Trax Models

Trax Models is a range of diecast model cars and buses in the scales of 1:24, 1:43 and 1:76 produced by Trax Corporation Pty Ltd. The line consists of vehicles made in China for the Australian market. The company is controlled by the Australian firm Top Gear,[1] but the Top Gear name does not appear on Trax vehicles nor boxes. The company was formed in 1980, by John Eassie, initially involved with Australian model trains. John branched off into 1:43 diecast cars in 1986, with car models being distributed via the model train retailers. John sold the company to Frank Tregellas, previously General Manager of Matchbox Toys Australia and Matchbox Collectibles and Robert Hill who managed Matchbox Collectibles.

Model series

Most Trax models are cast in 1:43 scale and are replicas of Australian vehicles. Details are accurately rendered. The standard Trax car range, normally labeled as "Trax Australian Motoring History" on the boxes, includes GM Holden (FJs, Monaros, Toranas, Commodores, etc.), Ford (early Fairlanes, but mostly Falcon variations), and Chryslers (mostly Valiants and

Marketing and packaging

The customary early Trax box design for the standard series through the mid-1990s was yellow with black and white and red highlights, somewhat like a 1990s interpretation of an old Corgi or Dinky box. The Trax logo was black with letters outlined in white with a red pennant proclaiming "Australian Motoring History". Each panel was then outlined with a fine red line. The model was illustrated on the side with no plastic window. Vehicle information with a small outline map of Australia was on the opposite panel.

Since 2004, boxes incorporated a perspex plastic window and had perforated top flap for retail hanging. Colors on the boxes were presented diagonally progressing from dark blue to yellow.

All models are produced in limited quantities and never reproduced. As such, previous offerings now sold out generally increase in value over the years with some early limited examples now worth many times their original purchase price.[7][8] Excess, returned or damaged models are sold through the Trax Wrecking Yard.[9]

Top Gear is the only diecast model company in Australia to produce a regular catalogue every two months, and a hard cover book detailing every model ever made by Top Gear which is updated every three years.[10] The book has received positive independent review.[11] New additions to the Trax range are often recognised in the local Australian media.[12]

Trax supports a collector's club that has started a model selection process where members can vote on the next model they want to see produced. For A$120 members get a vote and receive the winning model when it appears.[13]

Promotional and other models are also produced under the Top Gear name, like the gray Holden FJ panel newspaper delivery van advertising The Sun - Daily at Dawn, Melbourne Australia's newspaper. Proclaiming News and Pictorial, the van's doors showed the headline Olympic Torch Arrives. This van was part of a series of at least six devoted to Australian newspaper liveries. A similar series was FJs at Work which advertised different home appliance companies like Malleys, Hotpoint, Metters and Simpson.[14] To enable use with many promotions, boxes were decorated generically with newspaper graphics, with none prominent. Stickers were added to the boxes to identify the paper highlighted on the van.

type	Private
foundation	1986
location	Silverwater, New South Wales, Australia
key people	Frank Tregellas & Robert Hill
industry	Diecast models
products	Model cars and buses
parent	Top Gear Pty. Limited
homepage	topgear.com.au

Model series

Model details

Trux line

Marketing and packaging

References