10% off your first order — create a free account

Create free account
✓ 14-day returns ✓ Hand-checked before dispatch ✓ Secure checkout
My account

Special and Unique Models – Distinctive Subjects Beyond the Mainstream

More about our models

This vehicle class gathers cars that resist easy categorisation, from the DeLorean’s cultural fame to unusual commercial and concept subjects. Minichamps, Norev, GreenLight, Otto and AUTOart cover the range across an unusually wide scale spread.

10% off your first order — create a free account
154 models

154 models available

72 of 154 models

10% off your first order

Create a free account and claim 10% off your first order — from hundreds of collectible 1:18, 1:43 and 1:12 models by Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and more.

Create free account Browse the collection
Collectible 1:18 scale Porsche model on a clean studio backdrop — Models118 first-order offer

TL;DR: Special and unique models cover distinctive subjects including DeLorean, Citroen and Cadillac across an unusually broad scale range from 1:12 to 1:27, in diecast, resin and composite construction, spanning the 1960s through the 2000s.

Some subjects simply do not fit a conventional body-type or marque grouping, and this category exists precisely for those cars: distinctive designs, cultural curiosities and vehicles whose appeal comes from being genuinely different rather than representative of a wider range.

What Makes a Model Genuinely Distinctive

A subject earns a place here through design distinctiveness, cultural recognition or simple rarity rather than performance or racing pedigree. The DeLorean is the clearest example: a car whose fame rests as much on its stainless steel bodywork and gullwing doors as on any conventional automotive achievement, and scale versions capture that visual signature faithfully across several manufacturers.

Manufacturer Spread and Scale Variety

Minichamps, Norev and GreenLight handle the diecast side of this category, while Otto and AUTOart bring resin and composite construction to subjects that benefit from sharper surface detail. The scale range is unusually wide, running from 1:12 down to 1:27, reflecting the eclectic nature of what qualifies as a special or unique subject.

  • Cultural icons - DeLorean and similarly distinctive designs
  • Unusual commercial and utility subjects
  • Concept and limited-production curiosities

Collecting Without a Fixed Theme

Unlike a brand or era category, this one rewards an eclectic approach. Many collectors treat it as a place to find the single unusual piece that completes a display rather than a category to collect comprehensively, which suits its genuinely varied nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of cars typically appear in this category?

Design curiosities, culturally significant vehicles and unusual commercial subjects that do not fit conventional body-type or marque groupings, with the DeLorean serving as a well-known example of the category's character.

Why is the scale range so wide here?

Because the category groups subjects by distinctiveness rather than by a shared production standard, individual releases follow whatever scale suited that particular subject at the time, resulting in a broader spread than most themed categories.

Should this category anchor a themed collection?

It works better as a supplementary source of standout pieces than as a primary collecting theme, since its variety makes comprehensive coverage impractical compared with a focused brand or era category.

Is resin or diecast more common for these subjects?

Both appear regularly, with resin favoured where a distinctive body shape benefits from sharper surface precision and diecast used where durability and opening features suit the subject better.

0