NASCAR diecast collectors who also like a bit of gambling have several avenues to enjoy both pastimes. Several online retailers, and more than a few eBay sellers, offer “mystery boxes” in which a set number of diecasts or other NASCAR memorabilia is packaged up and offered for a set price. Prolific retailers offering these mystery boxes include The Racing Warehouse, Diecast Direct and Diecast Depot.

Diecast Depot has several such options as of this writing. Diecast collectors can order six 1/64 Action NASCAR diecasts from 2017 to the present for $34.99, a 1/64 six-pack of mystery “top driver” diecasts for $39.95 or a two mystery 1/64s for $12.99.

Also offered are several 1/24-scale mystery boxes, including six Action-produced Chevrolet diecasts or six Ford Action or Team Caliber diecasts for $149.99. Another option, for $99.99, is a mystery box of four 1/24 diecasts. According to Diecast Depot, these cars “can include not quite perfect pieces (returned for paint chips, broken pieces, blow out cars, old stock, wrong boxes, etc.).” The listing states these diecasts are “Great for customs, and also a good cheap way to help kids to start learning how to collect.”

Diecast Mag purchased one of these four-pack mystery boxes earlier this year. What did it contain?

-Jeff Gordon 2006 DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo (Action)

-Jerry Nadeau 1999 Cartoon Network The Jetsons Ford Taurus (Action)

-Bobby Labonte 2000 MLB All-Star Game Pontiac Grand Prix (Revell)

-Larry Pearson 1999 Cheez-It Busch Series Pontiac Grand Prix (Revell)

In short, all four 1/24s are from the height of the diecast boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

All boxes had some shelf wear, and Pearson’s Cheez-It box had a snag on the top, creating a small hole. However, the four diecasts, and two plastic cases for the Revell-branded cars, are without blemish.

I was hoping for some newer diecasts, some of those mentioned in the listing as “not perfect pieces.” These minor imperfections ultimately wouldn’t matter since my plan was to use whatever diecasts I received as donors for customs. But because diecast production numbers were so high in the era from which these cars raced, most cars from then are obtainable without a need to make a custom. Plus, with my strict collection of only food/drink sponsored cars, the options for customs are limited.

As such, I might go the untraditional route with one or two of these diecasts for customs. In the past I’ve made “time-travel” customs, such as creating Buddy Baker’s Red Baron on a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo or Tim Richmond’s Folger’s ride on a 2020 Camaro. I also plan to give my daughter one or two. Perhaps it will be the start of her collection.

Ultimately, my “gamble” on the mystery diecast box didn’t quite work to my favor as all these cars can be purchased for around or less than $25, which is what I paid for each of them. Still, part of the excitement was wondering what I’d get, and isn’t that half the fun of gambling anyway?

Note: Diecast Mag is not affiliated with Diecast Depot or any of the retailers mentioned in this article. The mystery box was purchased by the author at full price for personal purposes.