AUTONEWS

Sergio Goldvarg was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and since he was born, he instantly was in love with toy cars, enjoying his “Matchbox” diecasts, but his true scale model car collection passion started when, at his 6th year old birthday and with already three hundred “Matchbox” models, his parents gave him a 1/43 scale Jaguar “D” Type made by the French brand Solido. Since then, this hobby took him by storm and he still collects now, at age 58.

Sergio Goldvarg is an Architect and in 1981 he also started to work as a journalist in motor racing, being the very first journalist in all South America to write about diecast cars.

He has created his weekly column related to Scale model Car Collecting, in 1980 in both CORSA and PARABRISAS Magazines, and later in Ruedas Clasicas and Classic Wheels magazines, and he still writes today.  He wanted to spread his hobby of miniature car collecting among the readers of these prestigious motor car magazines, and little by little, thanks to his efforts, the diecast collecting became popular in Argentina, a country with a tremendous history in motor racing.

His collection is worldwide recognized, especially because he was twice awarded as a GUINNES WORLD OF RECORDS holder, for the first time in 2005 and then, in 2009, with a collection of more than 12,000 model cars.

His collection is built with two different scales: 1/43 and 1/18 and are related, mostly, to Formula One, Sport Prototypes, Rally Cars, Historical cars, Fire Engines, Buses from all over the world, the evolution of the car since it’s very beginning up to nowadays, police cars, etc.

He keeps every single model car since he started to collect in 1962, and what’s most, also he keeps all of them with their original boxes.

Sergio Goldvarg has another achievement in his life as a car passionate, as he was the creator, founder and manufacturer of the very first factory of white metal scale model cars in 1/43 in all South America: “The Goldvarg Collection”. As a collector, he was always searching  for cars that he loved, but that were never manufactured in scale, so he decided to start his own model car industry and create the models that nobody did to add to his own collection, and to other fellow collectors. That’s why, in the Goldvarg models is written: ”From a collector, to the collectors”.

He was proud to see that certain models from his own range, as the Henry J Kaiser and the Packard Woodie station Wagon 1948 were best sellers when compared with other well-established European brands.

It was a very hard task to start the first white metal cars factory in South America, as there was no background of that kind of industry, so he had to create also the machinery needed to the manufacturing process, as no expertise was available.

It took him one year since he started the project, until his very first model was ready, the 1957 Oldsmobile Starfire. When this car was finished, he traveled with his Wife to the USA, and pay a visit in the very first place to Autofanatics  Store in Sherman Oaks, California. When the owner saw the model, he immediately ordered 100 units, and the collectors that were present at that moment in the store wanted to buy his 1957 Oldsmobile, doesn’t matter how much they would ask to be paid for. The Goldvarg Collection range was an instant success and soon orders from around the globe started to came to his office in Buenos Aires.

Soon, the 1946 Chevrolet Stylemaster, the 1951 Chrysler Imperial Limousine and the 1956 Mercury Montclair started to spread all around the world. The 1951 Kaiser Henry J was launched just the same month that his first son, Kevin was born, in August 1991. That’s why, in the baseplate of this miniature is engraved: ”To our son Kevin”.

But when economy started to deteriorate in Argentina he decided to move the production to Great Britain, but costs were very high in that European country. Now, while living in Florida and with many new molds that never went to production, he thinks to re-launch his range.

As a passionate in Formula One racing, in 1997, 98 and 99 he was involved in the organization of the Argentine Formula One Grand Prix, as General Secretary of the race.

Sergio Goldvarg’s diecast collection was on tour many times in South America, with successful exhibits in places such the Renault Museum, the Argentine Automobile Club or the Industrial and Agricultural show at Buenos Aires.

Then, in 2001 Argentina started with political, economical and safety issues, which made Sergio and my wife to take the decision of moving to the United States.

Once established in South Florida, in 2002 he opened the first scale model car related restaurant in the USA, called “Waffleworks” and located in 3265 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood, Florida, still open and with a permanent exhibit of nearly 900 model cars. His idea was to share part of his diecast collection in a place with a unique atmosphere.

Since 2004, Sergio Goldvarg is the New Product Development Advisor for Sunstar, a scale model car manufacturer, mostly in 1/18 scale. Many new models from this manufacturer are Sergio’s projects, as the 1952 Nash Ambassador, 1958 Ford Fairlane 500, 1960 Plymouth Fury, 1956 Mercury Montclair, 1955 Pontiac Star Chief, 1959 Pontiac Bonneville, 1951 Kaiser Henry J, 1959 Mercury Park Lane, 1959 Oldsmobile, etc.

If Sergio has to choose his collection’s favorite scale model car, he would say that it’s the 1966 Batmobile manufactured by Corgi.

Sincerely, the Batmobile created by George Barris was the car of his dreams, since the very first time he saw the show, in January 12, 1966. That dream finally came true when he bought a real one in the USA and shipped straight to Buenos Aires.

Sergio’s Batmobile was the only one worldwide that was registered outside the USA, as the Buenos Aires license plate was needed in order to use the car. People could not believe what they were looking in the street. It was an instant success and it was in the news, TV shows, and charity events.

Now, while living in South Florida, he uses the Batmobile for charity events, many times with Sergio himself in his Batman outfit, helping the City of Hollywood Police Department and the Broward County Sheriff Office.

Classic cars of the sixties are Sergio Goldvarg’s passion and besides the Batmobile, he owns a 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint Bertone  which was part of the official Alfa Romeo team that went to Argentina in occasion of the “VII Gran Premio  Super Naftas YPF”.

He also owns a Volvo P-1800 1962, made in England by Jensen. This is a tribute car to “The Saint” TV show starring Roger Moore. It has even the “ST1” license plate (for Simon Templar, the debonair portrayed by Roger Moore). Among others, he also has a BMW Isetta 1958, an NSU Prinz 1958, a Renault Dauphine Gordini, a 1964 Morris Mini, etc.

In 2011, he wrote his first book about the history of a famous argentine motor racing driver, who was Champion in 1968, Carlos Pairetti. His book was launched in the National Book Fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and it was an instant success.

In January 2014, Sergio Goldvarg was inducted to the DIECAST HALL OF FAME in a ceremony that was held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He still collects scale model cars with the same passion as when he started, fifty one years ago, and he hopes that will be collecting from years to come.

SERGIO GOLDVARG FACTS.

1. He is one of the very few people worldwide to be featured twice in the GUINNESS WORLD OF RECORDS for his collection of scale model cars. He was featured for the first time in 2005 when his scale model car collection had 7,000 cars, and for the second time in 2009, when his collection has grown to 12,000 models.

2. He was the very first journalist in all South America to write about scale model cars in magazines (he started in 1980), and he still does today.

3. He was the very first white metal model car manufacturer in all South America. He created and developed himself “The Goldvarg Collection”, his own range of white metal American cars of the fifties in 1/43 scale.

4. He is permanent Advisor for New Projects Development for Sunstar, the well- known scale model car manufacturer, and he was Advisor for Buby and Collector’s Classics model car ranges.

5. He created the very first restaurant related to scale model cars, “Waffleworks”, located at 3265 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood, Florida. He has there a permanent exhibit of nearly 900 scale model cars every day for the last eleven years.

6. He was the very first scale model car collector in South America to make exhibition tours with his own collection to promote the hobby of diecast collecting.