being beautifully-styled Muscle Cars that are less than common! As rust and neglect have diminished numbers left it is true that good examples are becoming more scarce, and any that go overseas (like mine!) reduce that availability further. I think XCs will follow XAs and XBs as being desirable in the main overseas market, the States, and so if someone is looking to buy one they have a lot more competition for it! That's all - there's no rule that says only Aussies can buy Falcons! I wasn't intending any offence.......

[xa351gt]

Hi Nick,
Sorry if I went a bit strong ,but you can't believe some of the people who have beaten us about removing coupes from Oz. I had one guy tell me he'd rather see these great cars rot in the ground than someone outside of Oz enjoy it. Now that is a rather ignorant attitude and to be honest it is rather rare. As most Aussies I've had the pleasure of talking to are quite happy that people outside of Oz find the cars desireable.But that few % have really come out the woodwork since the issue 3 of Australian Muscle car Magazine. I hope your enjoying your Cobra. That is a great car and with only 400 ever built as rare as it gets. I also know that there will be some migrating to the States in Jan when the 25 year rule expires. Then the screaming will really begin.For anyone out there that is a big Ford fan in June of 2003 The 100th anniversary will be in Dearborn Michigan . We hope to have 20 + Aussie Falcons there.

[Nick Short]

Yeah, sorry about the misunderstanding - it was just a throwaway comment regarding the scarcity of good coupes in Australia. When I was looking to buy a Falcon (initially just an XC coupe) there were very few available, and the few that I looked at were just about dead, had been badly neglected or brutally hacked about in an attempt to "customise" them. For many of these cars it would be a mercy for an enthusiast anywhere to restore them to their former glory. Of course some people would rather buy a car that is already in fine condition, and why not? Perhaps one of the reasons some Aussies are so sensitive about "losing" these cars is that compared to Mustang numbers for example, Falcons were produced in much smaller runs, and those exported reduce remaining stock still further. But nothing can justify preferring a car to rot rather than let it go overseas! Strangely, I haven't (yet) had any hassle regarding bringing my Cobra to the UK, even though it is only one of maybe 250-300 left - indeed the main response seems to be excitement that one has made it to "Pommy Land" and is intimidating other road-users!

A fellow Falcon Coupe enthusiast!