Welcome to another personal corner of Homeject. I call this series Collectible Collections, where I share hobbies and projects that have nothing to do with construction but everything to do with passion.
This time, it’s my die-cast car collection.
I’ve spent decades building it, and today it has grown to more than 250 models, all displayed in a custom IKEA DETOLF and BILLY cabinet setup that I designed to show them off the way they deserve.
It All Started With a Single Model
Ever since I was a teenager, I was obsessed with 1:18 scale die-cast cars.
Every birthday or Christmas I’d usually get one or two, and before long I was completely hooked. I remember going to Walmart and picking up Bburago and Maisto model kits, then spending hours putting them together piece by piece. Those early builds from Burago and Maisto sparked a passion that eventually led me to discover premium manufacturers like AutoArt, Kyosho, Minichamps, Norev, Exoto, CMS, Carousel, and many others.
Looking back, I had no idea that one little hobby would turn into a collection that would eventually fill an entire room.
The Hunt Is Half the Fun
Over the years I’ve found cars everywhere—garage sales, estate sales, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target, and anywhere else I happened to stumble across a good deal.
Most collectors look for mint-condition examples. I’m the opposite.
Some of my favorite purchases arrived scratched, dusty, or damaged. I’d bring them home, carefully take them apart, repair them, and repaint them using real automotive paint. Many of those restorations became one-of-a-kind pieces that you simply can’t buy anywhere else.
For me, bringing an old model back to life is just as satisfying as finding it.
More Than 250 Cars… Almost All 1:18 Scale
Today the collection includes over 250 die-cast vehicles.
Nearly all are 1:18 scale, with a handful of larger 1:12 scale models mixed in. My display shelves hold everything from Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi to American muscle cars and Formula One racers — produced by top manufacturers including AutoArt, Kyosho, Minichamps, Norev, Exoto, Burago, Maisto, CMS, Carousel, and many others.
Every car has its own story, and many remind me exactly where I found them.
My DIY IKEA DETOLF and BILLY Display Setup
One question I hear all the time is: “How do you display that many cars?”
The answer is a classic IKEA hack — I built my own die-cast display system by combining IKEA DETOLF glass cabinets with IKEA BILLY Extension bookcases and IKEA OXBERG glass doors on the BILLY base units.
The BILLY Extension units form a sturdy base with extra enclosed storage, while the DETOLF display cabinets sit on top and provide full glass visibility so each model on every display shelf can be appreciated from every angle. The OXBERG glass doors on the lower BILLY section keep the collection dust-free while still looking clean and modern.
One important step in this build: I bolted the DETOLF directly to the BILLY Extension using screws through the back panel. This locks the two units firmly together so there’s no shifting, wobbling, or any risk of the DETOLF sliding off the top. With a heavy die-cast collection, stability is everything — and this one extra step makes the whole setup feel like a single solid piece of furniture.
To make everything stand out even more, I added IKEA LED lighting strips at both the top and bottom of each DETOLF unit — a key part of this IKEA hack that transforms the whole display. At night, the display unit setup feels like a private automotive museum, with every shelf illuminated and every detail on every die-cast model perfectly visible.
It’s one of my favorite DIY IKEA hack projects because it combines organization, function, and stunning presentation — a display unit setup that any serious die-cast collector would appreciate.
I’m putting together a full step-by-step build guide for this IKEA hack — how I stacked the IKEA DETOLF on the IKEA BILLY Extension, added display shelves, wired the IKEA LED lighting top and bottom, and fitted IKEA OXBERG glass doors to the BILLY base — over in my IKEA Hacks section. I’ll link the finished build right here once it’s published.
⚠️ Safety Note: If you replicate this build, always bolt the DETOLF to the BILLY and anchor the full assembly to a wall stud using the anti-tip hardware IKEA provides. Die-cast models are heavy — a full DETOLF shelf can hold a significant amount of weight. An unsecured tall display can tip. I anchored mine to the wall and strongly recommend you do the same. Build smart, collect safely.
My Latest Addition
One of the newest cars to join the collection is an AUTOart BMW M3 E36 Warsteiner Edition.
It’s a limited-production model that’s not easy to find, and I was thrilled to finally add one to the display. Moments like that are what keep this hobby exciting after all these years.
This Collection Is Still Growing
Even after collecting for decades, I’m still looking for the next interesting find — whether it’s a rare Exoto, a limited Minichamps, or a hard-to-find Kyosho or Norev piece to add to the display shelf.
I’ll continue updating this page with new photos, restorations, custom paint projects, and rare additions as the collection grows.
And while I have plenty of other collections around the house, this one will always be special.
Sometimes all it takes is one die-cast car to start a hobby. A few years later, you suddenly realize you’re measuring your IKEA BILLY Extension for more space and figuring out where on the display shelf to place number 251.
Disclosure: HOMEJECT is an independent DIY project journal and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by IKEA or any other brand mentioned. Product names such as SEKTION, PAX, KUNGSFORS, DETOLF and BILLY are trademarks of their respective owners, used here for identification and descriptive purposes only (nominative fair use). This post documents a personal build and is not an official installation guide.
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