Minichamps is a die-cast car producer founded as Paul’s Model Art GmbH in 1990 in Aachen, Germany, best known for its 1:43 scale models. The company grew out of the Danhausen trade catalog of miniature vehicles and specially made Danhausen diecast releases during the 1970s, and was officially named Minichamps GmbH in 1996.
The first Paul’s Model Art diecast car made by Minichamps was created in 1990; a 1:43 scale GTC Audi V8 driven by Hans-Joachim Stuck. By 1995 Minichamps was manufacturing more than 110 different castings in several hundred different racing liveries and three different scales – and sponsoring real racing cars (Paul’s Model Art 2005).
The excellent quality of Minichamps die-cast models has been appreciated by car manufacturers, many of whom, like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Opel and BMW, have licensed it to produce official promotional replicas. Additionally, model car collectors have sought out some of the company’s 1/43 scale models paying very high prices.
Minichamps produces die-cast models of Formula One cars and other racing cars, street cars, 1:12 scale motorcycles, trucks & buses, and military vehicles. Cars in 1:43 scale have exceptional detail including items like badges in the center of steering wheels and hubcaps, and separately molded parts for windshield visors, door handles, air vents, headlight lamp lenses, and hood badges.