I have been collecting diecast cars for about 8 years. Most of my collection consists of cars still in the box or blister pack. Do you guys open any, all, some, or none of you collections? I assume the cars are more valuable if they are unopened and in their original packaging. I have 4 Jada BTM Camaros that I have opened simply because the detail and paint on these little cars is awesome. What's your take. DZL

I say do what you like. I open 95% of the cars I buy because I'm in it for the enjoyment of this hobby. The rest I don't open because they are bought for trade purposes with the other collector's on this board. I think you will find that most people on this board will say do what you like. Oh yeah, I agree with your take on the BTM cars. I love these cars!

BTMs rock! I just started to open mine up. Im like you i kept them all blistered up. BUt there not for sale and there going to my son evntually anyway.I like holding them and looking at them to much anyway.

I was standing in line at the Mattel store this past Monday and was talking a HW collector. He was telling me he has thousands of Hot Wheels in prefect blister packs that he keeps stored in boxes. I gave him the line that someone here had posted, "that the cars have wheels for a reason." I like arranging my cars in various configurations which is easier to do and display when they are loose. Its a tough decision. I remember getting my first WL and wondering if I should keep it in the pack. Ironically, since coming to this board some of you have helped make my decision easier. Looking at my collection as an investment and then looking at the awsome collections that some of you have, made me realize mine probably will never be worth much...at least in my lifetime. That thought made it much easier for me to rip open those blister packs and enjoy the cars.

Still, the next guy may think entirely different and have valid reasons for his point of view. I buy collectible Barbies for my daughters and tell them they can't open them till they are 18. So even I go both ways.

Tough call, good luck figuring it out.

I believe most diecast cars produced today have very little upside potential in terms of appreciation 'and' collectablility.

Let me make this clear...I've been collecting diecast cars for over 35 years. I do have hundreds of Redline BPs which I keep in the BP...that's a no brainer.

I also collect Jada Toys 1:64s. With the exception of a few pre-productions, samples and the 2003 NY Toy Fair cars that are in blister... I take 'all' the production pieces out for display. Don't get me wrong...I do belive that there are a few diecasts pieces that where made in the last 10 years that have appreciated...but for the most part they're made in huge numbers and 'most' collectors do not take them out of the blister. While these collectors store them in a boxes in the garage...I have the benefit of rolling mine around. The true appreciation is having the ablility to hold these puppies. Does it affect the value? Sure...it's definately worth less out of the package than inside a package...but I appreciate being able to enjoy them in my display case much more that the value of them. IMHO.

I believe most diecast cars produced today have very little upside potential in terms of appreciation 'and' collectablility.

Let me make this clear...I've been collecting diecast cars for over 35 years. I do have hundreds of Redline BPs which I keep in the BP...that's a no brainer.

I also collect Jada Toys 1:64s. With the exception of a few pre-productions, samples and the 2003 NY Toy Fair cars that are in blister... I take 'all' the production pieces out for display. Don't get me wrong...I do belive that there are a few diecasts pieces that where made in the last 10 years that have appreciated...but for the most part they're made in huge numbers and 'most' collectors do not take them out of the blister. While these collectors store them in a boxes in the garage...I have the benefit of rolling mine around. The true appreciation is having the ablility to hold these puppies. Does it affect the value? Sure...it's definately worth less out of the package than inside a package...but I appreciate being able to enjoy them in my display case much more that the value of them. IMHO.
I agree ,Roy. All the guys in my club take their cars out of the packaging. I'v always kept mine in the box. But everytime i visit a collector an get the oppertunity to handle his cars, out of the box, I think of the enjoyment i'm missing with my own collection. I'm not a re-sale collector. i buy what i like. For the past 2 weeks I've been dusting off my display cases and drilling holes. In joy them while you still can. Cars are worth more in the packing, but if the tooling has been put away for 20yrs and i want it I'll mortgage something for that right 1:18.