Driving down Main Street in Wilmore, it’s hard to miss the blue Hot Wheels flag. It doesn’t take a genius to guess what is sold at Gold Flame Diecast, but those who have visited the store know of the treasure trove that lies inside.
Gold Flame Diecast, which exclusively sells diecast cars from brands like Hot Wheels and Matchbox, carries thousands of varieties of miniature vehicles representing a myriad of models and symbols of pop culture. Those passionate about “car culture” can find rare vintage models; adults can search for their dream car or the first car they ever owned; pop culture fans can find artifacts from their favorite franchises.
A few of the store’s collections include cars from every Fast and Furious film, all of the Batmobiles, cars designed around Beatles albums, Tokyo Olympics cars inspired by different sports, cars designed for brands of candy and cereal, and even the pink Corvette from the 2023 Barbie movie.
“If there’s a significant car in a movie or TV show, it’s probably a Hot Wheels car,” said Dalton Cox, the store’s owner. After working in pit crews at NASCAR for several years, Cox wanted a low-cost way to continue working with cars. A long-time car enthusiast, he began collecting diecast cars and was soon selling them out of a small vendor booth in Nicholasville. Cox saw an open business space in downtown Wilmore, and at the end of August 2023, Gold Flame Diecast was opened.
In the months since, the store has seen diecast collectors visiting from out of state, multiple generations of family members browsing together, and several skeptical customers who invariably found something they liked.
Cox says one of his favorite things about the store is seeing people have a positive brick-and-mortar shopping experience. He has found that many of his customers are extremely grateful to be able to explore the store in person during this time when most of our shopping is done online. In addition, an entire store dedicated only to diecast cars is rare, as most Hot Wheels car selling is done at trade shows.
“We all have a personal connection to cars in some way,” Cox said, whether we realize it or not. His store creates a space for collectors, friends, and families to celebrate and bond over the meaningful cars in their lives. There truly is something for everyone.
Gold Flame Diecast is located at 311 East Main Street in Wilmore. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Stop in and see what treasures you might find!
