Rare Guides
Formula 1 collectors are always on the look out for rare items to add to their collection. The key is limited editions and to a lesser extent popular cars or drivers. A limited edition book or model of a Senna, Williams FW14B, Lauda/Villeneuve or Schumacher Ferrari is always going to retain good value. Like coins and comics, rare misprints can sometimes also increase the rarity value of a diecast or book. A obvious example is the Minichamps Schumacher Benetton B195 No.17 in 1:43 scale.
Books
For F1 books, most rare books usually deal with Silver Arrows/Pre-1960’s era, Ferrari or Ayrton Senna. You can check out my guide and listings at this posting which I will try to keep updated on a regular basis:
Click to view: Rare and Expensive F1 books
Diecast Model cars
Rare diecasts cars can come from all different manufacturers, so it’s usually the hand built, highly sought after driver/chassis combinations that are rare and command high collector prices. For the average casual collector, I have put together lists of rare Minichamps diecasts which is the most popular mainstream F1 diecast maker and a list of rare Spark F1 race car models. Its probably too hard to put a list together for the other makes. For Hotwheels, the old Ferrari Schumacher 1:18 Elites used to keep good value and the Raikkonen F2007 is also a good car to collect. The rarer Exotos tend to be the Lauda and Regazzoni Ferrari 312T2 (well over US$1000) and the Prost and Mansell Ferrari 641/2 (driver figure version: US$600+).
Click to view: Rare and hard to find Minichamps F1 diecasts
Click to view: Rare and hard to find Spark F1 models
Click to view: Rare and hard to find Hot Wheels F1 diecasts
Trading Cards
Although older generation Formula 1 trading cards like Panini and Futera still have some collection value, the main action is with Topps F1 trading cards.
