Old-School Beetle: The Porsche 911 GT, by GT Spirit (1/18)

Vintage 911's, for all their greatness and exponentially-increasing popularity, are cars I try to stay away from for fear of falling into the trap that is wanting to collect way too many things. There are so many variants out there, with each brand making entire swarms of these old bugs, that it's become impossible to keep up with all of them. Then you add in all the tuned ones, from RUF to RWB to Singer, and it's a total nightmare. And that's before we get into those racecars. You could fill an entire house if you collected one of each variation of 911's alone.

But every now and then, there's one that catches your eye and has that must-have cachet, and such is the case here. This is the European-exclusive recolor, limited to 504 pieces, of GT Spirit's 911 GT resin model, in a silvery-blue hue reminiscent of one of my favorite car colors of all-time from another brand: BMW's Silverstone Metallic. The first iteration debuted in a dark blue colorway (with gold wheels for contrast) that has been repeatedly criticized for being too dark and not blue enough.

Whatever the case, this one is better anyway. Execution by GT Spirit is superb as always. Death, taxes, and them doing a great job with their models - you can take it to the bank. If it's not the color, then it's the wheels and the wing that won me over. Or the fat fenders and flushed stance. Or all of the above. It's got me feeling like I've been missing out this entire time.

The Porsche 911 (996) GT3, by AUTOart (1/18)

You either love or hate the 996-generation Porsche 911 Carrera. Often dubbed the "runny egg" 911 (and not in a good way) because of the odd shape of the headlights, the 996 is seen by many as the one sore spot of arguably the most legendary sports car lineage of all time. While those lights look more like jellybeans to me, you can never go wrong with eggs either. Eggs are tasty, much like this car right here.

It's AUTOart's 996 GT3, and it's yet another gem of a model. Compared to the Turbo and GT2 variants, the GT3 possesses more subdued styling, with a rounder front fascia, fewer air ducts, and more simplistic wheels. In short, take the wing off and you have what looks like an entry-level 911, not a top-of-the-line, supercar-beating machine. I was never a fan of the GT3 until this one won me over, and that's a testament to how great the AUTOart model is despite its age.

While most older AUTOarts have numerous, creaky plastic parts and feel rather light for eighteenth scale cars made primarily of metal, the GT3 stands solid and high-quality. The detail, especially on the wheels on brakes, surpassed all of my expectations. As is the case with 911's, there's virtually nothing to see in the engine hatch, but the interior is well-decorated with carpeting, textured racing buckets, red seat belts, roll cage, and even a fire extinguisher in the passenger footwell. This is amazing stuff for high-end models of today, let alone an early AUTOart product.

The Best 911 Ever? The Porsche 996 GT2, in 1/18, by AUTOart

It's no secret that I adore the 996 generation model of Porsche's prestigious 911 Carrera line. While most Porsches are what I would call conservative designs, the 996 is the eccentric child of all 911's. Over here, 911's are a dime a dozen. Nobody bats an eye unless you're driving one of the special editions with the big wings that are screaming for your attention.

The overall shape of the car has remained relatively unchanged through decades of updates and improvements, but it's the headlights that distinguish this one from the rest. For the most part, enthusiasts have been overly critical of its design, an oblong shape that resembles a number of things depending on how you look at it. Fried eggs. Jellybeans. Perhaps a set of kidneys?

But fried eggs are delicious, so why shouldn't this car be as well?

The 996 is the one Carrera that I need in my life, so I got myself a miniature. This GT2 variant is a 1/18 model by AUTOart and . As an older model, the details on the exterior are good, and the accuracy is top of its class as always. With old AUTOart's, there are a few nitpick-y things you can expect that you don't get on newer models. The compartments don't stay open, the badges are printed, and the car feels a little creaky as a whole, but it does what all AUTOart's do best: look good.

In my opinion, what really sets off the GT2, besides the aforementioned headlights and the rear wing, are the futuristic, five-spoke "fan" wheels. The same type of wheel is also used on other trim levels of the 996 generation, I believe the 4S as well as the Turbo, and is one of my favorite wheel designs of all-time - a perfect match for the weirdness of this car.

The Best of the Best: Series Two of Matchbox's "Best of World" Line

Can I just say that this is the bestest series ever?

The premium lines always bring out the best in diecast. Hot Wheels has always had a premium range for those who want weightier cars with nicer wheels and more realistic designs. Occasionally, Matchbox will do something similar, but done more so in a different style. There's usually more of an emphasis on emergency, off-road, and what I call "service" vehicles. The problem is that those models attract only a certain, very niche market, one which I am not a part of.

For the second coming of the "Best of World" series, Matchbox changed its philosophy and went with personal vehicles only. There's a police car in here, but it's an M5, and no one should be complaining about getting another release of the M5. This series is highlighted by the return of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and, in a way, the Lamborghini Miura as well.

And perhaps the most notable feature is the use of Real Riders on most of these models, taken straight from the Hot Wheels parts bin. It's a decision I'm against, in principle. It tells me Matchbox isn't proud of its own work. It's one company borrowing the ideas of another because deep down they know they can't compete. It's acknowledging inferiority. Auto World wouldn't take wheels from Johnny Lightning.

To me, this is waving the white flag.

Perhaps they just need time to design and develop new wheels, and I would hope that this is simply a one-and-done scenario. Wherever you stand, you can't argue that the wheels look great here.

I found these models back in December, before they were supposed to be released, and I haven't seen them again since. My local store had one case (two sets) and a nutty Vee-Dub collector likely took both of the buses, which is why you don't see it here. In an act of supreme selfishness, I followed suit and grabbed everything else for myself, leaving only a single Range Rover for the next poor bloke.

Obviously, the CLS and the Miura are to die for, but the 911 GT3 was the most surprising of the batch. Easily one of the greatest Matchbox castings ever, this one sparkles with its orange, bordering on gold, paint job. On all the models, the designs are simple, allowing the castings to do the talking. That's how we like our Matchboxes anyways.