Our range of 1:18 scale model cars covers road cars, Formula 1, Le Mans and touring car racers, rally cars and classics from the leading diecast and resin makers. At around 25cm long for a typical sports car, 1:18 offers a strong balance of size, detail and shelf space for most collectors. Browse the range below, with worldwide delivery.
What Is 1:18 Scale?
A 1:18 scale model is eighteen times smaller than the real vehicle, so a 4.5 metre sports car becomes a model of about 25cm. Italian manufacturers such as Bburago and Polistil helped establish 1:18 as a mainstream diecast scale, and today it is the main scale for detailed collector models of road and race cars. You can compare it with smaller and larger sizes in our scale guide.
Approximate 1:18 Scale Model Sizes
| Vehicle Type | Approx Length |
|---|---|
| Road cars / sports cars | 23 to 28 cm |
| Formula 1 cars | 30 to 32 cm |
| GT / race cars | 25 to 30 cm |
| Motorcycles | 10 to 13 cm |
| Trucks | 35 to 45 cm |
Sizes follow the real vehicle, so a current Formula 1 car makes a longer model than one from the 1980s or 1990s.
Diecast, Resin and Composite
Diecast models are cast in metal alloy, which gives them weight and allows opening doors, bonnets and boots on many models. Not every diecast model opens, though: KK Scale 1:18 models are sealed, with working wheels and suspension. Resin models are generally sealed, with no opening parts, which allows sharp body lines and smaller production runs. Composite models from Hong Kong-based AUTOart combine diecast and plastic parts.
Leading 1:18 Brands
Spark's 1:18 resin range includes Grand Prix winners such as Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes W15 from the 2024 British Grand Prix and Lando Norris's McLaren MCL39. Minichamps covers Formula 1 in diecast and resin, including the Brawn GP BGP001 from Jenson Button's 2009 title season and Nigel Mansell's Williams FW14B. Browse more in our F1 models category.
Sister brands Solido, GT Spirit and Otto Mobile are based in Josselin, Brittany. Solido offers diecast road cars such as the Aston Martin DB5 and BMW M3 Touring, while GT Spirit and Otto Mobile produce sealed resin models in numbered limited editions. Werk83 and MCG focus on diecast race cars, including the Mazda 787B that won Le Mans in 1991. Tecnomodel, Cult Scale and Top Speed add further resin models, while BBR offers limited-edition Ferrari models in resin and diecast. Model Universe is an authorised BBR retailer.
Popular Makes
Porsche and Ferrari are popular 1:18 makes, alongside Ford, BMW, Mercedes and McLaren, across everything from classic road cars to current Formula 1 and endurance racers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a 1:18 scale model car?
Most 1:18 road cars measure 23 to 28cm long, while modern Formula 1 cars reach around 30 to 32cm. The exact size depends on the length of the real car.
Are 1/18 and 1:18 model cars the same?
Yes. 1/18, 1:18 and 118 all describe the same scale, where the model is one eighteenth the size of the real vehicle.
Do 1:18 diecast cars have opening doors?
Many diecast models have opening doors, bonnets and boots, but some, such as KK Scale 1:18, are sealed. Resin models are generally sealed.
Do you deliver 1:18 model cars worldwide?
Yes. We deliver worldwide. New releases are often available to pre-order, and pre-orders are charged on release.