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WAR specialise in the sale at auction of ceramics, glassware, jewellery, clocks & watches, collectables, textiles and rugs, silver, metal ware, paintings & fine art, furniture and outside effects.WAR specialise in the sale at auction of ceramics, glassware, jewellery, clocks & watches, collectables, textiles and rugs, silver, metal ware, paintings & fine art, furniture and outside effects.

Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer

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A huge collection of boxed toy cars, trucks and military vehicles are expected to sell for thousands of pounds when they hit the road at an upcoming auction.

The collection of 400 vehicles manufactured by Corgi, Dinky and Triang from the 1950s to 1970s was amassed over the past 40 years by James Castle, a former actor and aeroplane engineer, who is hoping for a bumper return of more than £20,000 at auction.

John Rolfe model cars 6 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
James Castle and auctioneer John Rolfe Pic: Matt Bigwood

Lots range from a 1960s Corgi Toys Lotus Racing Set from the era of iconic Formula 1 driver Jim Clark, which could realise over £500, to a Dinky Supertoys Bedford ‘Heinz Tomato Ketchup’ sauce bottle van with scarce original box.

Gallery by Matt Bigwood

  • John Rolfe model cars 8 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 7 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 6 1 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 5 1 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 4 1 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 9 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 1 1 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 2 1 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 3 1 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
  • John Rolfe model cars 1 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer

“It breaks my heart to let go of my collection, I’m a true collector and as all collectors know you come to love the items like your children” explained James, who once worked alongside legendary British theatre, film and opera director Michael Bogdanov and starred with The National Theatre on stage in Hong Kong, appearing in Hiawatha in the 1980s.

John Rolfe model cars 4 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
James Castle Pic: Matt Bigwood

It was during his time in Hong Kong that his buzz of collecting reached new heights: “I like the idea of Dinky Toys being a hobby that could pay for itself and on the last day in Hong Kong I came across 500 Dinky Toys, stuffed some of them into my bag and brought them back to England. As this is a truly honest original collection, I hope they find the right person. I will attend the sale with a sense of joy and dread!”

The collection will go under the hammer at John Rolfe Auctions, near Tetbury, during a four-day sale from June 29th.

John Rolfe model cars 2 | Rare and valuable toy car collection to go under the hammer
James Castle Pic: Matt Bigwood

Auctioneer and owner John Rolfe said: “We’re really excited to showcase this outstanding collection for our good friend James, who is quite the irrepressible character. It’s staggering that one man alone could amass a collection of this scale. We have a vague idea of what this collection means to James as he hasn’t been home since consigning it to sale!!!”

For more information on the auction go to www.johnrolfeauctions.com

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