Best 3D Printed Car Models: Race and Toy Cars for the Child in You

3D printing allows every person to add 3D printed toy car models to their collection. Your kids could love Hot Wheels, Matchbox, die-cast toy cars, or 1/64-scale realistic vehicles. It is time to prove to everyone that you are the coolest dad on the block by 3D printing their dream and enlarging your collection with a new 3D printed car model.

Below are the most impressive ideas for 3D printing car models to inspire you. From classic old models and miniatures to toy cars with open doors, you will discover some great projects with paid and free STL files. And with countless video tutorials for using 3D modeling software, you will gain the required skills in no time if you’re up for the challenge. Don’t lag anymore, and start acting immediately.

3D Printing Car Models

Everyone knows the most famous phrase in racing, “Drivers, start your engines”! Before 1977, this phrase started with “gentlemen,” not “drivers,” because only males qualified for the races. But since the Indy 500 race in 1977, when Janet Guthrie joined the competition, modifications to the command have been added. Since 2017, it has begun with “drivers.”

And today, ladies and gentlemen can start their engines to join the races and turn on 3D printers to make any dream come true. In recent years, additive manufacturing technologies have been affordable to many hobbyists. It is now easy to produce car parts, wheels, accessories, and 3D car models from plastic and resin at home.

Making a 3D printed car model yourself could be more affordable than buying a toy car, a collectible piece, or a model vehicle. Old Hot Wheels models and other miniature car collectibles are often very expensive on the second-hand market. It could be cheaper to design the project yourself (if you are familiar with 3D modeling software) and 3D print the piece to make yourself or your child happy.

And even if you are not friends with 3D design, you can find many incredible realistic, old classic, 1/64 scale, race, and other 3D printing car models STL files online. Many projects are free, and others are available at a fee.

Read also: Best 3D Printed Cars to Wow Everyone

3D Printed Toy Car Models

You can find many excellent guides on how to make a miniature car using a 3D printer. You can watch YouTube videos to see how hobbyists work on car toys with doors that open up, active suspension, moving parts, and spinning 1/64, 1/32, or 1/16 3D printed wheels.

It is time to turn a virtual toy car model into physical 3D prints. You will need plastic filament or resin, flexible material for each 3D printed spinning wheel, and pieces of filament for assembly or decor. Often, you can use the wheels from your original Hot Wheels and non-branded cars, scale down or up the 3D printing models, etc.

If you have no 3D printer at home but wish to expand your collection of Hot Wheels cars with other stunning models, you can use 3D printing services that make models on demand and ship them to you. In this case, you can save some money by choosing a free car 3D model.

1. 3D Printed Race Car

The variety of 3D printed car models will ensure everyone can find the best project to recreate.

For example, you can bring to life customizable Modarri vehicles. There are three different versions (street, dirt, and track), so hobbyists can create their own hybrid 3D printed race car.

Modarri follows a design line that is attractive to children and adults. They can be used as toys or collectibles.

Also, you can recreate a 3D printed race car with control over your smartphone. You can transform 3DRacers free car 3D model’s STL files into a cute piece that moves. You can even design its look online via the 3DRacers application. Kids will love such an adventure!

2. Toy Car Models

Your 3D printed car model design can resemble an actual vehicle. Using a 3D printer, you can collect all your favorite realistic car models as 1/64 and 1/32 scale toys.

You can also make a 1/8 scale model of the Bugatti Veyron hypercar. If you choose different filament colors, your 3D printed toy car will require less post-processing work. You will only remove the supports and assembly your piece.

You can download the Bugatti Veyron car model’s free STL files and recreate a replica of the fancy vehicle that reaches 57 cm in length.

You can also make realistic toys such as Tesla Model 3. The free car 3D model STL files make bringing this design to life simple. If you cannot 3D print spinning wheels, use other car toys’ functioning parts.

The Tesla Model 3 for 3D printing has no particular scale, and it requires using the 1.75-mm filament pieces to secure the axles. But it looks like a miniature copy of the iconic electric-power vehicle.

3. 3D Car Model

Your 3D printed car model can replicate some good old classic models. For example, you can get V8 Ford Falcon STL files and breathe new life into this 1973 coupe.

You can find impressive V8 Ford Falcon 3D car model STL files for 3D printing at 1/64 scale, which can work great with Hot Wheels medium-sized spinning wheels.

A 1978 Volkswagen Brasilia is among other 1/64 scale old model cars you can 3D print. This medium-sized vehicle will look great on the shelf with your Hot Wheels and other projects.

According to the 3D model designer, it is best to print this Volkswagen car toy model at 15% infill and a layer height between 0.08 mm and 0.12 mm.

Another great thing designed for 3D printing is the classic 1967 Shelby Cobra. This free car 3D model is an iconic sports vehicle from the 1960s. At those times, it was considered one of the best automobiles for competition.

The piece was scaled similarly to Pinewood Derby cars. So, you can 3D print it to extend your collection of 3D printed car models and toys. And if you have Pinewood Derby spinning wheel set, use it to make your toy move.

4. Train Car Toy 3D Model

Railroad 3D car models are also stunning collectibles you can 3D print yourself. Some 3D printing models are already hauled by a locomotive to form a train, while others offer separate locomotives and train cars for building with a 3D printer.

A 3D printed train car can be an iconic project from Back to the Future, the Time Train Machine. Hobbyist Jean Jacques Chomard 3D printed it with FDM and resin 3D printers to let Eric Ieu paint all the details. The 1.2-meter-long train looks terrific!

If you don’t like using supports while 3D printing, you can download Taco train STL files and build this simple toy for your kids. If you wish to have more cars, make them and add them to the back of your train.

Recommended for you: 20 Prominent 3D Printed Trains and Railway Models

5. 3D Model Car (Truck)

Movies give us many stunning ideas for car models for 3D printing. For example, Mad Max films introduced viewers to a crazy War Rig truck; and this bizarre custom piece of art can decorate your room.

This 1/16 scale 3D model car design will be of perfect display size if 3D printed on an FDM machine. The premium quality of Mad Max War Rig truck STL files will let you recreate this truck’s distinguishing features in detail. You will love building the massive cowcatcher, human skulls decorating the grille, exhaust stacks, sharpened metal protecting the wheels, and other elements.

Find your inspiration in the stunning 3D printed car models made by Gambody enthusiasts Wim Dussenbroek and Robert Salvador. These trucks look so realistic!

You can add a tanker and fuel pod to complete your 3D printed toy truck.

If your child loves Transformers on top of Hot Wheels toys, you can 3D print a fabulous Optimus Prime model that transforms into a truck.

You will find STL files for 3D printing Optimus Prime 2-in-1 project on Gambody marketplace. This fully articulated model requires assembly, but it boasts many stunning details and incredible features. You or your kids can get from the Autobot mode into a 3D printed toy truck. Or, you can 3D print two Transformers and display both options among your other toy cars.

6. 3D Car Models with Doors that Open up

The list of 3D printing car models you can make includes projects with doors that open up. Such vehicles become impressive display objects or collectible pieces.

Gambody hobbyists show how to make a toy vehicle that moves. Building a Chevrolet Impala SS 1967 with movable parts and opening doors can be a fantastic project. The prop from the Supernatural TV series boasts the “KAZ 2Y5” license plate, active suspension, spinning wheels, four opening doors, articulated windscreen wipers, and other details. Such a printable toy car will amaze the child in you!

The DeLorean Time Machine is among other great toy cars with doors that open up. And you can 3D print it using detailed DeLorean STL files.

Your toy will look just like the actual vehicle in the Back to the Future movies. This 3D printing model comes in 3 kits that let you equip the project with a flux capacitor, gullwing doors that open up, engines, active suspension, interior, and other features.

7. Building Miniature Car Models

If you consider 1/64 3D printed wheels and cars too big for your collection, start working on a miniature car toy.

3D printing never ceases to amaze us. Just have a look at these mini 3D printed toy cars. Everything from the design to the resolution and the operability of the little objects is impressive. Even their wheels are moving, and the doors open.

You can also make a miniature car designed by LeFabShop. Hobbyists can build it as a single piece, with tires moving once you lose them slightly. This free car 3D model is available to download, and you can scale it up if you wish your 3D printed car toy to be a giant or medium size.

8. 3D Printed Wind-Up Toy Car

A 3D printer becomes a powerful tool in hobbyists hands that love working on spinning wheels and building unique models themselves. For example, it is possible to 3D print a wind-up toy car or order one online.

Get free car 3D model STL files to make a dual-mode wind-up toy. In the video, you see a project 3D printed on Ultimaker 3 with PLA filament.

It is also possible to order a 3D printed wind-up toy car from Shapeways or other stores. Such a gift can cost as much as $60-$70.

Besides, you can work on a spring motor toy with a rolling chassis. The model from the photo was designed in Sketchup 8, printed with PLA filament, sanded to ensure a smooth movement, and assembled.

For those boys who live in a rocky area, a 3D designer created the rock crawler car. The design features ball joints, a flexible suspension system, and off-road wheels. Even more remarkable is that the entire project, with its excellent workability, is part of a single piece. You will enjoy this 3D printed all-terrain vehicle toy.

9. 3D Printed Model Car from Movies and Video Games

A home 3D printer making a toy car is not a miracle anymore. Thus, you can 3D print miniatures and large-scale models from your favorite movies and video games.

Gambody enthusiasts love several stunning vehicles found on the gambody.com marketplace, including Warthog, Spinner Blade, and Batmobile 1989.

The Halo franchise’s Warthog M12B (Hog) 3D printing car model can overcome all possible obstacles and look like a savior on your shelf with Hot Wheels cars. This 1/32 scale car is more than just a toy. It has many rotating parts, complex suspension, steering wheels, and other impressive options you will love to 3D print and assemble.

Have you watched Blade Runner, the 1982 film by Ridley Scott? So many years after, you can start building car models that resemble a futuristic Police Spinner and have many articulated parts.

Download the Police Spinner car 3D model STL files and 3D print this fantastic project at 1/16 or 1/8 scale. The impressive size allows you to enjoy all the rotating parts to the fullest, introduce LEDs to light up the flashing beacons and headlights, and recreate a fantastic interior. You will be proud of this 3D print.

Batmobile also deserves a space on your shelf with Hot Wheels and other toy cars. It is impossible to imagine Gotham City without the stunning Batmobile and its driver. The elegant yet dangerous vehicle is a premium toy for every collector and Batman fan.

Get Batmobile car 3D model 3D printing files on Gambody and put your heart and soul into building this action assembly piece. The wheels come with rotating gear bearings. The guns are retractable. You can replace Batdisc ejectors with wings and enjoy many other features.

Those who loved watching Ghostbusters might dream of getting a 3D printed car model from this series. Hobbyist Peter Draxler, for example, spend four weeks recreating Ecto-1 model with water-based resin and Saturn 3D printer. The maker recreated the transparent glass parts in resin as well, sanding those elements with 2500-grit sandpaper and spraying with Alclad Aqua Clear.

Read also: Tips for Making Clear 3D Prints in Transparent Filament and Resin

Fans of the Gremlins franchise should remember when Gizmo drove a pink Barbie toy car, “Gizmobile.” Now you can 3D print this vehicle using your 3D printer and STL files of Gizmo’s Barbie Car.

Such a pink corvette will look beautiful as a 3D printed toy and become a nice gift for a little girl. You can light up the finished project and enjoy all the articulated parts, rotating steering wheel, opening doors, and moving wheels.

And if you need a driver for this toy car, you can always 3D print a cute Gizmo figurine. This evil gremlin will look perfect sitting behind the wheel.

Bonus. 3D Printed Motorcycle

If your 3D printed car model collection already has a lot of vehicles, you can now add a motorcycle. Gambody marketplace offers several excellent projects you might enjoy.

You can 3D print a motorcycle from Cyberpunk and even build a stunning diorama with Rockerboy Johnny Silverhand and his Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X bike.

Hobbyists who remember the 1988 action film AKIRA can work on this motorcycle 3D print. Its cyberpunk style, smooth forms, and futuristic design make Akira Bike a stunning 3D printing model. You can download Akira motorcycle STL files to turn them into a toy or collectible piece.

Those who love realistic toys can 3D print a medium-sized Harley Davidson motorcycle. This 1991 model was featured in Judgement Day and became popular among many fans of Terminator movies. So, download Harley Davidson STL files and make this toy bike for your little kid or the child in you.

That’s it for now. Hopefully, you will find a stunning 3D printing project for the weekend and share the pictures of your new 3D printed car models and toys in Gambody 3D Printing Community. It is always interesting to see what you are building at the moment.