2020 marks 30 years since I started my model car collection. The first one was a blue Jaguar V12 by Solido. I got it as a present for "swimming diploma" as a seven-year old on the 14th of July 1990. What better way to mark the occasion of 30-years of model collecting than to celebrate my thirty favourite models?

Choosing favourites is never easy, particularly if there is so much to choose from. In thirty years my collection has expanded to nearly 350 model cars! And although there is the occasional dud, virtually each and every one is special and precious in some way. So what makes a favourite, then? As with all matters of the heart, there are no hard rules, no fixed criteria. But after first carefully picking my favourites on intuition, in hindsight there seems to have been some logic to what makes a favourite. Here is my top-30, in no particular order but grouped by the reasons for which they were selected in the top-30 favourites.

#1-3 Favourites... because of their sheer beauty

For some people, cars will never be anything more than a commodity. But, for others - myself included - they can be works of art. These three cars stand out in my collection because of their sheer beauty. The late 1960s are often hailed as the best era of car design and these three models are perfect examples to illustrate that. The coupé bodystyle is considered a car designer's favourite, as the low-slung profile of such cars make it easier to obtain stunning proportions. What makes these model cars extra special are the marvellous colour combinations of the exterior and interior. First the 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (W113) by Minichamps in splendid golden hue and creme beige interior. It was an absolute design sensation when first launched. Its distinctive concave roof - which gave the car its nickname "Pagoda" - was not to everyone's tastes, but - if today's auction prices are anything to go by - seen as integral part of its desirability. Second, the 1972 Volvo P1800 ES by Minichamps beautifully combines an icy light blue with a crayon light grey interior. Its unique bodystyle is akin to a shooting brake, a cross-over between sports coupé and station car. Later Volvos such as the 480 and C30 were heavily inspired on it. Finally, the 1973 Peugeot 504 Coupé by Norev showcases brown can be a stunning colour for car, both inside and out. The Pininfarina design is timelessly beautiful, as far as I am concerned.

#4-5 Favourites... because of their eccentricity

These cars are absolute eye catchers! They stand out from the collection for their eccentric design. The Citroën DS/ID - here as 1969 ID Break by Norev - is a car like no other. It is no exaggeration to say that Citroën left the world awe-struck in 1955 when launching its DS saloon. The level of technological innovation was unrivalled and the design simply out of this world. This post-face lift (i.e. with the rotating headlamps) Break version in fresh apple green is still every bit as eccentric as when it was first introduced. An altogether very different, but no means less eccentric car is the white 1970 Opel Kapitän, here as a model by Minichamps. Although the influences of extravagant American car design were not as strong as a decade or so earlier, this Kapitän demonstrates humongous cars with American styling were still desirable in the 1970s. The Kapitän and its even more luxurious siblings Admiral and Diplomat were perfect cars then for those who wanted a large, brash (see the subtle red interior...) and luxurious vehicle, and for whom a Benz was either too expensive or too conservative.

#6-9 Favourites... for their 1980s mundaneness

As a child of the 1980s, I remember the streets being brimmed with average family hatchbacks. In the Netherlands, this was first and foremost the Opel Kadett, which held the number #1 position in the sales chart every single year in the 1980s. Although I do have various Opels Kadett in my collection, my favourite 80s hatchback models are the 1984 Volkswagen Golf II by Minichamps (I love its basic no-frills design; austere motoring at its very best - a right wing mirror was optional even on this Grand Luxe"), the 1985 Volvo 340 Winner by Neo Scale Models (the oh-so-dull Dutch-built Volvo, which was essentially a DAF - they dared to call the entry level version Winner, whilst it it was o-so mediocre), the 1980 Fiat Ritmo by IXO (rust-prone would be an under-statement, but I love the play on symmetry in its design - those wheels are really cool), and the 1983 Renault 11 by Norev (you can trust the French to build a characterful hatchback - also here I love the wheels with their pepper pot design).

#10-12 Favourites... for their general desirability

Car magazines always write about the concept of desirability; a hard-to-pin-down set of characteristics that evoke the desire to go for a nice drive. These three models definitely meet this highly subjective standard of desirability. Alfa and BMW are two of the most desirable brands for car fanatics like myself. Having owned two BMWs myself, I know BMW can be trusted to engineer the pleasure of driving in every one of its cars. This stunning Minichamps model of a 1979 BMW 733i of the E23 generation is my favourite BMW model car. The colour scheme is perfect 1970s and I love the aggressive shark nose and detailed multi-spoke alloys.

Choosing the favourite Alfa in my collection was more difficult; so I added two (well actually three... one more to come further down). Although I never owned an Alfa, it is brand I most admire. In the early 1980s I would have definitely aspired to own an Alfetta. The simple elegant lines that dominate the design are very accurately portrayed in this Neo Scale Model. As for the full size-car, the characterful boxer engines and sporty driving dynamics would have completed the desirable package. The other favourite Alfa included here is the 164, by Minichamps. Perhaps not as outright sporty as the Alfetta due to its front-wheel drive layout, but I have always loved the design. The sleek lines find their climax in the horizontal rear-light bar, a design feature it proudly shares with the Porsche 911 of the time...

#13-16 Favourites... for their build quality

Mercedes-Benz and Volvo both are reputed to build sturdy and robust cars, but of course these four models (1986 Volvo 740 Estate, 1987 Mercedes-Benz W124, 1980 Mercedes-Benz W123 and 1986 Volvo 240) are not included here as my favourites for the reliability of the real-world cars, but for the excellent build quality of the scale models, all by Minichamps. From the moment I bought my first-ever Minichamps model, a 1994 Ford Mondeo SW - I have loved the attention to detail, the sturdy, weighty feel of the models and the accurate proportions of Minichamps models. I also love that Minichamps does not necessarily build the top-of-the range models, like many other model manufacturers do. The wheel-covers on the W124 (scandalous if you consider the high price), the colour steel hub caps on the W123, the basic steel wheels on the 740 and the simple plastic wheel covers on the 240 are all indicative of the base-model spec of these miniatures.

#17-19 Favourites... because of their general desirability

Whereas the four Mercedes and Volvo Minichamps models discussed above were added to my collection as "youngtimer" models, the three Minichamps models here represent my best "in-period" buys, i.e. cars I bought when they were available new. I always adored the Saab 9-5 model car, added to my collection in December 1997. The three-spoke Aero wheels are beautiful and the sturdy look of the car is beautifully conveyed. The model car itself is exceptionally heavy. The Volvo C70 Convertible is a special car in my collection; it is not only the number #100, it is also the last one I added before the turn of the century, on 27 December 2000. From the moment I set my eyes on it, I fell in love with the deep green hue with pearl effect. An advantage of any convertible model is also that you can have an unhindered look into the interior, in this case fitted with luxurious beige leather trim on the seats and steering wheel rim. The final in-period Minichamps favourite is the Alfa Romeo 156. I remember the launch of the 156 was quite a sensation, for its absolutely beautiful design. Apart from the perfect proportions, it is in my view the striking foldline over the flanks – only interrupted by the chromed front door handles – that contribute particularly to the car’s beauty. Other stand-out features include the typical v-shaped “scudetto”, the elongated tail lights, and the hidden rear-door door handles in the bottom corner of the rear window. The 156 is extra-special in my collection, because it was the car my mum brought with her, and showcased during her speech, at my wedding. It reinstated my hobby of collecting model cars, which had gone dormant for 10-or-so years. Five years later, my collection has roughly doubled in size...

#20-23 Favourites... because of the emotional connection

My very first model car was the car my grandfather had at the time, a Jaguar V12. Unknowingly, that first car was not just the start of my collection as a whole, but also the beginning of my desire to collect the cars my grandfather and parents owned over the years. The excellent Norev model of the Renault 21 Nevada is the favourite among my parents' cars. It's the car they owned from 1991 to 1997, from when I was 8 to when I was 14. I recall the many hours me and my brother spent in the third row of seats on our many holidays to Italy. I also recall its very poor record of reliability: three engines in six years are but a short summary of the head aches this car caused us. The car in my collection is virtually identical to the one we had; same colour, same wheel covers, same roof rails... It's a pity the second rear bench is missing.

The same is true for my grandfather's Volvo 760, here as a model car by Neo Scale Models. I love this model - the car he owned when I was born - because it is identical to the car he had. Although I was too young to remember this car, I do remember the later anthracite-coloured 760 he owned afterwards. My most vivid memory of the car is the clicking sound of the red warning signal at the roof console for not wearing a seat belt.

The third favourite with "emotional connection" is the Volvo Amazon. My grandfather owned this car between 1968 and 1970. The iconic rounded, almost bulbous design with pronounced shoulder line – including the slight tailfins indicative of the car’s 1950s origins – make it one of Volvo's greatest designs, beautifully represented here by Minichamps. Of course, by the time I was born, this car had long moved to a new owner, but as I kid I was the proud owner of one of the typical steel “V” hub caps that my grandfather found in the 1990s when clearing out his garden shed.

The final car in this category of favourites is my own car. Following in my grandfather's footsteps I have been always keen to own desirable, luxurious cars, budget permitting. From a chic Lancia Ypsilon, through to great BMW coupés, I reached proper heights with the ownership of this 2019 Porsche Macan, here represented in a model by Spark. Kindly gifted to me by my brother, this model perfectly conveys the muscular stance of the real thing. A great model to have, particularly in the future for when this gas-guzzling V6 will be a distant memory in a world dominated by silent electric vehicles...

#24 Favourite... because it is ultra-cool

My model car collection is mostly focused on the day-to-day hatchbacks, saloons and station cars of the 1960s to 1990s, but I do also have the occasional sports car and this is the ultimate. This 1980 Porsche 911 Turbo by Kyosho is a perfect representation of what makes a 911 such a thing of beauty: simple lines, great proportions and sublime detailing.

#25-29 Favourites for their odd-ball character

My collection is full of cars that wouldn't go amiss at the Festival of the Unexceptional, the yearly event where the humdrum daily runabouts of foregone days are celebrated. Some of the cars that populated our streets in the 1970s and 1980s deserve to be among my all-time favourites for their extra dose of character. First up is the 1977 Renault 30, here as a model by Norev. I have always had a soft spot for this car. It is perhaps not exactly beautiful, but in a class where most rivals (e.g. Peugeot 505, Volvo 240, Alfa Romeo Alfetta) were saloon cars, the long-nosed hatchback profile gave the car perhaps a distinctive edge, without being quite as eccentric as the Citroën CX.

Second is the 1979 Citroën GSA, by Universal Hobbies. The unintelligible dashboard controls on steering wheels satellites and the hydropneumatic suspension are but two of the standout characteristics that made this car a bit of an oddball choice. Third, we have the 1979 Fiat 131 Supermirafiori, by IXO. Perhaps at first sight a somewhat unremarkable design - a simple four-door saloon - but on closer inspection it is a characterful design. The chunky front and rear light clusters are a nice contrast to the swage line that is slightly curving up at the rear side window and the gently downward sloping trunk. Details such as the turbine wheels and the model designation integrated within the rear-light clusters give it some additional character.

Fourth car among the odd-ball favourites is the Skoda 120, by IXO. It was terrifically popular with left-leaning motorists looking for cheap, cheerful and roomy wheels. Driving characteristics were said to be abominable; they weight of the engine at the back giving it scarily light steering and precious little grip in the wet.

Final honours here are for the Citroën Acadiane (1981), a car that excelled in the simplicity of its design and engineering. I recall being transported on the side benches in the rear of one as a four- or five-year old, when being picked up by one of my classmate's mum after school. This model is by Norev.

#30 Favourite as a random recent new addition to my collection

In a bid to cover the history of the major car brands over the period from the early 1960s to late 1990s I continue to grow my collection. My recent focus has been on expanding the collection of Opels and one of my recent favourites is this 1969 Opel Commodore A. Of course, it is a Minichamps model. It stands out for its excellent detailing, faultless paint and accurate proportions. As a child, I never understood how my car-loving grandfather could have owned Opel cars. By the 1980s they had become the no-frills choice of pretty much 1 in 5 Dutch car owners. This model car nicely illustrates the Opel did make beautiful cars, so maybe his choice of driving a Opel Rekord in 1965 and an Opel Commodore B in 1973 were not so bad after all!