Amalgam Collection has earned its place at the very top of the scale model world for a simple reason. Few companies are willing to go as far as to capture the true essence of the automobile. Founded in 1985 in Bristol, England, Amalgam’s models, from motorsport icons to modern-day exotic, command a premium, but their creations take thousands of hours to complete, with 1:8 scale being the most popular.
That commitment to perfection is on full display at Rétromobile Paris 2026, where Amalgam occupies a central position inside the inaugural Ultimate Supercar Garage. It marks one of the company’s most expansive presentations to date and continues the momentum built throughout 2025, a year defined by deeper manufacturer collaborations and increasingly ambitious projects.
Last year’s highlights include: The McLaren MCL39 collection, produced at 1:8 and 1:18 scale, based on the championship-winning cars that secured both Drivers and Constructors titles in Formula 1 in 2025. Endurance racing received equal attention, with weathered Ferrari 499P models capturing the physical reality of Le Mans victories in 2023 and 2025. A Porsche 550 RS Spyder “Little Bastard,” paired with a James Dean figure, shows just how far Amalgam is willing to go to document some of the most significant stories in automotive history, highlighted by their curated collection.
Their manufacturing process is extensive. Modern cars start with original CAD data supplied directly by manufacturers, with even the simplest modern models involving more than 1,200 unique parts. Historic cars follow a longer path and can often include 2,500 individual parts, each created as an original master before production begins. Original examples are scanned, then cross-referenced with period photography and archival material before being rebuilt digitally, part by part. From there, components are machined, cast, or 3D printed, and paint is mixed to factory specifications and baked using real automotive processes.
When you look at an Amalgam model up close, you are essentially looking at a scaled-down version of the original machine. Every panel line, fastener, and surface finish exists because it exists on the real car. That behind-the-scenes effort reached a wider audience through Petrolicious’ feature, which documented the people, tools, and patience behind the process.
At Amalgam’s Rétromobile exhibit this year, you can expect more than scale cars. If you are able to attend the event before Sunday, you will also be able to look at Fine Art Prints by Alan Thornton, offering an alternative perspective on automotive form, light, and proportion, and a quieter way to engage with the same machines beyond their physical form.
Images: Amalgam Collection
