First Gear Diecast Models | Trucks, Construction & More

First Gear is a long-established American diecast manufacturer known for detailed scale replicas of trucks, construction equipment, agricultural machinery, buses, emergency vehicles, and other commercial and industrial subjects. Founded in 1992, the company began in Dubuque, Iowa, with a focus on custom-imprinted diecast models. Its first model was a 1951 Ford Dry Goods Van, and the company later moved to Peosta, Iowa, where its headquarters and warehouse remain today.

First Gear has developed a reputation for producing collectible replicas rather than ordinary toy vehicles. Its official product range now covers several scales, including 1:25, 1:34, 1:50, 1:64, and 1:87, with models representing manufacturers and industries ranging from heavy trucks and construction machinery to waste management and public transportation.

At DiecastModelsWholesale.com, the First Gear category is a destination for collectors interested in American trucks, commercial vehicles, construction equipment, municipal vehicles, and other highly detailed working-vehicle replicas.

First Gear Diecast Models

First Gear's strength is its focus on vehicles that have a real working purpose. Instead of concentrating primarily on sports cars or passenger vehicles, First Gear has built much of its catalog around the equipment and transportation that keep businesses, construction sites, farms, cities, and highways operating.

Depending on current availability, First Gear models can include:

• Semi trucks and tractor-trailers
• Classic and modern heavy-duty trucks
• Construction equipment
• Excavators
• Dozers
• Wheel loaders
• Articulated dump trucks
• Refuse and garbage trucks
• School buses
• Wreckers and tow trucks
• Agricultural and industrial equipment
• Commercial vans and utility vehicles
• Specialized municipal vehicles

This subject range makes First Gear especially useful for collectors building trucking, construction, agriculture, transportation, or industrial dioramas.

First Gear's History

First Gear was established on February 9, 1992, by Rich Knight, Terry Leonard, and Gary Roop. According to the company's history, the founders chose the name First Gear as a reference to driving a manual-transmission vehicle. The company's roots were in custom promotional diecast, with its signature 1:34 scale becoming an important part of its identity.

The company's first model was a 1951 Ford Dry Goods Van. First Gear's early business focused on producing custom-imprinted replicas for companies and organizations, allowing real businesses to create miniature versions of their vehicles for promotional purposes. The company expanded and moved to Peosta, Iowa, in 1993, later establishing a larger facility in 1995.

First Gear has continued developing both custom and retail collectibles. Today, the company describes its products as accurately detailed, officially licensed vehicle models designed for collectible and premium markets.

First Gear 1:34 Scale

1:34 scale has special significance to First Gear because it was the company's signature custom-imprint scale from its earliest years. The company continues to describe 1:34 as the scale that helped define First Gear beginning in 1992.

For collectors, 1:34 offers an interesting middle ground between the compact size of 1:64 and the larger presence of scales such as 1:25. It is particularly associated with First Gear's trucks, commercial vehicles, and promotional replicas.

One notable example is the 1953 Kenworth Bullnose Heavy-Duty Holmes Wrecker, released as a 30th Anniversary collector edition in 1:34 scale.

Collectors who appreciate First Gear's history may find 1:34 models particularly meaningful because the scale is directly connected to the company's origins.

First Gear 1:64 Scale Trucks

First Gear has also developed an extensive 1:64 scale range, making the brand highly relevant to modern diecast truck collectors.

The current First Gear 1:64 assortment includes vehicles from manufacturers such as:

• Peterbilt
• Kenworth
• Freightliner
• Ford
• Mack
• International
• Volvo
• Western Star
• Chevrolet
• General Motors

The company also offers a wide range of trailer types and specialized combinations.

First Gear's 1:64 trucks can include sleeper tractors, day cabs, conventional trucks, vocational trucks, specialized trailers, and complete tractor-trailer combinations. The variety makes them suitable for collectors who want to create a detailed North American trucking display.

Peterbilt, Kenworth & American Trucking

American heavy trucks are an important part of the First Gear range. Current products include Peterbilt models such as the Model 389, 379, 352, 351, and 520, along with Kenworth models including the W900 and W900L.

First Gear also produces models representing Ford, Freightliner, Mack, Volvo, International, and Western Star. This allows collectors to compare different manufacturers and generations of American trucking equipment within the same collection.

For collectors interested in classic truck styling, conventional long-nose tractors can be especially appealing. For others, modern aerodynamic trucks provide a way to represent today's over-the-road trucking industry.

First Gear Construction Equipment

First Gear is also strongly associated with construction equipment and heavy machinery. The current range includes officially licensed Komatsu models, with products representing excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, and graders.

Examples include:

• Komatsu PC360LC-11 excavator
• Komatsu PC210LC-11 excavator
• Komatsu HM400 articulated dump truck
• Komatsu D71PXi-24 dozer
• Komatsu D155AX-8 SIGMADOZER
• Komatsu WA500-7 wheel loader
• Komatsu graders

These models are particularly useful for collectors interested in construction equipment, earthmoving machinery, mining, and heavy equipment. They can also be paired with 1:64 or larger-scale trucks used to transport construction machinery.

First Gear Komatsu Models

The Komatsu by First Gear range gives construction-equipment collectors access to detailed replicas of real Komatsu machines. Current products are offered in multiple scales, including 1:50 and 1:64, depending on the machine.

Scale is particularly important with construction equipment because excavators, dozers, loaders, and haul trucks vary considerably in physical size. A 1:50 excavator will have a different display presence from a 1:64 version of another machine.

For a construction diorama, matching the scale of the machines, trucks, trailers, and buildings can help create a more convincing scene.

Waste Management & Municipal Vehicles

Another distinctive part of the First Gear range is waste management. The company's products include Waste Management-branded vehicles and accessories, including refuse trucks and trash containers.

One current example is the WM Mack TerraPro with Side Load Refuse Truck including Trash Carts. First Gear also offers individual trash bins as accessories.

These models are valuable for collectors who want to create realistic city, residential, commercial, or municipal scenes. A refuse truck can also be combined with other emergency, construction, delivery, and service vehicles to build a broader working-vehicle collection.

School Buses & Commercial Transportation

First Gear's assortment extends into school buses and other commercial transportation. Current products include a 1:50-scale International ICE school bus, demonstrating the company's continued interest in real-world commercial and public-service vehicles.

School buses are an interesting collecting category because they can be displayed independently or incorporated into transportation, school, city, and suburban dioramas.

The same philosophy applies to First Gear's other commercial vehicles: they represent the everyday machines that collectors encounter on real roads and worksites.

First Gear Scales

First Gear produces models across several scales. Its current official scale categories are:

1:25 Scale

A larger scale suited to substantial trucks and equipment where visible details and display presence are priorities.

1:34 Scale

First Gear's signature scale and one of the most historically important scales to the company.

1:50 Scale

A popular scale for construction equipment, commercial trucks, buses, and heavy machinery.

1:64 Scale

A compact and highly collectible scale that works particularly well for trucks, trailers, construction equipment, and larger collections.

1:87 Scale

A smaller scale useful for compact transportation and scene-building displays.

First Gear currently identifies these five scales as its primary scale categories.

When adding a model to an established collection, always check the individual product listing for the exact scale. A similar vehicle may be offered in multiple scales, and the difference can be significant when planning a display.

Collector Editions & Special Releases

First Gear also produces Collector Editions and special releases. These can commemorate company milestones, historical vehicles, particular truck configurations, or other subjects of interest to collectors.

For example, the company's 30th Anniversary program included four collector-edition models in different scales, including the 1:34 1953 Kenworth Bullnose Holmes Wrecker.

These releases can be particularly appealing to collectors who enjoy historical trucks or limited production models. As with any collectible, production quantities and availability vary by release, so individual product information should be reviewed rather than assuming every First Gear model is limited.

First Gear and DCP by First Gear

Collectors may also encounter DCP by First Gear, which is now part of the First Gear family. First Gear acquired Die-Cast Promotions in 2018, expanding its position in the collectible truck market.

DCP has its own category at DiecastModelsWholesale.com and is particularly focused on 1:64 tractor-trailer combinations, while the broader First Gear category encompasses additional scales, manufacturers, construction equipment, municipal vehicles, and other products.

For collectors interested specifically in DCP's big rigs and semi-truck combinations, the dedicated DCP by First Gear category provides a more focused selection.

Collecting First Gear Diecast Models

First Gear offers several ways to organize a collection.

By Truck Manufacturer

Collect Peterbilt, Kenworth, Ford, Freightliner, Mack, Volvo, International, Western Star, or other manufacturers.

By Scale

Build a collection around 1:34, 1:50, 1:64, or another compatible scale.

By Industry

Focus on trucking, construction, agriculture, waste management, public transportation, or industrial equipment.

By Vehicle Type

Collect semis, wreckers, dump trucks, excavators, dozers, loaders, buses, or specialized vehicles.

By Era

Compare classic American trucks with modern heavy-duty vehicles to show how commercial transportation has changed.

By Diorama

Create miniature truck stops, construction sites, farms, municipal facilities, transportation yards, or industrial scenes.

This flexibility is one of First Gear's strengths. The brand provides enough variety to build a focused collection without requiring every model to be from the same type of vehicle.

What to Look For When Buying First Gear Models

When selecting a First Gear collectible, consider:

• Scale: Make sure the model matches your existing display.
• Manufacturer: Peterbilt, Kenworth, Ford, Mack, Komatsu, and others offer very different subjects.
• Vehicle type: Decide whether you want a tractor, trailer, construction machine, bus, wrecker, refuse truck, or another specialized vehicle.
• Configuration: Cab style, sleeper, trailer, equipment, and body configuration can vary.
• Livery: Company colors and markings can distinguish otherwise similar models.
• Edition: Check whether the model belongs to a Collector Edition, Legacy Series, Big Rigs series, or another special line.
• Features: Individual models may include moving or functional components, detailed equipment, accessories, or other display features.

First Gear itself describes its replicas as collectible items rather than toys, and product listings note that models can contain fragile parts and that movable components have limitations.

Shop First Gear Diecast Models at DiecastModelsWholesale.com

Whether you collect American semi trucks, construction equipment, heavy machinery, municipal vehicles, school buses, wreckers, agricultural equipment, or detailed commercial vehicles, First Gear offers a broad range of subjects across several scales.

Browse the First Gear collection at DiecastModelsWholesale.com to explore available trucks, construction machinery, buses, refuse vehicles, and other scale replicas. Compare manufacturers, vehicle types, scales, configurations, and special editions to find the First Gear model that fits your collection or next diorama project.