The value gap, between popular and unwanted vintage automobiles, is becoming more pronounced. Modern collectors are educated and selective · evaluating rarity according to the history of a vehicle. This lead to an unattainability for rare and historically significant vehicles. Can there be a middle ground, between classic car investors and those involved in the classic car community, so these vehicles can be accessible to everyone?



   Of course not. The only cause for augmenting or reducing any price is demand and offer. Of course, as usual, demand is driving offer and demand in classic cars is based on desirability. That is why luxurious limousines are so cheap (given that nobody is willing to feel like a chauffeur), on the contrary to sports and racing cars. Especially racing cars eligible for the most popular historic racing or regularity events like LeMans classic, Historic Monaco, Mille Miglia etc are more desirable.





   A large part of modern investors are people, who are not interested in cars and automobile history and are just involved in investment, can this create a market oversaturation?



   Investors who care only for value augmentation, will always exist, but there are reasons that keep them close to only very expensive cars. At first, an expensive car needs a correct and safe place to be kept in security, an insurance and strict service program, even if it does not move at all. Farther to this, investor needs too much knowledge to decide a purchase and extremely thorough initial survey for originality and especially, continuous history etc. With prices for significant racing cars between five and thirty-five (for the time being) million euros, a car can be totally reconstructed today in case somebody can prove specific chassis ownership, but then comes the question of continuous history. Further to complications above, liquidation of a car is not as easy, compared to stocks and bonds.





   Baby Boomers, are responsible for the creation, of the Classic-Car Nostalgia Market. Recently, there is a looming fear, that they could crash it. All the auction houses have been subjected to a drop-in sale rates, following the declining interest in automobile investing. Can this be attributed, only to a lack of interest and the present state of the world economy?



   What is happening with car price today, is the correction which quite rationally is occurring in classic car prices, after a period of strong rise which ended in 2016. Contrary to the above, prices of extremely desirable and relatively expensive sports cars, have not eased at all, while prices of very expensive sports cars are still going strong but with a slower pace, while baby boomers from evolving economies are still entering a market where the number of items for sale is almost fixed.





   Millennials have their own idea, of the vehicles that are worth owning and preserving. The trend, of collecting contemporary vehicles, can decline the interest in vintage automobiles?



   This is a good sign, concerning classic car market, showing that millennials have already an interest for collecting cars, which has been adapted for the time being in their budget.




   Organized societies have a thriving, self-organized Vintage Car Scene. Can state intervention, create inevitable consequences, in the ownership and maintenance costs, for classic car owners?



   Culture sensitive states, which might have some reservations on classic car ownership, maintenance and use on the roads, since 2016 have got UNESCO’s clear position, protecting classic cars and resolving issues above. Concerning states with mentality of the “Edebe” period UGANDA, there is a matter of time to be educated in historic cars culture.

   Your catalogue of releases is vast, consisting of large and small kits in various levels of complexity. Some of them are: Atonement | Deputy Betty | Eternal Crusader just to name a few. What is the thought process, behind making these models and what are your sources of inspiration, that you draw from, as a sculptor?



   To be honest Ι try to have a large variety of themes and complexities. Ιnspiration comes from all around me. Books, games, movies, religion, mythology, stories and so on. A good idea, can appear from the smallest things.




   Nowdays, there’s a lot of sculpt and model artists, resulting in the oversaturation of the fantasy scale model market. What is the thought process and technique, that differentiate your kits, making them unique and truly your own?



   You are 100% right. Too many sculptors / Τoo many models. My philosophy is to give modelers · models that are "Scratch Built Quality". This means, high detailed and complex.I also think that originality is very important!




   Your model philosophy, has the ease of assembly in mind, making painting and detailing, the kit's primary focus. Miniature painting can sometimes be difficult, due to the patience and time needed, for its fine details. Who are the people, you collaborate with, so such a high-end, level of quality can be achieved, in the sculp, cast, painting and photography of your models?



   First of all, I try to work with people that are really good at what they do, but also like and respect as a person. I photoshoot the miniatures myself. The casting company I work with, is a Greek company named "YS Masterpieces", that can provide me the quality needed.

   I work with are a lot of painters from all around the world, choosing each one depending on the project and the painters personal style. I am working with master painters like Francesco Farabi, Michal Pisarski, Christos Panagiotou, Kyriakos Simos and A LOT of others.




   The quality of cast and packaging puts your kits in high-end product territory, recently "Atonement" was a complex and fine detailed project. What are your next projects and what the scale model community, can expect from your future works?



   The next big project, is "Apocalypse". The four horsemen of apocalypse in 54mm scale. This model, has already won Crystal Brush in Chicago and the Best of Show in MFCA - Philadelphia USA. It will be a collectors edition and the most complex kit I have ever produced.




   Your kits, were produced and currently available through a crowd funding campaign over Indiegogo, also you run “Michael Kontraros Collectibles”, a company dedicated to producing and selling, high quality figures, for fantasy enthusiasts. How, can the readers, get hold of your kits and are there any future events and shows, were your work, can be displayed in person?




   My full line of products, can be found at my company's e-shop at www.mkontraros.com


   We also attend, a lot of shows all around the world. This year, we are planning to attend the following:

• "Euro Miniature Expo" - September in the UK.
• "Scale Model chalenge" - October in The Netherlands.
• "Monte San Savino show" - November in italy.

I hope to see and meet everyone there!