Are NASCAR kits falling out of favor?

[Jon Haigwood]

I attended one of our local Model Show/Swapmeet yesterday and there seemed like every one had a bunch of Nascar kits to sell. Even the kits donated for the raffle were about 70% NASCAR kits. I got to the point that on the last raffle drawing at the end of the show they stacked 3 NASCAR kits together as one prize just so winners would take them. 

Is this the trend everywhere ?

One attendee mentioned that most of the kits were the same but came with different decals

[Rob Hall]

Nothing new, seems like it's been over 10 years since NASCAR kits were big sellers.    There was a glut of them made in the 90s...

[Mark]

AMT and Revell/Monogram both overproduced on the kits, in addition to that there was a proliferation of diecasts alongside those.  Then the bottom dropped out.  There are exceptions, but once they went to the downsized cars in the early Eighties, you don't see a lot of nostalgia builds on these (certainly not as many as pre-1980 cars).  I know a guy who was getting sealed Nineties kits for $1 apiece up until a couple of years ago.  He'd resell them for $2-$3 apiece at a local flea market.  I myself decided to pick up a couple of the early Monogram kits a couple of years ago.  I got one of the first four kits (the red Buick Regal), sealed box, for something like $3 (not from the guy referenced above).

That said, if you are into the subject matter, that's good for you because you can stock up for cheap.  If you don't care for NASCAR but do kitbash and build street machines, the chassis parts can come in handy.  The truck kits have a slightly longer wheelbase; those chassis can be fitted to earlier bodies instead of stretching the car chassis (not that that's tough to do).  The engines in most of the kits I have seen are pretty decent, too. 

[Snake45]

I have friends who were diehard NASCAR fans/builders/collectors who dropped out several years ago, when the teams started changing the paint jobs several times a season. There was just no way to keep up or collect "everything," so they got out.

[vettecote]

I buy 'em for kit bashing on the cheap!...Joe

[Greg Myers]

There was just no way to keep up or collect "everything,"

A problem in many hobby's, stamp collecting, coin collecting, guns, etc. 

[Jon Haigwood]

I have friends who were diehard NASCAR fans/builders/collectors who dropped out several years ago, when the teams started changing the paint jobs several times a season. There was just no way to keep up or collect "everything," so they got out.

In the past I kept it simple Petty Blue , #42#43#44

[Ace-Garageguy]

Lots of other good stuff in those kits too, like gearboxes and reinforced Ford 9" rear ends, wrapped headers, fuel cells, radiators, etc. Some are better than others though.

And as has already been said, the entire chassis will work well under customs that might have started life as early annuals with blobular underpinnings.

[Greg K]

i had a couple of NASCAR kits given to me years ago. i opened both boxes to find tons of tubular parts for the drivers cage and chassis. put it all back in the box and haven't opened it since.

[Petetrucker07]

Kit bashing is all I use them for, if I even get them. I'm not a NASCAR guy by any stretch of the definition. But, like most have said, nice pieces to use on other things.

[58 Impala]

I bought a few over the years but never built them (lost interest in building nascar kits). I have tried selling the few I have along with thinning my collection and I can't give them away. About all they're good for is kit bashing for parts.

Edited November 15, 2015 by 58 Impala

[Sledsel]

I say build a few just for the heck of it, They are all very nice builds.

[High octane]

Seems like the trend here as well, lots of NASCAR kits at "giveaway" prices.

[Helix]

I've bought a couple, but never built them....I would be interested to see if the kits are re-tooled to the current models used this year......doubt it...cost would be the issue.

I can only dream, because the Chevrolet SS is based on the Aussie Commodore

[The Junkman]

Personal opinion only: I see two factors.  (1) mentioned above-the multiple paint schemes, you just can't keep up so why bother.  (2) NA$CAR went with the NBA playbook and made the players (driver) the focus of their hype, to the detriment of brand loyalty.  I wouldn't buy a Gordon or Kenseth kit, I want to buy a Ford or a Chevy kit.  I literally cannot tell the difference at a glance between any of the race cars.  They bear no resemblance to any of the cars they purport to represent.  You may also note I've not watched an entire race in almost 10 years and even now I couldn't tell you what the standings are.  The France family blew up a good thing. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

I built a couple of Nascar kits many years ago & lost interest very quickly.

First of all, I.m not a huge racing fan, whether it's Nascar, drag racing, Indy.....whatever.

2nd, under the skin, they're pretty much all the same car.

So unless you enjoy building the same kit over & over again with a different paint job......Well, you catch my drift.

 

Steve

[jefropas]

I used to watch every race back in the 80's through early 00's. All the rules changes, car homogenization, ungodly ticket prices, and the chase for the cup have basically pooped me out of the entire deal. I don't even watch Daytona or Talladega...all my kits sit as uninterested as I am...a shame, it really has lost a lot...

 

Jeff 

[chitownbri]

I used to watch every race back in the 80's through early 00's. All the rules changes, car homogenization, ungodly ticket prices, and the chase for the cup have basically pooped me out of the entire deal. I don't even watch Daytona or Talladega...all my kits sit as uninterested as I am...a shame, it really has lost a lot...

 

Jeff 

I used to be the same way, I wouldn't miss out on watching a race. Now I rarely make an effort to watch a race these days but I still enjoy building nascar models.

[Petetrucker07]

I think the problem with NASCAR is the fact it's gone way too commercial. It's in a lot more places than it once was. In some cases, places it probably never imagined or thought it would belong. It's almost shoved down our throats on TV. I think people are just plain tired of the merchandising. The fans still love the racing. But the merch, not so much. Why build a model, when you can buy a diecast, I'm willin to bet is the attitude of a lot of people, for said changes in paint schemes and sponsorships, race to race.

[1930fordpickup]

Clayton I think you have made some great points.

 Like other kits that people have in the stash, they have no intention of building  but have many good parts for other builds. 

[mk11]

The new kits coming out may rekindle some interest. Too late for me; I lost interest with the advent of the cot and 'yotas...

..and I'll stick with '60s/70s era projects and a phantom Ford racetruck I've got in mind

 

mike

Edited November 16, 2015 by mk11

[jefropas]

I may take it up again with the older stuff from the 70's and 80's...when it was still fun to watch, I just have to get myself to that point....

 

Jeff

[JTRACING]

I enjoy nascar models still, however not really interested in cars from early 2000 to now,I wish more models of 80s cars were re issued!,  I think also nascar is not what it once was for a lot of fans, it's become an almost scripted drama reality show.. 

[unclescott58]

Wow! Interesting to read the above posts. I like several of you, lost interest in NASCAR 10-15 years ago. I can't tell a Chevy from a Ford or Toyota anymore. And I'm not even sure if Chrysler is even running cars in NASCAR anymore. But, with Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Mercury, AMC, and Plymouth gone from the game, I'm bored. Who do I root for? I guess Chevrolet. But I just don't know? And to build a model of these boring looking, look a like cars? I've got better, more interesting model cars I'd rather spend my money on and build. Sorry to say.

Interesting, I just in the last month or so, I bought an Auto World HO slot car set. What set did I buy? Petty vs. Baker. A cool set representing cars they ran in the 1971 season. Two brands of cars by the same maker. Richard Petty's Plymouth Roadrunner and Buddy Baker's Dodge Charger. Two cars aimed at the same buyer. Built on the same chassis. But, look so different from one another. They didn't just look different from the Fords, GMs, and AMCs. They looked different from each other! Even though they are both Mopars. Man, I miss those days.

[High octane]

"If" I were to build NASCARS, it would be from the late 50's to early 60's era. And I do have a Hooters Thunderbird kit that I would like to build someday also, but I wouldn't bet on it.