A unique 'library' of model cars.

EACH CAR IS A FRIEND

The story of my shared passion for collecting model cars with Tuan Anh began with his collection of 250 cars in France. Back home in Hue City (Thua Thien-Hue province), Tuan Anh already had a massive collection of around 1,000 cars. Six years ago, when he first arrived in France to study, he brought 15 model cars with him.

Tran Viet Tuan Anh with his model car collection in Hue City.

"To date, the number has increased to 250. In France, there are many flea markets, and many of them sell model cars. There, I can buy a car in good condition for a very cheap price. In addition, when traveling or visiting car exhibitions and museums in Europe, I often buy model cars as souvenirs," Tuan Anh said.

Tuan Anh held his first model car in his hands since he was born, but his true passion for collecting and playing with them began in 2008. Back then, noticing his son's passion, his parents would reward him with model cars whenever he got good grades. From the very beginning of this hobby, Tuan Anh categorized the cars based on the brand and the relevance of the brands to real-life cars. There are many different scales, but the most common are 1/64, 1/43, 1/18, and 1/12, and they are divided into three segments: high-end (brands like BBR, MR...), mid-range (brands like Kyosho, Autoart...), and entry-level (brands like Welly, Burago...). The larger and higher-end the model, the more detailed and refined it is.

Driven by his passion for collecting model cars, Tuan Anh now owns a real-life Opel Astra.

"Model cars usually have bodies made of metal or plastic. They are also divided into two types: movable - allowing players to disassemble and reassemble parts; and static - which cannot be disassembled and are mainly for display," Tuan Anh said.

"I've never considered my cars just objects. To me, they're like pets, like friends. So, every time I buy a new car, besides the feeling of owning it, I also feel very happy, as if I've gained a new friend," he shared.

Tuan Anh said it's difficult to choose one car he's most proud of because he has memories associated with almost every car. But if he had to talk about a car that "has a story," it would be the two Peugeot 106 model cars. They look quite damaged, but the story behind them is very special. It was when Tuan Anh was too busy playing and didn't study, and his mother, angry with him, threw and broke the two models. From then on, Anh always remembered that to pursue his passion, he had to study hard first.

The library preserves memories.

Recounting his journey of searching for and acquiring his favorite cars, Tuan Anh most vividly remembers spending two years researching and saving money to buy a 1/64 scale model of the Lamborghini Murcielago SV from Hot Wheels, about the size of two fingers. This is one of the rarest cars, and its value is quite high in the collector's market.

"The most expensive car in my collection is a 1/18 scale Pagani Huayra, which cost 6 million VND at the time of purchase. Conversely, the cheapest car I ever bought happened to be a 1/64 scale Pagani Zonda. I bought it at a flea market in France for about 20,000 VND," Tuan Anh recounted.

He said that every model car enthusiast has a passion for cars and probably dreams of owning one of those prototype cars in real life. In 2009, he saw an Opel Astra model in a magazine, which was only sold in Europe. At that time, no manufacturer produced a model of that car, so it was just a dream... By 2021, he had fulfilled this childhood dream: owning both a 1/43 scale Opel Astra model and the original car in real life.

Models of the Lamborghini Murcielago SV *(left)* and Koenigsegg Agera R *(right)* . Both are 1/64 scale and are very rare cars from Hot Wheels.

"In France, 1/18 or 1/64 scale models are not as common as 1/43, a scale I rarely collect. So when I came here, I gradually acquired more of this scale, a fairly balanced one that has the sophistication of larger scale models but is smaller in size, making it easy to carry and display," he said.

Since childhood, Tuan Anh has always carried at least one model car with him wherever he went. He maintains this habit to this day, considering each model a lucky charm. His passion for cars has also significantly influenced his studies. From studying economics in Hue to pursuing a master's degree in graphic design specializing in interface design in France, he has had numerous projects related to automobiles. In particular, in his final year of his graphic design degree, his project was designing the instrument panel behind the steering wheel for a Bugatti Chiron. "No matter what job I do, I always try to stay connected to my passion for cars. That's also a unique aspect I want to pursue," Tuan Anh shared.

For Tuan Anh, the pinnacle of collecting model cars is understanding the car he buys, knowing its story and its connection to the automotive world. An essential part of his collection is that looking at a particular car brings back memories. Therefore, the collection is also a library of memories, not only his own but also those of his parents. "That's the ultimate goal I've always wanted to achieve," Tuan Anh says. (to be continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-vui-suu-tam-do-doc-la-doc-dao-thu-vien-mo-hinh-o-to-185240730222720255.htm