Long before we all got our licenses, toy cars were the most remarkable cars to take on an adventure. They came in different makes, designs, weights, sizes, models, and colors.
Toy cars have been in existence for decades such that there are so many models on the market produced in the thousands by different manufacturers.
Of these models, none have been as famous as Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Dinky Toys, and Corgi Goldfinger Aston Martin.
It’s difficult to give an exact weight when it comes to how much any of these toy cars weigh. The weight varies across models and manufacturers because of materials used by different companies and the different sizes of the model toys.
Generally, an average toy car weighs between 1-2 ounces or 24 to 40 grams. The weight differs based on the type and size of the car as well as the material used.
Older toy car models tend to be heavier than the newer models because the materials have changed over time. Older toy cars were almost entirely made of metal while toy cars produced today are almost always made of plastic.
For example, the older Hot Wheels and Matchbox toy cars were made using a die-cast method of molding. Typical materials that they used included molten lead, zinc alloy, and plastic in a mold to produce a particular shape.
These materials made the older cars weigh a bit more.
Nowadays, Mattel, who manufactures both the Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, is using more and more plastic in their newer models. The reasoning behind the addition of more plastic was the cost.
However, this has made the newer toy cars slightly more lightweight than the originals.
If you are curious about the exact weight of your toy car, you can use your kitchen scale to weigh the cars yourself. Just take note that the weight can vary even if you have an identical model that you purchased a few years back.
The Dinky Toy car was a British icon introduced in 1934, just before WWII. These cars are now very rare, primarily because they were made out of dodgy zamaz-zinc alloy, which crumbled into dust as it aged.
The Matchbox cars entered the scene in 1953 and rose in popularity because it could fit into a matchbox. To this day, Matchbox has a vast range of toy cars, though it’s now owned by American toy giant Mattel, which also owns Matchbox’s sworn enemy, Hot Wheels.
Going strong since 1968, Hot Wheels has more than 800 models and over 11,000 variations.
And lastly, the Corgi Goldfinger Aston Martin. Who wouldn’t want a toy car modeled after the famous James Bond car? This toy car had a ‘bulletproof’ pop-up rear screen, hidden machine guns, and an ejector seat.
All these awesome toy cars offered hours of adventure play for kids all across America. Along with the versatile models, these toy cars were popular because they came in different child-friendly weights.
How Does Weight Affect A Toy Car?
This may seem very insignificant, but the weight of a toy car determines the quality of the play that your children enjoy. How?
Unless you are a collector who will never use the toy car for their primary intended purpose, these toys were meant for speed.
Little kids enjoy racing, spinning, and pushing their toy cars around. The heavier the vehicle, the more momentum they have. This means that they travel further and are more steady, especially when they are going downhill.
The last thing you need is an unsteady toy car that flips over or goes off course, every single time. It’s pretty anti-climatic and frustrating.
Additionally, lighter toy cars are slower and tend to bounce around too much.
Besides the weight, there are other things that can contribute to the speed of your toy car.
These include its build, size, shape of the wheels, and structure.
How To Increase The Weight Of A Toy Car
Now that you understand how significant the weight of a toy car is, there are certain things you can do to increase the weight of your toy car.
These tips are an alternative if you don’t want to buy heavier toy cars or if you enjoy a challenge.
Use Clay
Modeling clay is a quick and easy way to add weight to your toy car. Simply place the clay in the empty spaces inside of the car. For example, if you have a model that has doors that can open or windows that are open you can put clay right inside the car.
Just ensure that you keep the clay away from the wheels because this will interfere with the wheels’ rotation and make the car much slower.
A pro tip is to put more clay at the back of the vehicle. This will position the center of gravity perfectly and increase the speed and stability of the car.
Use Lead Fishing Weights
While modeling clay is an easy fix, there is a cleaner and more effective way to add weight to your toy car. Lead fishing weights are a great alternative to clay.
They come in various sizes, but most toy car enthusiasts like to glue them into the empty spaces in the car.
If you’re not too concerned about the appearance of your toy car, you can glue them anywhere. However, if you want to preserve the look of your car, you can open it up and place the weights inside.
Just remember to glue the weights securely because loose lead weights ruin the momentum and will slow down the car.
How To Make Your Toy Car Faster
The primary force trying to slow your car down is friction. The tips we have below all have to do with reducing this friction.
Using Graphite
Adding lubricant is a perfect way to minimize friction. In real cars, lubricants like oil and grease are used to reduce this friction. However, oil and grease are not suitable for toy cars with small parts because they tend to pick up small particles, hair, and dust, which in turn accumulate over time and slows down the car.
Graphite does the job of lubrication without picking up these tiny particles.
Polish The Axles
Another thing you can do to make your toy car faster is to polish the axles. There are many popular axle polish brands available for purchase around the country.
All you need to do is apply it to the axle according to the instructions on the polish, and then buff it with a drill using a soft cloth buffing tool.
Ensure you slide the wheels to one end of the axle and hold them so that you don’t hit them while you are buffing. Also, avoid putting polish on the wheels.
Conclusion
Toy cars do not have a standard weight as they all come in various weights, models, sizes, and designs. Regardless of your preference, you will not be pressed to find a toy car that suits your needs.
Weight is a significant factor when it comes to how fast and stable toy cars are. While the average toy car weighs about 1-2 ounces or 24 to 40 grams, you can add on to this weight if you want your car to go faster.