Pop Race Brand Spotlight: September 2026

Pop Race is a 1:64 diecast brand that models car culture rather than showroom cars: Pandem and Liberty Walk widebodies, RWB Porsches, RE-Amemiya rotaries, drift cars and plenty of chrome. In this September 2026 spotlight we look at what makes Pop Race different, the models catching our eye at the moment and the pre-orders worth putting your name down for.

What makes Pop Race different?

Most 1:64 brands start with a car as it left the factory. Pop Race usually starts with what happened to it next. Instead of a standard Toyota GR86 you get a Pandem widebody GR86 in a drift livery, and instead of a stock Porsche 911 you get an RWB 930 with Akira Nakai's trademark arches and wing.

The range leans on well-known names from the tuning and restomod world, including Pandem, Liberty Walk, RWB, RE-Amemiya, Spoon, Mugen, Top Secret and Singer. Because the models follow real builds, the arches, wings, wheels and liveries are based on cars you can look up in photos from shows and drift events. If you follow that scene, you'll recognise them straight away.

Pop Race isn't shy with paint either. Chrome turns up right across the range, from silver and blue chrome to the moodier Dark Chrome Series, alongside matte, pearl and Carbon Edition versions. Some releases have opening bonnets with engine detail underneath, and there are accessories to build a scene around, such as a Pandem Mitsubishi Fuso flatbed transporter and a set of team crew figures.

Pop Race highlights this month

These are the models we'd point a friend towards right now. Stock changes quickly, so check each listing for its current status.

Mazda 787B and other racing cars

The rotary-engined Mazda that won Le Mans in 1991 is one of the best-loved Le Mans cars of all, and its orange and green livery looks brilliant at this size. The Pop Race Mazda 787B Le Mans winner is one of our best-selling Pop Race models and a natural centrepiece for a Le Mans or Japanese motorsport display. Elsewhere in the racing range you'll find the 2019 Ford GT GTE Pro from Le Mans, the Honda NSX GT3 Evo22 and, for fans of British touring cars, a 1988 BTCC Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Drift cars

Drift fans are well looked after. The Pandem GR86 in Daigo Saito's Formula Drift Japan 2022 livery is a good place to start, as Saito is one of Japan's best-known drift drivers. There's also a Pandem GR86 in ADVAN colours, a GR Yaris in Evangelion Racing's Goodride livery, and V8-swapped Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines for anyone who likes their classics loud.

RE-Amemiya rotaries

RE-Amemiya is a Japanese tuner that specialises in Mazda's rotary-engined cars, and Pop Race has made several of its builds. The RE-Amemiya widebody RX-7 in blue chrome shows off Pop Race's love of a bold finish, and FC3S RX-7s and an RX-8 are in the range too.

Supercars as the factory built them

Not everything is modified. The McLaren F1 in Jet Black is a smart model of the 1990s supercar, and the range also covers the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 and Huracán STO, and the Pagani Zonda R. The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Carbon Edition is a good halfway house: a GT3 race car in a special finish.

Shop and event exclusives

Pop Race makes a lot of exclusives for particular shops and events, such as Tokyo Auto Salon editions and the Tokyo Station Exclusives in coloured chrome. Because each one is made for a single occasion, these are usually the hardest Pop Race models to find later, so they're the ones to grab when you see them.

Pop Race pre-orders worth a look

Many new Pop Race models are listed as pre-orders well before they arrive. At the time of writing, the list includes the LB Super Silhouette S15 Silvia in white and orange, Pandem E30s in several colours, a Singer Targa in silver and more Dark Chrome Series cars. The new-tooling RWB 930 in matte black Stella Artois livery has been one of the most popular so far.

Pre-order dates come from the manufacturer and are estimates. They often move, so please treat any date on a listing as a guide rather than a promise. Our pre-order information page explains how pre-orders work. And if you're buying several models, our Build a Box service lets you enter the code BUILD at checkout so we hold your orders and send them together in one parcel.

How to choose your next Pop Race model

• Pick a theme. A shelf of Pandem cars or a row of RWB Porsches looks far more considered than a random mix.
• Think about the finish. Chrome looks fantastic under lights but shows fingerprints and marks more than paint, so it suits collectors who keep models in a case.
• Look up the real car. A quick search for the build or the driver tells you the story behind the model, and it's a good way to work out which ones matter to you.
• Mix and match at 1:64. Pop Race sits comfortably next to Mini GT, Inno64 and Tarmac Works, so you can fill gaps from our wider 1:64 range.

Looking after chrome and special finishes

Chrome and pearl paint are a big part of Pop Race's appeal, and they need a little care. Handle models by the base where you can, because fingerprints show up straight away on chrome. Dust with a soft, clean make-up brush rather than a cloth, which can drag grit across the finish. Keep your display out of direct sunlight, as UV light fades paint and yellows clear plastic over time. Hang on to the boxes as well: they protect models in storage or when you move house, and many collectors prefer a model with its original packaging.

FAQs

Is Pop Race diecast?

Yes. Pop Race makes 1:64 scale diecast model cars with plastic detail parts, made with collectors in mind.

What scale are Pop Race models?

Pop Race works in 1:64, the same scale as Mini GT, Inno64 and Tarmac Works, so they display well together. At that scale a typical sports car is around 7 cm long.

Are Pop Race models limited editions?

Some are. Shop and event exclusives are made for one occasion and can be hard to find once they've gone. For regular releases, pre-ordering gives you the best chance of getting the model you want.

When will my Pop Race pre-order arrive?

The date on the listing is the manufacturer's estimate, and it often moves, so treat it as a rough guide. Our pre-order information page has the full details.

Browse everything in stock and on pre-order in our Pop Race collection.