The 10 Most Significant Models of the Lamley Era: Auto World 1969 Chevy Kingswood Estate “Lead Sled”

I absolutely love this model. It was an easy choice.

Yet if you’ve read my other selections for this selections for this list, you probably have detected that my loving the model isn’t a requirement. As I’ve stated before, this isn’t a list of my 10 favorites.

But the Lead Sled certainly is. Let me get into why I picked it.

This Auto World gem represents the brands that in the last 10 years caught my attention and pulled me in. Actually, it represents all the brands that have jumped into the game, creating what is easily the best time to be a diecast collector.

At this point there is just too much to keep up with. I get asked all the time “will ever showcase brand __________?” The truth is I would love to, but I just don’t have the time nor the space to do it. It’s tough too because I do see the output from all of these premium 1/64 brands, and the cars look amazing.

Knowing that, a couple of years ago I welcomed a team of contributors to the Lamley Blog, tasked with nothing more specific than writing about what interests them in the hobby. What has resulted is a wider variety of brands, eras, and interests being covered on the blog itself, while I dedicate my IG and YouTube accounts to my main interests. Over time I find myself going to my own site just to read as a fan. The Lamley contributors have been one of the best things to happen to the blog.

And even then it is hard to keep up. The output of good stuff is overwhelming, so much so that I am scared to try and mention all the brands for fear of forgetting some. And if I do I will hear about it.

I have had so many models from so many brands come and go in my collection, and that will continue. But due to that aforementioned lack of time and space, I’ve dedicated most of my efforts the Mattel brands, Tomica Limited Vintage, Auto World, Tarmac Works Global64, and Mini GT.

For a long time it was the Big 3 for me – Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and TLV. Over the last few years, I cracked the door open for Auto World, Tarmac, and Mini GT, and all three brands blew the doors open.

The first of those brands was Auto World, so I picked my favorite model that they’ve released. It had to be Lead Sled. Auto World released it several years ago as a hobby exclusive, and it was an instant must for me. A classic old school wagon, done up as a race car, and based on an actual car. It was the perfect quirky model. It also remains the only 1 of 10 Ultra Raw Chase that I own (and famously dropped when I opened it on YouTube).

Each of these brands have their own direction, and they execute so well. Auto World’s focus on mainly American cars, mostly in stock colors, has been a joy to collect. It’s also a joy when they deviate a bit in special lines like hobby exclusives. It is also the only brand that I collect in a way similar to Tomica Limited Vintage. I want all their main releases, and the joy is in seeing all the models together as opposed to appreciating each model individually. Auto World’s output isn’t huge, but it is total joy. I’ve also gotten to know some of the folks there, and know what makes them tick falls in line with so many collectors.

That goes for Tarmac Works – I focus mainly on Global64, but I have quite a few Hobby64 as well – and Mini GT as well. Both brands always surprise, both brands are run by passionate automotive enthusiasts, and both brands always want to expand and improve. They aren’t afraid to try new things and take risks. From my corner here at Lamley, I get to be privy to a portion of that process, and it fascinating to watch.

So have a look at this ultra cool, beautifully executed, perfectly to scale wagon and let it represent the vast variety of brands to collect. I throw the term “Golden Age” around a lot. We are definitely in a Golden Age of Diecast.