About Time Micro
Time Micro (also styled TimeMicro or TIME MICRO) is a die-cast model car brand best known for 1:64-scale collectible vehicles, particularly modified Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars, performance vehicles, motorsport-themed models, transporters, trucks, trailers and highly stylised automotive designs. The brand has become recognisable among contemporary 1:64 collectors for its relatively aggressive styling, extensive use of custom body kits and liveries, and collaborations with designers and other model brands.[1]
Unlike mass-market toy manufacturers, Time Micro operates primarily within the collector-oriented 1:64 die-cast market, where models are generally sold as display pieces rather than inexpensive children’s toys. Current retail catalogues show a broad range of Time Micro releases and collaborations, including Porsche, Nissan, Subaru, Lamborghini, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Toyota and other vehicles.[1]
Overview
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Brand | Time Micro / TimeMicro |
| Industry | Die-cast model vehicles |
| Primary scale | 1:64 |
| Main market | Collectors and automotive enthusiasts |
| Known for | Modified cars, JDM, supercars, motorsport, transporters and diorama vehicles |
| Construction | Primarily die-cast metal models with detailed components |
| Product style | Collector/display oriented |
| Notable collaborations | PSC Design and other automotive/design projects |
| Typical competitors/peers | Mini GT, INNO64, Tarmac Works, Pop Race, Para64, etc. |
Corporate information
Publicly available information regarding the corporate history of Time Micro is sparse. While retailers and collectors document the products extensively, a detailed official corporate history—including a clearly published founding date, founder biography, ownership structure or manufacturing history—is difficult to establish from authoritative public sources.
Consequently, claims found online regarding the exact founding year, factory ownership, corporate relationships or parent companies of Time Micro should be treated cautiously unless supported by primary documentation.
History and development
Time Micro emerged within the expanding 1:64 collector die-cast scene, particularly the market surrounding Asian and Japanese automotive culture, modified cars and detailed display models. The brand’s identity developed around a philosophy distinct from traditional toy-car manufacturing.
Rather than concentrating primarily on standard production vehicles, Time Micro frequently selects subjects that appeal to enthusiasts of JDM culture, Japanese tuning, wide-body conversions, racing and motorsport, aftermarket body kits, supercars, custom liveries, automotive lifestyle content, and dioramas or garage scenes. This strategy has helped differentiate Time Micro from brands whose catalogues are dominated by stock road cars.
Contemporary catalogues demonstrate the breadth of this approach. Models include Nissan Skyline GT-R R34s, Porsche 964/RWB projects, Subaru Impreza builds, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions, Lamborghini Countach variants, Volkswagen Beetles, Dodge Chargers and large-scale-looking 1:64 transport vehicles.[1]
Product philosophy
The distinguishing characteristic of Time Micro is arguably its choice of subject matter. While collectors seeking stock representations of mass-production vehicles have many options in the 1:64 market, Time Micro frequently approaches cars as automotive art and tuning culture.
The catalogue includes projects such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, Porsche RWB 964, Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Lamborghini Countach, Porsche 992 GT3 RS, Dodge Charger “Brawler”, Volkswagen Beetle RS and Mercedes-Benz Actros container trucks. Many of these releases involve substantially modified styling, custom graphics or collaborations rather than simply offering different colours of ordinary castings.[1]
1:64 scale
1:64 is the defining scale for Time Micro. At this scale, a full-size 4.8-metre automobile would theoretically be approximately 7.5 cm long. This size allows for extensive collecting while still permitting manufacturers to incorporate sophisticated details. The scale is particularly popular because collectors can create relatively large automotive scenes without requiring enormous display cabinets.
Time Micro has positioned itself firmly within this ecosystem alongside brands such as Mini GT, INNO64, Tarmac Works and Pop Race. Collector discussions frequently place Time Micro within the enthusiast-oriented portion of the 1:64 market rather than the traditional mass-market toy segment.
Design and detailing
Time Micro models generally emphasise visual impact. Common characteristics include die-cast metal bodies, detailed exterior graphics, rubber tyres, custom wheels, wide-body conversions, large spoilers, racing-style aero components, detailed interiors, carbon-fibre-style detailing, custom paint schemes and tuning-inspired modifications. Retailers specialising in the brand describe the models as featuring die-cast metal bodies, rubber tyres, detailed interiors and realistic features.[2]
These attributes make the models particularly suitable for static display and diorama building.
Automotive culture and JDM influence
One of the strongest associations of Time Micro is with Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) and tuning culture. The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution appear repeatedly in its product ecosystem. Porsche RWB-style builds are another significant component of its modern identity.
This focus gives Time Micro a different personality from manufacturers that concentrate primarily on factory-original cars. The company’s models often represent the modified version of a car that an enthusiast might actually build, rather than simply reproducing what left the manufacturer’s assembly line. For collectors interested in JDM, tuning, stance, wide-body styles and motorsport, Time Micro offers a distinct alternative.
PSC Design collaboration
A visible aspect of the current Time Micro product range is its collaboration with PSC Design. Products are frequently marketed as “TimeMicro × PSC DESIGN”. Examples include the R34 “Smilodon”, Subaru Impreza “Raider”, Porsche RWB 964, Lamborghini Countach “V”, Volkswagen Beetle RS, Dodge Charger “Brawler” and Yangwang U9 “Rage”.[1]
Current retailer catalogues contain numerous examples of these collaborations.[1] This partnership demonstrates that the product strategy of Time Micro is not limited to reproducing licensed factory automobiles but also participates in conceptual and custom automotive design projects.
Product categories
The Time Micro catalogue can broadly be divided into several categories.
JDM performance cars
This category is closely associated with the brand. Examples include the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru Impreza WRX/STI and Toyota Supra. These models often receive aftermarket-inspired modifications and special liveries.
Porsche and RWB-style models
Porsche has become an increasingly visible component of the catalogue. The Porsche 964/RWB, in particular, appears in multiple colours and configurations.[1]
Supercars
Time Micro produces stylised versions of exotic vehicles. The Lamborghini Countach is a prominent example, including the Countach “V” series developed with PSC Design.[2]
American muscle
The brand has expanded beyond Japanese and European cars into American subjects. The Dodge Charger “Brawler” is an example of this direction.[1]
Transporters and commercial vehicles
Rather than concentrating exclusively on sports cars, Time Micro produces vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz Actros container trucks, flatbed trailers, vehicle transporters and motorsport support vehicles. These are useful for building 1:64 racing paddocks, workshops and automotive logistics dioramas.[1]
Packaging and presentation
Time Micro occupies the collector and display-model side of the market rather than the traditional blister-pack toy market. Models are commonly sold individually in presentation boxes and are frequently priced substantially above ordinary mass-market 1:64 toys.
Current retailer listings show many Time Micro cars in the US$30-equivalent collector-model range, while larger transport models can cost considerably more. Actual prices vary significantly according to retailer, edition, exclusivity and market.[2] This pricing places Time Micro closer to the enthusiast-oriented segment of the 1:64 market.
Quality and collector reputation
The reputation of Time Micro among collectors is mixed but generally centred on design and uniqueness. Its strongest points are often considered to be attractive designs, unusual subjects, good visual detailing, interesting liveries, a strong modified-car selection, a large variety of JDM subjects and excellent potential for dioramas.
Collectors also sometimes criticise individual models for fragile small components, variable quality control, limited rolling performance on certain models, or paint and assembly issues on individual examples. These are not necessarily universal characteristics of every release; collector reports show considerable variation between models and individual examples.
Time Micro is often purchased for its display appearance rather than because it is expected to behave exactly like a traditional toy car.
Position within the 1:64 market
A simplified view of the modern 1:64 landscape places Time Micro in the design and custom-oriented segment:
| Brand type | Examples | General emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| Mass-market | Hot Wheels, Matchbox | Accessibility, play, variety |
| Mainstream collector | Mini GT | Detail + value |
| Enthusiast collector | Tarmac Works, INNO64 | Accuracy + collector presentation |
| Design/custom oriented | Time Micro | Modified cars + visual impact |
| High-end collector | PGM, MotorHelix, etc. | Extremely high detail |
While not an official industry classification, this framework helps explain where collectors generally encounter Time Micro. Community discussions frequently compare the brand with Mini GT, INNO64 and Tarmac Works when discussing higher-detail 1:64 models.
Dioramas
Diorama collectors are an important audience for Time Micro. While a conventional 1:64 collection might consist simply of rows of cars, the broader catalogue of Time Micro makes it possible to construct an entire automotive environment, ranging from garages and race cars to transporters, trailers, support vehicles, workshops and figures or accessories.
Trucks, trailers and automotive-support vehicles are particularly useful in this context. Retailers explicitly market Time Micro products towards dioramas and display scenes.[3] This capability makes the brand appealing to collectors who wish to create photographic automotive scenes.
Licensing and authenticity
Licensing is an area where collectors should examine individual releases rather than making assumptions about the entire brand. Some Time Micro products represent recognisable real-world automobiles, while others are custom interpretations, collaborations or fictionalised tuned designs.
For example, the catalogue mixes recognisable manufacturers such as Porsche, Nissan, Lamborghini, Subaru and Mercedes-Benz with design concepts such as the “Smilodon”, “Brawler”, “Raider” and “Rage” projects.[1] Therefore, the presence of a real automobile name on a Time Micro product does not automatically indicate that every visual element adheres to exact factory specifications.
Collecting Time Micro
For new collectors, Time Micro is most relevant for those who prioritise design and subject matter.
Particularly attractive for enthusiasts of
- JDM
- Nissan Skyline GT-R
- Subaru
- Mitsubishi Evo
- Porsche RWB
- Wide-body cars
- Custom builds
- Racing liveries
- Modified cars
- Cyberpunk aesthetics
- Automotive photography
- Dioramas
Less ideal for those seeking
- Extremely inexpensive models
- Children’s play cars
- Perfect factory-original specifications
- Guaranteed smooth rolling performance
- Completely consistent QC across every release
Notable models and series
Recognisable Time Micro projects include:
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R34
- R34 “Smilodon”
- Porsche 964 RWB
- Subaru Impreza “Raider”
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- Lamborghini Countach “V”
- Volkswagen Beetle RS
- Dodge Charger “Brawler”
- Porsche 992 GT3 RS
- Mercedes-Benz Actros Container Truck
The catalogue continues to expand, with 2026 releases and preorders including additional RWB 964 variants, Beetle RS, Charger Brawler and other projects.[1]
Brand identity
Time Micro is a collector-focused 1:64 die-cast brand that emphasises customised automotive culture, aggressive styling and unusual display-oriented subjects rather than simply reproducing ordinary stock cars. Its niche sits at the intersection of die-cast collecting, JDM culture, tuning culture and miniature automotive dioramas.
The brand’s strength lies in offering cars that do not resemble the standard versions typically found in die-cast collections. As the modern 1:64 market has evolved beyond traditional brands, Time Micro fills a specific niche: visually dramatic, modified and display-oriented cars at a price point below some of the highest-end 1:64 manufacturers.
Collector discussions reflect this positioning, with frequent comparisons to Mini GT, INNO64, Tarmac Works, Pop Race and other enthusiast brands. While opinions on quality vary, the unusual designs of Time Micro are repeatedly recognised as part of its appeal.
In summary, Time Micro is best understood as a specialist 1:64 collector brand built around die-cast construction, JDM, tuning, custom designs, motorsport and dioramas. Its strongest differentiator is subject selection and styling. While brands such as Mini GT often emphasise realistic road-car reproductions, Time Micro frequently explores what a car might look like as a tuned, wide-bodied, racing or concept vehicle.
Although public corporate history remains relatively poorly documented, the current product ecosystem is substantial. Retailer catalogues list dozens of Time Micro products and collaborations,[1] and dedicated collector communities regularly discuss the brand alongside major names in the modern 1:64 hobby. If Mini GT is often associated with a very good miniature of a real car, Time Micro is closer to a miniature of the kind of customised car an enthusiast desires for their garage.





