For someone whose life revolved around cars, the most personal memorial is a model of their own car - the right generation, the right colour - displayed with something that was theirs, such as their key or a photo of them with it. Generic car-themed memorial items say they liked cars. A model of their car says which car, and everyone who knew them recognises it.
Which car to choose
Many car people had more than one car that mattered. Choose the one the family talks about:
- The one they drove longest - the car everyone pictures them in.
- The one they restored or built - often the one they were proudest of.
- The one they always wanted - if they never owned it, it can still be the right choice.
There is no wrong answer, and some families choose more than one.
Finding the model
You need the generation or model year and the colour. Family photos usually show both; registration papers or a relative can confirm the year. Then search the generation plus "1:64". Everyday cars are sometimes never made as models - in that case the closest casting in the right colour still works. The full search method is in how to get a diecast model of your own car.
What to display with it
| Item | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Their key | The object they touched every day; hung beside the model, it completes the car |
| A photo of them with the car | Puts the person back into the display |
| A nameplate | Their name and the years they had the car - ideas in what the nameplate should say |
| A badge or small part | Only if the car was scrapped or kept in the family and it's yours to take |
Where to put it
Somewhere it is seen every day rather than in a cabinet that stays shut - a hallway, by the front door, beside a photo. A single car on its own reads as a tribute; the same car on a shelf of others reads as part of a collection.
One for each of the family
Because the models are small and the same casting can usually be bought more than once, this is one of the few memorial gifts where every sibling or grandchild can have the same one. If they left a collection of their own, what to do with it is covered in what happens to a diecast collection when you die and displaying a collection you inherited.
FAQ
What is a good memorial gift for someone who loved cars?
A model of their own car in the right generation and colour, displayed with something that was theirs - their key, a photo of them with the car, or a nameplate with their name and years.
How do I find a model of their car?
Find the generation or model year and the colour from family photos or paperwork, then search the generation plus "1:64". If it was never made, choose the closest casting in the right colour.
Which of their cars should I choose?
The one the family associates with them - usually the one they drove longest, the one they restored, or the one they always wanted.
Can every family member have one?
Usually, yes. The same casting can often be bought more than once, so siblings or grandchildren can each keep the same car.
Where should a memorial display go?
Somewhere it is seen every day, such as a hallway or by the front door, with the car on its own rather than among a collection.
The KP Design memorial display
The Infinity Garage is a wall-mounted infinity-mirror case for one 1:64 car, with a key hook built into the underside - so their car and their key can hang together by the door. It lights on its own when someone walks up, with a UV-free 4000K LED on a radar sensor that switches off after about 20 seconds, and it is USB-C rechargeable, so there is no cable on the wall. For a family, multi-buy pricing applies automatically: 15% off two or more, 20% off three or more. Every specification is on the specs page.