Top-10 Most-Wanted Die-Cast Toys

By Justina Huddleston
September 2013

^{With additional reporting from Brenda Ruggiero}
In an August 2013 survey, TDmonthly asked retailers about their best-selling die-cast toys.

Inexpensive items, often merchandised in bins, were favorites, especially items from Schylling and Toysmith. School buses and police cars were the best-selling type of die-cast toy.

Die-Cast Sanitation Truck by SCHYLLING

Die-Cast Sanitation Truck by SCHYLLING Few vehicles on the city streets captivate children as much as the garbage truck. This big modern semi, detailed at a 1:43 scale and complete with an opening back hatch, lets kids have their very own to drive around the towns of their imagination. The pull-back motor sends it zipping off on its route.
— Eight out of 38 retailers surveyed in July 2010 by TDmonthly said Schylling is their top-selling die-cast line.
— "We sell the small cars and trucks by Schylling every day," Grafton Stine, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a 2011 survey.
— Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Col., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2012 survey that "Schylling has some of the best die-cast pricing along with Toysmith." 8/30/2010 (MSRP: $4.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Pull-Back School Bus by TOYSMITH

Pull-Back School Bus by TOYSMITH Die-cast construction for durability. Powerful pull-back-and-go motor. 5" long. Yellow.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, two out of 14 retailers told TDmonthly that Toysmith school buses were among their best-selling die-cast items.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Toysmith was their best selling brand.
— In an August 2013 survey, four out of nine retailers told TDmonthly that Toysmith was their best-selling brand of die-cast toy. 8/22/2011 (MSRP: $3.99; Age: 5 and Up)

Kinsmart - School Bus 5" by TOY WONDERS INC.

5107D Kinsmart - School Bus. 5"L x 1.5"W x 1.75"H die-cast metal yellow school bus with openable door & pull back motor action. This yellow school bus is manufactured by Kinsmart. 12 pcs per display box.
— When asked about best-selling die-cast items in a Summer 2011 TDmonthly survey, Dean Smith, Co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J. said of the Kinsmart School Bus "We sell a lot of them: about 30 to 40 per month. It will pick up in the next 2 months. It's our biggest single die cast item."
— In a Summer 2012 survey about die-cast toys, Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that they sell 15 school buses from Toy Wonders each month.
— In an August 2013 survey, two out of nine retailers told TDmonthly that yellow school buses were their best-selling type of die-cast toy. 8/22/2011 (MSRP: $6.99)

Large Die-Cast Bus by SCHYLLING

Large Die-Cast Bus by SCHYLLING With swing-open doors, a working stop sign and details in crisp black, Schylling’s Die Cast Bus is an effective miniaturization of one of childhood’s most beloved and familiar vehicles. A pull-back motor sends the bus zooming across floors or tables, and the interior is detailed with rows of seats visible through clear windows.
— “The School Bus is always our best seller,” said Kim Emigh, VP of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., who told TDmonthly during a July 2009 survey that Schylling provides her top-selling die-cast vehicles.
— “The best seller in die-cast would be [the] school bus,” said Michelle Smith, owner of Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland, Ore.
— Seven of 49 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2009 that school buses are their best selling die-cast vehicles.
— “Oddly enough, school buses are our best-seller,” said Terri Bracken, owner of Earth Explorers Toys in Zionsville, Ind., when asked about her best-selling die-cast items in July, 2010.
— Four out of 38 retailers specified the Schylling Die-Cast Bus as their top-selling die-cast toy in July 2010. 8/28/2009 (MSRP: $12.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Die-cast Sonic Police/Rescue Car by SCHYLLING

This 1:34 scale car lights up and makes sounds.
— Linda Laramy, owner of Crackerjacks Toys and Children's Books in Easton, Md., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that she sells 6 of this item each month.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, four out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Schylling was their best selling brand of die-cast toy.
— In an August 2013 survey, two out of nine retailers told TDmonthly that police cars were their best-selling type of die-cast toy. 8/22/2011 (MSRP: $7.49)

Die-Cast Pull-Back Police Car by SCHYLLING

In eye-catching black and white, Schylling’s die-cast model of a police car is ready to respond to any emergency. Zipping along on working wheels and a pull-back motor, the cruiser has 9-1-1 printed on the side.
— “They're wonderful sellers,” Michelle Sahr, owner of My Little Red Wagon in Stow, Ohio, said of her Schylling die-cast vehicles in July 2009. Sahr said the police car is a favorite in the line.
— In an August 2013 survey, two out of nine retailers told TDmonthly that police cars were their best-selling type of die-cast toy. 8/28/2009 (MSRP: $6.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Mattel Hot Wheels Batman - Batmobile Assortment 1:50 scale die-cast model by TOY WONDERS INC.

X3078/956B Mattel Hot Wheels Batman - Batmobile Assortment. 1:50 scale diecast model. Manufactured by Mattel. Each car individually blister carded. Card size: 5.25" x 6.5". Assortment includes: 1940s Batmobile - Batman (2 pcs); Batmobile - Batman Forever (2 pcs); Tumbler - Batman Begins (2 pcs); Tumbler - The Dark Knight (2 pcs). Launch date: July 20, 2012.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, four out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Hot Wheels was their best selling brand of die-cast toy.
— In an August 2013 survey Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that Hot Wheels were their best-selling die-cast toys. 7/27/2012 (MSRP: $8.00; Age: 8 and Up)

Matchbox Service Center 5-Pack by MATTEL INC.

With realistic, modern details shrunk down to a size that fits in the palm of a child's hand, the Service Center 5-Pack of Matchbox cars from Mattel brings the excitement of city streets within reach. Tow truck, fuel tanker semi, heavy duty pickup and the other members of the set are completed with believable branding. Matchbox cars can be collected or traded, and their durable die-cast construction will stand up to plenty of play.
— “[Matchbox] is a good price point for our store,” said Mike Snyder, manager of The Game Place in Charlottesville, Va. Snyder said his wife refers to Matchbox cars as “reward toys”.
— Out of 38 retailers, four said Matchbox cars from Mattel are their top-selling die-cast item, reporting sales averaging 40 per month during a July 2010 survey.
— In a Summer 2012 survey about die-cast toys, Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that they sell about 12 of this Matchbox car 5 pack each month. 8/30/2010 (MSRP: $4.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Show Flight Bi-planes Die-cast Model Airplanes by TOY WONDERS INC.

500D Show Flight Bi-planes. This airplane is 5.25" long with a 6.25" wingspan die-cast metal pullback action classic bi planes. Front propeller spins as it travels forward. 12 pcs per display box in assorted colors. 72 pcs per inner box.
— In an August 2013 survey Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly that planes are their best-selling die-cast toy.
— In a August 2014 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that die-cast planes were one of their best-selling die-cast toys. 3/30/2011 (MSRP: $6.99; Age: 8 and Up)

Kinsmart - Ice Cream Die-castTruck (5", Asstd.) by TOY WONDERS INC.

5"L x 1.875"W x 2.75"H diecast metal vehicle with pull back action, openable doors and detailed interior. This Ice-Cream truck is manufactured by Kinsmart/Kinsfun Toys. 12 pcs per display in assorted colors. 72 pcs per inner box.
— Tim Holliday, owner of Children's World and Uniform in Sarasota, Fla., told TDmonthly in an August 2013 survey that police cars and ice cream trucks are their best-selling die-cast items.
— In a August 2014 survey, three out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Toysmith made their stores' best-selling die-cast toys. 10/30/2009 (MSRP: $6.99; Age: 8 and Up)