The Best Toy Cars
Toy cars are one of life’s great joys. Some of our best memories are playing with Matchbox or Hot Wheels in the sandpit as kids, before we moved up to remote control buggies, slot-car races, and even building our own.
It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping for your child, or your inner child, toy cars offer hours of fun and whimsy. Some of us are into collectibles, painstakingly organized on the shelf in just the right order. Others might be building the latest Lego creation or a realistic Revel model kit.
No matter what sort of toy car you’re looking for they tug at our automotive heartstrings. The best toy cars offer whimsy and imagination while also connecting us to a memory or a passion. Some are movie memorabilia, others remind us of the rides we have dreamed about since we were young.
Sometimes, all we really want is a fun toy to play with, or better yet, to play with alongside our kids. Read on for our favorite toy cars to fuel any car lover’s desires.
Table of contents
- 1. Editor's Pick: Lego Speed Champions 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1
- 2. Best for Young Children: Disney Pixar Cars Die-Cast Three-Pack
- 3. Best for Inner Children: Back to The Future DeLorean
- 4. Most Fun: Monster Trucks Four Pack Pull Back Vehicles Cars for Toddlers
- 5. Best Starter Pack for Collectors: Hot Wheels 20-Car Gift Pack
- 6. Best Weekend Car Project: Revell 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H Model Car Kit
- 7. Best Slot Car Set: 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 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1
Fans of old-school rallies will feel their heart rates rise as soon as they lay eyes on this 1985 Audi Sport Quattro in the Lego Speed Champions range. With classic Group-B era lines and outlandish chiseled wings, the Audi is a perfect fit for a blocky Lego model.
This 250-piece model is compelling because it’s one of the more affordable options in the line-up, especially when compared to the pricey Bugatti Veyron kit. You can build this one with your son or daughter, build it yourself, or gift it to the Lego-loving motorhead in your life. Either way, you’ll get hours of enjoyment from this iconic toy car.
The Lego Speed Champions 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 is designed for ages seven and up.
Key Features:
Ages: Seven and over
Material: Plastic
Pieces: 250
Assembly: Requires some skill
Pros | Nostalgia overload, reasonable price |
Cons | None; unless you prefer not to play with Legos |
2. Best for Young Children: Disney Pixar Cars Die-Cast Three-Pack
Racer Lightning McQueen, Sheriff (aka Doc Hudson), and the lovable Tow Mater are all included in this 1:55-scale die-cast set from Disney Toy Cars. These were the standouts from the first Cars movie that got rave reviews from kids and parents alike. We won’t mention the woeful second installment, but Cars redeemed itself in the excellent third movie, which included strong messaging about gender equality and resilience.
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. The cars are high-fidelity recreations of the animated characters, right down to hoodless Mater’s crooked smile. The cars all have rolling wheels and are safe for children three and older.
Key Features:
Ages: Three and over
Material: Die-cast
Pieces: Three
Assembly: Fully assembled
Pros | Quality build, convincing character representation |
Cons | Grown-ups will also want to play with them |
3. Best for Inner Children: Back to The Future DeLorean
Disney's Cars might have connected the new generation of kids to the world of wheels. But before that, it was the DeLorean from Back to the Future that ignited children’s automotive imaginations, and Jada Toy’s 1:24 die-cast model of that car is sure to delight movie fans and car lovers of all generations.
Made from metal and featuring real rubber tires, as well as a light-up time-circuit and opening doors, this 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 our hands-on. 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.
Key Features:
Ages: Six and over
Material: Die-cast metal and rubber tires
Pieces: One
Assembly: Fully assembled
Pros | Highly detailed, interactive features |
Cons | Wheels don't roll |
4. Most Fun: 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.
A quick note on the product description: "These cars are for toddlers and boys." Neither statement is true; these toys are for everyone and anyone who loves firing toy cars around the floor and into each other. 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.
This set is well priced, especially when you consider the rugged construction. Each truck has metal spring suspension for cool tricks and fast runs across any surface.
Key Features:
Ages: Three and over
Material: ABS plastic, PVD, and metal springs
Pieces: one
Assembly: Fully assembled
Pros | Tons of fun, great price |
Cons | Your cat may not enjoy them as much as your children |
5. Best Starter Pack for Collectors: Hot Wheels 20-Car Gift Pack
It's impossible to talk about toy cars without bringing up the beloved Hot Wheels brand. 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 Hot Wheels in the sandpit?
Either way, a Hot Wheels set is a timeless classic that any child will love.
Key Features:
Ages: Three and over
Material: Die-cast metal body, polypropylene plastic base
Pieces: 20
Assembly: Fully assembled
Pros | Great value, classic Hot Wheels set |
Cons | The internal struggle—play or display? |
6. Best Weekend Car Project: Revell 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H Model Car Kit
This replica 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H ("H", in this case, stands for "Hertz") from Revell is one of the company’s most recognizable and cool model kits. It features authentic Hertz Gold graphic decals, black vinyl tires, and a detailed representation of the 289-cu-in. Ford V8 engine.
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 Revel models is they cater to a range of skill levels. This particular kit is moderately difficult and designed for individuals over 13 years of age.
This kit is 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 if you want to recreate that classic black and gold color scheme—but maybe that’s a project for the following weekend.
Key Features:
Ages: 13 and over
Material: Die-cast metal body, polypropylene plastic
Pieces: 91
Assembly: Skill level 4
Pros | Hours of engagement, educational, fun |
Cons | Only for those who don't want to assemble and paint their own model |
7. Best Slot Car Set: Carrera GO!!! Speed Grip 1:43 Scale Electric Slot Car Set
As Porsche fans know, the word Carrera means "race" in Spanish. And, the slot car brand of the same name has been bringing racing into the rec rooms of the world since 1963.
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.
You'll need a level surface measuring approximately 5.77 by 2.23 feet to set up the track. Users report that setup takes about an hour and that the cars may require some "fettling" to work properly. Generally, this entails minor adjustments to the brush contacts that supply power from the track. This set is intended for children ages six and up.
Key Features:
Ages: Six and over
Material: Plastic
Assembly: Requires some assembly
Pros | Real slot car fun, retro appeal |
Cons | Not inexpensive, takes up a fair amount of space |
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 go well include:
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 parts better
Assemble your model on a stiff sheet of plywood or thick cardboard so you can move it around without disturbing components.
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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