Shopping for vintage car toys and models in Wichita

If you’re into vintage car collectables, the Internet is a blessing and a curse.  On the plus side, someone will eventually offer anything you could possibly want up for sale no matter how rare it is.  But the likelihood that you’ll stumble upon a bargain is pretty remote.  And it really takes away from the fun of scrounging around to find that hidden treasure.  That’s why sometimes you need to get offline and check out the real world.  We did that last weekend when we stopped at the huge Mid-America Flea Market at the Kansas Coliseum and the Paramount Antique Mall in Wichita, Kan.  I found hundreds of interesting car models, toys, parts, and more. 

56th-Annual Starbird-Devlin Custom Car Show. The pride of Wichita

When you think of the early days of car customizing, it’s easy to think that everything worth talking about came from California.  But as it turns out, not every famous car was built by George Barris.  Wichita, Kan., was the unofficial home to one of those A-list builders, a guy by the name of Darryl Starbird.  Starbird created the bubble-topped Predicta, the Lil’ Coffin that was immortalized in model kit and Hot Wheels form, and the Big T, among others.  And for more than a half-century, he has also promoted a big indoor car show in Wichita.  This weekend, I was able to take in the 56th-Annual Starbird-Devlin Car Show at the Century II Arena.  Let’s take a look at some of the fun stuff that was on-hand.