PERTH’S Tony Guy will collect most things.
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He is the proud owner of a decent record collection, mostly hard rock and metal, and has large collection of comic books, mainly Batman and Judge Dredd
But it is a room of his garage that shows off about four decades off doggedly hunting for the most special and limited edition model cars.
“My collecting started when I was very small with Weetbix cards,” Mr Guy said.
“Then I moved onto Star Wars figurines and that sort of thing.”
“When I got a job – boom!”
Among the thousands of toy cars that occupy his collectors room is one of his first Hot Wheels cars, a rough-looking 1970s model.
This resides not far from the very valuable Peter Brock diecast models and a few other rare finds.
One is a 1:43 scale model of a rare Damon Hill race car and another of a car once driven by the late Stefan Bellof – a piece that he found in Tasmania.
“Opportunities to hunt can be pretty scarce here in Tassie but it makes it a thrill to find something,” Mr Guy said.
“The internet helps best with specialist things. You find things available on there that just weren’t available years ago.
“I don’t collect these cars for the sake of it. I know the drivers and I know the stories behind the cars.”
Mr Guy find that he collects in themes, only moving on one he feels a particular collection is complete.
“You grab a couple of things and then you find that you have to fill in gaps – it’s almost like an obsession,” he said.
His interest was reignited in Formula One cars and racing some years ago while reminiscing over old videos of iconic races.
Behind perspex is a complete collection of small Ferrari Formula One cars.
“I’m really proud of that collection. It took about a year to complete,” Mr Guy said.
“I’m quite frugal. I’ll hunt around for three or four months to get the right price.
“There was a real thrill of the hunt for this collection.”
He said he most liked the nostalgia of childhood that were attached to the models and that he could share the hobby with his own children.
“At the time, you took these toys for granted and you played with them and wrecked them,” Mr Guy said.
“I’ve got two kids, a 10-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, and we collect things together.
“I’m a bit of a hoarder. Some collectors will buy things to resell, I buy things I want and that will stay with me.
“Sometimes they’re valuable, sometimes they’re valuable to the person.”
Some of the cars in his collection he built himself.
“I started building model kits for stress relief; it’s something that I find very relaxing,” Mr Guy said.
“Some people find it tedious and frustrating but it shuts my mind off.”
Mr Guy is a member of the Launceston Scale Model Club and has benefited from the knowledge sharing, fossicking assistance and friendship of fellow members.
He will have a display at the club’s annual expo at Aurora Stadium on October 29 and 30.
