High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A model car or toy car is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in the general category of model cars. Because many were originally sold as playthings, there is no precise difference between a model car and a toy car, yet the collector hobby became popular in the 1960s and precision detailed miniatures made specifically for adults are an increasing part of the market (Gibson 1970, p. 9; Johnson 1998, p. 5).