NZG Models

Lore & Background

NZG was started in 1968 by Gerhard Schmid and Betty Hauer, initially operating from the second floor of a furniture company. The business soon moved to a 10,000 sqft site at the Sigmundstraße industrial estate. The first model produced was a Weserhutte wheeled crane. By 1974, at least 30 models were in the NZG range. Since then, over 700 different models have been produced, with annual production exceeding 400,000 units. In 1986, the company was operated by Inge Ludwig (née Schmid) and Hannelore Hauer. In 2000, NZG passed completely to the Ludwig family, and Inge and Michael Ludwig run the company today.

The company specializes in heavy equipment types including hand pallet movers, forklifts, scissors lifts, reach stackers, power generators, skidsteers, front loaders, shovels, excavators, graders, ore carrying dump trucks, pavement profilers, road finishers, asphalt strippers, road rollers, pipelayers, large cranes, and drill rigs. Marques represented include MAN, New Holland, Volvo, Caterpillar, FAUN, Grove, Terex, and Liebherr. NZG also produced diecast car models, notably Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes, often used as dealer promotional models. Most cars were in 1:43 scale, with some larger examples like the 1:35 scale Mercedes SEC coupes. Car production appears to have ceased after 2002, as the company focused more on trucks and construction vehicles.

NZG models are not considered toys; they are precise replicas with intricate details. Bases often carry a sticker warning that the models are 'not toys and not for children.' Larger trucks, such as Terex and Liebherr ore carriers, can cost up to 500 U.S. dollars, while most models sell between US $50 and US $150. Special models require a minimum production order of 300 pieces.

Reader's Guide

NZG Models holds a significant place in the diecast model industry, particularly for its specialization in heavy transport and construction equipment. The company's long-standing relationship with major manufacturers like Caterpillar, Liebherr, and MAN has made its models essential promotional tools, while also appealing to collectors who value accuracy and detail. NZG's car models, especially Mercedes-Benz and Porsche replicas, were widely used as dealer promos and are recognized for their precision, with opening doors, hoods, and trunks, clear plastic lenses, and chrome-plated emblems. The company's competition with Conrad Models shaped the market for promotional diecast vehicles in Europe. Although car production ended around 2002, NZG's focus on construction and truck models has remained its core strength. The company's influence extends through subsidiaries and licensing agreements, including TWH and Sword in the United States, as well as lines like Premium ClassiXXs, Bubmobile, JNF Toys, and the Y-Serie of military trucks. NZG's models are widely available and remain a benchmark for realism in the heavy equipment diecast niche.

Did You Know?

• NZG's first model was a Weserhutte wheeled crane produced in 1968.
• The company produces over 400,000 models per year.
• NZG car models often had bases stamped 'Made in the Federal Republic of Germany'.
• Some NZG ore carrier trucks can cost as much as 500 U.S. dollars.