30 years of CMC: what the 2026 catalogue means for collectors
Thirty years ago, a small company from Fellbach set out to build model cars the way nobody else did: by hand, from thousands of parts, without compromise. In 2026, CMC Classic Model Cars celebrates its 30th anniversary — and has published a catalogue that is both a look back and a statement of intent. A milestone that means more than a footnote for Swiss collectors too. Here is what matters.
The 2026 novelties at a glance
The headliner was unveiled at Retro Classics 2026 in Stuttgart: a new family of Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198) road cars in 1:18, coming in several configurations — hardtop, soft-top roadster and open variants — with fully opening panels, individually mounted dashboard instruments and CMC's signature multi-layer paint. Also announced: an Alfa Romeo P3, dedicated to Alfa Romeo's 116th anniversary, and — the choice that delighted us most — a Ferrari 375, the very car that gave Scuderia Ferrari its first Formula 1 victory at Silverstone in 1951. On 14 July that triumph turns exactly 75 — a story we tell in our anniversary article. Price-wise the novelties are likely to sit at the level of recent CMC releases — premium stays premium.
From racing W194 to road-going W198
The new 300 SL has a distinguished ancestor — and it stands in our shop. The gullwing road car of 1954 grew directly out of the W194 racing coupé that dominated the 1952 season. Our CMC 300 SL (W194) from the 1952 Grand Prix of Bern, in Hermann Lang's #20 livery, is the racing chapter of the same story the 2026 novelties continue on the road — and incidentally one of the few models in the CMC range with a direct Swiss racing connection.
What an anniversary does to a collection
Anniversary years are good years to take stock. CMC produces in limited runs and never reissues retired models — every new catalogue therefore quietly closes the door on older references, and prices for sought-after retired pieces tend to firm up. If a model you have long circled is still available at a fair price, an anniversary year is historically not a bad moment to act. It is also worth noting that current CMC novelties have become substantially more expensive than the classic references of the 2000s and 2010s — which makes well-preserved, honestly graded earlier models all the more attractive. We have watched the secondary market for years: after big catalogue vintages, demand for the classics regularly rises with them.
How to recognise a good CMC model
If you are buying your first CMC — a novelty or a retired reference — pay attention to three things. First, completeness: many CMC models come with a certificate, original carton and accessories, and on the collector market that makes a tangible price difference. Second, paint quality: CMC's multi-layer finish is robust but sensitive to improper cleaning — fine hazing or dull patches are a warning sign. Third, the filigree parts: wire-spoke wheels, leather straps and brass details are the heart of a CMC model and at the same time its most vulnerable spot. At AMS we check exactly these points on every piece and document them in the condition grade — so you know what is in the box before you buy.
Our take
CMC turning 30 confirms what collectors have long known: hand-built quality at this level is rare, and it does not get cheaper. We congratulate Fellbach — and keep doing our part in Switzerland: sourcing, grading and documenting the models that made the brand's reputation. You will find the current selection, from Silver Arrows to Ferrari classics, in our CMC collection.