In fact, Norev dominated the results in historic fashion, placing three models within the Top Five—the strongest performance by any brand to date. Collectively, those entries accounted for 1,849 votes, representing an impressive 42% of all ballots cast. Simply put: wow. An absolute masterclass in execution and value, and a result that is thoroughly deserved. If you haven’t taken a closer look at Norev recently, now is the time. What the team has delivered over the past few years has firmly positioned them as one of the best values in the hobby—and we suspect many collectors would agree.

Taking first runner-up honours is GP Replicas with their compelling Ferrari 126 CK #27, a model that continues to resonate with Formula One enthusiasts. Special recognition also goes to CMC, which placed two models in the Top Ten for the first time ever—a notable milestone for the brand. Meanwhile, Almost Real made a strong impression with the elegant Pagani Huayra Dinastina Yazi, while MotorHelix and LCD Models rounded out this year’s Top Ten with excellent showings of their own.

As with any large-scale vote, the process itself offered lessons. It became clear that certain individuals were willing to go considerable lengths to influence the outcome—you know who you are. As a result, we implemented additional safeguards for the first time in the award’s history, including mandatory voter registration. While this added an extra step for participants, it was a necessary measure to preserve the integrity of the vote. To everyone who took the time to register and cast their vote fairly: thank you.

Another takeaway was equally revealing. Despite large followings across various social media platforms (ours and manufacturers included), converting those numbers into actual votes proved more challenging than expected. It has led us to question the true impact—and authenticity—of social media engagement. Are storefront impressions always an accurate reflection of genuine community sentiment?

The voting process even sparked debate within our own team. Some suggested the award was drifting toward a popularity contest. Perhaps there’s some truth to that—but isn’t popularity, to a degree, the essence of an open vote? Others have proposed removing public voting entirely in favour of a curated selection committee. That approach has merit, but it’s also a departure from the core principle on which DiecastSociety.com was founded: community-driven participation.

These are important questions, and ones we’ll continue to revisit throughout the year. We’d love to hear from you:

1. Do you support the current voting system?
2. Should the DS team select the winner instead?
3. Or is it time to rethink the award altogether?

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted and participated. Thank you as well to our immediate team for their candid feedback and honesty. And of course, thank you to all the brands that made this year’s shortlist—this hobby does not move forward without your passion, innovation, and continued commitment to excellence.