The Best Toy Cars Just In Time For The Holidays
Toy cars are one of life’s simple automotive joys.
Childhood is full of memories playing with Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars in the sandpit, riding Cozy Coupes down the neighbor's hill, ripping remote-control cars, crashing slot-car races, and even assembling models.
It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping for an actual child, or just your inner child, toy cars offer hours of fun and whimsy. Sometimes, all we want is a fun distraction to play with, or better yet, a reason to play alongside our kids.
Table of contents
- 1. Editor's Pick: Lego Speed Champions
- 2. Disney Pixar Cars Die-Cast Three-Pack
- 3. Back to The Future DeLorean
- 4. Monster Trucks Four Pack Pull Back Vehicles Cars for Toddlers
- 5. Hot Wheels 20-Car Gift Pack
- 6. Revell Model Car Kits
- 7. Carrera GO!!! Speed Grip 1:43 Scale Electric Slot Car Set
- Things to Look for When Buying a Toy Car
- Tips for Building Models
1. Editor's Pick: Lego Speed Champions
LEGO Speed Champions brings iconic vehicles to life in brick form, offering fans a chance to build and display their favorite cars from brands like Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche. Known for their detailed designs and authentic touches, these sets capture the essence of real-world supercars and race cars.
LEGO offers a wide range of sets under the Speed Champions banner, from fully functioning Technic models to smaller desk ornament-sized sets. Speed Champions sets are perfect for both LEGO enthusiasts and automotive fans.
2. Disney Pixar Cars Die-Cast Three-Pack
Lightning McQueen, Sheriff (aka Doc Hudson), and the lovable Tow Mater are all included in this 1:55-scale die-cast set. These were the standouts from the first Cars movie that got rave reviews from kids and parents alike.
If your kids are fans of the movies, this set of durable and well-built die-casts is a great way to keep that feeling alive.
3. Back to The Future DeLorean
This DeLorean from Back to the Future is made from metal and features real rubber tires, as well as a light-up time-circuit and opening doors. This 1:24 die-cast homage to an all-time movie classic is a functional toy and a compelling collectible display model. The only drawback is the wheels don’t roll.
Other than that, this is as authentic a time-traveling DeLorean as most of us will ever have in our hands. It even includes the hook Marty McFly uses to harness lighting and juice up the 1.21 gigawatts of power needed to propel him back to 1985, as well as the iconic Outatime license plate.
4. Monster Trucks Four Pack Pull Back Vehicles Cars for Toddlers
Kids, adults, grandparents, and even family pets can get smashy-smashy with these vibrant and fun monster truck toys from Duyfioa. Pullback toy cars allow you to load the wheels with rubber-band tension before releasing them to tear across the floor and crash into each other, the furniture, or Dad’s ankles.
Pulling back toy cars to race, aim at targets, smash into each other, or drive the cat crazy is a rite of passage for any kid. We think plenty of grown-ups will enjoy the monster truck fun on the floor as much as the kids.
5. Best Starter Pack for Collectors: Hot Wheels 20-Car Gift Pack
It's impossible to talk about toy cars without bringing up Hot Wheels.
It’s easy to get the car-loving kids hooked on collecting with this huge 20-car set of classic and wild miniature die-cast cars. The 1:64 models feature a plastic base and wheels with a metal body, which keeps the price down.
It’s only once they’re hooked your collector will start to want to splurge for the premium full-metal die-casts found in more expensive Hot Wheels sets.
This box is an instant collection with each of the 20 cars housed in their own miniature plastic display garage and will immediately trigger that age-old dilemma: do you keep them in the box in pristine condition to admire from afar, or break them free and go to town racing.
6. Revell 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H Model Car Kit
Revell’s model sets are the ideal weekend bonding experience for you and your car-mad kids. This is a great way to spend time on a project with your kids or to build yourself—just be prepared to dedicate several hours to it. The great thing about Revell models is they cater to a range of skill levels.
Revell kits are modestly priced and fun to build. It’s a great way to introduce your kids to model building and teach them about the intricacies of how a car comes together. The body comes in primed white, so you’ll need to buy the paint separately—but maybe that’s a project for the following weekend.
7. Carrera GO!!! Speed Grip 1:43 Scale Electric Slot Car Set
This 1:43 scale set from Carrera includes over 17 feet of track which configures into a tight figure-8 with two loops; you can arrange it in several other ways too. The two Formula 1 style cars reach speeds up to 370 scale MPH and a built-in lap counter keeps track of which car is in the lead. Analog hand controls add to the retro appeal. As with other slot car sets, track and cars can be added to build layouts as big as your imagination will allow.
Things to Look for When Buying a Toy Car
Buying toy cars can be tricky, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you’re buying merchandise related to a film or tv show you love, look for officially licensed products.
Logos that aren’t quite accurate, brand names that are misspelled, or decals that only kind of look like the ones in the movie are all signs you’re buying a knock-off product. Knock-off toy cars might not be a big deal, but sometimes those products are made with cheaper plastics and smaller pieces. This can make them less safe for your kids.
Tips for Building Models
Model-building kits are some of the most rewarding toy car purchases a car lover can make. Pouring over the details, painstakingly assembling the pieces, and then setting up a pro-level photoshoot with your scale model makes for days of fun and enjoyment.
Some tips to help your model building:
- Purchase good-quality model cement
- Use the right tools – watchmaking tools are great for holding and manipulating tiny parts
- Invest in a magnifying glass or monocle to see the parts better
- Assemble your model on a stiff sheet of plywood or thick cardboard so you can move it around without disturbing components.
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Bryan is just as likely to have a bone china teacup in his hand as a torque wrench, and he loves cars-especially old and sometimes unpopular ones. He shares this enthusiasm through Malaise Motors, the Facebook group he founded, and by contributing to publications such as Old Cars Weekly, Crankshaft, Forbes, and others. Bryan Fun fact: he is psychically attuned to the distinct electrical frequencies emanated by Lucas ignition systems.
More by Bryan Raab Davis
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