AUTOart

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A 1:18 scale Aston Martin DBR9, one of AUTOart's sealed body shell diecasts.

AUTOart is a model car company dedicated to making model cars in many scales. They make a variety of different scale, make, model. Their 1:18 scale models are their most distinctive, some of which they assert are the highest quality models available on the market, but are very expensive with some limited editions going above US$100. Their limited edition 1:12 die-cast model cars have a price of up to US$499.99. They are reputed to have very precise detailing on all features such as: wheels & tires, carpeting, seat belts, working door handles, engines, suspension, even sun visor, working door latch, and door/hood/trunk lid dampers. AUTOart was created from UT Models, so UT is now out of business. AUTOart is preferred by diecast model collectors who favor quality over cost when compared to many other model car manufacturers, most of which are a bit lower in price as well as quality. AUTOart makes diecast model cars, slot racing cars, and in the future radio controlled cars. They also own AEROart which produces aircraft models.

1 Sealed Car Criticism
2 List of Makes of Cars Produced by AUTOart
3 List of Scales of Cars Produced by AUTOart
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Sealed Car Criticism

AUTOart has received criticism for some of their model line up, specifically sealed cars. Unlike AUTOart's traditional models, their Motorsport Division consists of 1:18 racing car models with sealed bodywork - no opening parts or engine detail. Of the major 1:18 scale manufacturers, AUTOart is the only one to have a line of sealed cars. Much of the criticism is based on AUTOart's claims that the models would be priced more competitively than their racing car models that do have opening parts and engine detail, but retail prices show little appreciable difference. In 2006 a letter claimed to be from AUTOart was sent out to customers; it was purported that sealed cars were in part due to restrictions placed on them by Motorsport Teams, and that visibly improved outer details and manufacturing processes unique to the "Motorsport Division" line were put in place to makeup the difference. ^[1]