Look for the original box. That $150,000 model, for instance, was a failed experiment. The matchbox equivalent of this car, much like the Toyota MR2, is scheduled for a 2021 release in a similarly striking shade of pastel blue with neon green doors. The 1968 version is the most valuable of them all, with its red, blue, and white colors and the matching wheels. For instance, a model manufactured in large quantities in the 1940s would be more valuable and rarer today than one manufactured in similar quantities in the 1970s. Matchbox cars were first made out of metal with die-cast bodies. As sales (and manufacturing) went overseas, the company switched the branding to Lesney Product. 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost: 6 Cool Details. Most Matchbox cars are about 2 inches in length, but this big truck was about 11 inches long. In this case, the longer roofed model is the most valuable. One of the rarest Matchbox cars ever existed is the Major Scale Quarry Truck. Vintage Matchbox Cars and Trucks, Made in England by Lesney FoundInJanetsAttic (184) $17.00 Matchbox car case, personalized toy car storage case with handle, single sided car case Elissasharindesigns (478) $36.00 4 inch wide Matchbox Lesney toy car logo Decal Waterproof Vinyl Car Decal TheVinylShopNJ (409) $2.99 FREE shipping The real story, however, with this matchbox car is the Ecto-1A version, that is to say the model fromGhostbusters II, seeing as they are now worth around $1000 a piece. You are much less likely to find one with the original box in good condition. He wanted to make a school-friendly toy for his daughter. It cost only 45 cents for a kid. It has several features that make it unique, including working headlights, a detailed interior, and wheels. 3. The collection originally came with the first transporter set and you might expect that it will fetch an even higher price under the new market conditions. Besides, because of the large number of matchbox cars available, it is hard to find the right one with a better worth. So some buyers do want these cars. This is the case for the unusual brown colored no. Have you ever wondered which Matchbox toy carsare the most valuable collectibles? Die Cast Metal Toy Car Collectible ad vertisement by CedarClosetCache. The car was first released in 1968 and had two different variations. Of course, once the manufacturer discovers this, they begin to produce high-end units targeted at collectors. These six cars were cast in lead and were based on a generic version of the listed car. Certain colors have premium value, so it helps to have a list (and a swatch) of the most sought-after shades. Newer cars came from Macau or China. The car was made to look like a police car with its blue and white bodywork and an orange roof light that glowed when it was turned on. 3. It has become one of the most sought-after collectibles for any collector or enthusiast interested in collecting Matchbox cars. Cars Produced in the early 1970s, the Matchbox Ford Capri was and featured a deep pink and orange variant, but also comes in the Hot Rocker variant, which has that roadster vibe complete with exposed engine. Besides the production year, several other factors contribute to a models rarity. The reverse color scheme is exceptionally rare and hard to find, and according to the Matchbox Wikia, it was a factory mistake. Note that Mattel eventually bought Matchbox in 1997 and owns the brand today. They were soon joined by Jack ODell, an engineer and tool creator. 3. Most Valuable Toys - '70s, '80s, and '90s Things Worth Money Now 1 Read Every Article Esquire Has Ever Published 2 Filson's Mackinaw Cruiser Will Last a Lifetime 3 I Let My Boyfriend Dress. Many factors determine the value of a Matchbox car, and we will cover some of them in this article. 1971 Spectraflame Purple Bye Focal - $6000. Lots of them had clockwork motors, meaning youd reverse the car or manually turn the wheels to gain momentum, then release it and watch it shoot forward. Most children today would be unable to buy a Ferrari, and they certainly wont be able to drive one, so the matchbox version was the only option. 2008 Diamond-Encrusted 40th Anniversary Special Edition $60,000. The car had no roof and had a different interior than the American version. Many believed that this matchbox car would be kept in the company indefinitely. Matchbox Lesney Superfast SF8 Ford Mustang (Sold: $635.00) The first Mustang car was introduced in 1964, and the car has been ever since a must-have for collectors and toy enthusiasts. It gave the car a tighter, meaner grille, and more modern lines and light, and the sharp angles of the car lent themselves well to the 80s aesthetic following the redesign. Instead, the door and window openings were left bare. The Matchbox brand has been around for over 50 years and is still going strong today. 5 Best Rare Matchbox Cars To Buy Right Now . . Vaporwave is a popular musical genre and aesthetic that reimagines the plasticity of the 80s and manages to alchemize it into a sort of warm nostalgia. While the DeLorean Motor Company filed for bankruptcy in 1982, the DeLoreans representation in theBack to The Futurefilms has given it a cult following, with models appreciating greatly in value; and in many ways was unappreciated for its avant-garde design. This hidden treasure was sold for a startling $6,765thats more than $10,000 today. And the Most Expensive Matchbox Cars on Ebay Right NOW. Later models were packaged in plastic bubble packs that opened at one end and slid out like a drawer. No. There are known to be a lot of collectors out there who collect reverse color BP Dodge wreckers. 9. Its value will likely increase even further over time as it ages and becomes rarer to find! Hope amassed almost . A large chrome slab in the 1970s, the model adapted to the times and came out with a complete redesign in the 80s. If you want a car that looks a little more modern, then the Dodge Charger MKIII might just be the vintage diecast car for you. Points to note include colors (both interior and exterior), moving parts (e.g. If you bump into them, they resell for a truckload, so keep an eye out! $19.92. Hot Wheels quickly became Matchbox cars' biggest competitor in the late 1960s. However, later in 1997, Mattel, Inc purchased the brand. The most sought after are obviously the most exclusive, the rarest of them all, but they come with a price. There are two versions of roofs: one with a more extended roof and one with a shorter roof. This model is valuable because of its reverse color schemethe body is dark green on the other side, and vice versa for the yellow interior. It was sold last around 1999, over 20 years ago. Also, these variations can help you date your toy car, which could shift your price from the tens to the high hundreds. 22 1968 Pink Beatnik Bandit. It has been restored to mint condition, making it one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. The first models were light brown. The cars got more elaborate over time. Its amazing that such a small toy made of a certain color can lead to such an extraordinary increase in the cost of the item. If you intend to trade the most valuable matchbox cars, it helps to be familiar with their top series. Matchbox cars were initially made by the Lesney Company in 1953. In 2010, he sold it, so we dont know how much he spent on it. For exactly 50 years, Hot Wheels have been the most popular toy cars in the world. 1. Jack Odell who founded the company had a daughter who could only carry match-sized toys to school. Current value: $8,000 to $10,000. Announced in 2019 by Netflix and Allspark,Transformers: War for Cybertronfollows the conclusion of thePrime Wars Trilogy. The earliest cars were 2 full-metal without glass window panes. Although these were commercial cars, collectors love them. The monetary value comes in if you can find a car still in the box. The 1967 Matchbox 27D Mercedes-Benz 230SL in apple green became one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever sold when it fetched a whopping $6,765 at auction in 1999. In 1953, British manufacturer Lesney Products rebranded its miniature toy vehicle line, and Matchbox cars were born. This model was first released in the United States in 1961 and was based on the Ford Fairlane sedan. The model was introduced in 1963 and ran for two years. Sixty-eight-year-old Simon Hope's Matchbox collection was so massive that he had to use three different auctions to clear the whole lot. The two-door version is worth around $15, while the four-door model can be worth as much as $30. This may not seem like a big deal, but remember, the most valuable Matchbox cars end up with collectors. They can also be Hot Wheels, Dinky, Corgi, or Johnny Lightning, but only if your buyer is open to these other brands. Also, speaking of Mattel, the Hot Wheels line of cars is often considered a valid matchbox car by collectors and enthusiasts heads up! They were initially made in England and are in high demand among collectors. The red model with a white interior is now worth more than $1,000. Fortunately, there is good news! The earliest boxes had no text on them except for the name of the car and its number, while later boxes also included information such as Made in England and Corgi Toys Ltd.. Some have bright colors and fun stickers, but others have doors that open and interiors that mimic their life-size muse. Today, that same truck commands more than $2,000 in mint condition. 2023 80s Toy Store | All Rights Reserved. However, its a very rare model thats available only in Apple Green; it was made in 1967. The real ones, however, come with a hefty price tag. The 1984 MR2 is one of the most iconic Matchbox cars. In one of the boxes of assorted Flying Colors cars from England, there were two blue Rodger Dodgers. Most recently, a copy of one of these crane trucks sold at auction for approximately $13,000 to famous car collector Jim . Thanks! Generally, the early cars with redline tires are some of the most valuable; the most desirable ones can command thousands of dollars. Unlike average blue Fairlane police cars, the one we are talking about has one main difference. A Magirus-Deutz Crane truck sold for $10 in 1961 went for $10,000 after a few years and was purchased by a collector for $13,000 later. The first Hess truck, released in 1964, sold for a mere $1.39. Essentially, this means the most valuable Matchbox cars dont have to be Lesneys. Dinky had gone bankrupt just before Lesney did, and Corgi followed suit in 1983. Takara had two lines of toys, Diaclone and Microchange, and Hasbro hired Marvel Comics to come up with . Matchbox cars come in various colors and sizes, but there are several things you can look for to identify them as vintage or not. It had a right-hand drive interior and no windows. They might be willing to bid on the bigger version and make your auction more exciting, even if they dont end up buying the larger matchbox car. The Superfast 8d Rover 3500 Police Car is one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever. This can be confusing, so always double-check. Model cars that are 1/64 can sometimes be described as being on the S scale. Matchbox HOT ROD 48 CAR CARRY CASE w/ Cars & Trucks Vintage 1970's & 80's. $10.49. The best way to trade matchbox cars is to buy them in bulk at estate auctions, flea markets, garage sales, and the goodwill store. Some sellers are offering single unopened, obscure Teenies Beanies for thousands of dollars. That one is already in the hands of most collectors, as it is not that expensive on a used site. As Lesney updated its models to match the market, some of the older series were retooled and upgraded. . Companies are only now utilizing the nostalgia of the 1980s, albeit very delayed and as a limited supply. It had those low-friction wheels the locals loved. Matchbox, Random 70's 80's 90's Car Lot of 5 Toy Cars . Matchbox cars are collectible toys for children and adults alike. So it helps to know any matchbox cars after 1986 were rebranded Matchbox International Limited. 1. Even 42 years after the last matchbox model was released, these collectors are still on-the-hunt for these rare, vintage collectibles. A rare unreleased large-scale Matchbox Liang dump truck sold at auction on March 2010 at the Matchbox Club's 25th Convention for 10,200, a record price for a Matchbox sold at auction . Some of the most valuable Hot Wheels from the 1990s that have sold recently are: Hot Wheels Collector Number 271 ($3,000+) Hot Wheels #37 1990 All American Hot Bird ($200) 1990 '65 White Mustang Convertible #26 ($150) 1990 California Custom Blown Camaro #1289 ($150) 1991 Hot Wheels Bigfoot Champions Monster Rig The owner sold one for $10,000 three years after purchasing it, and later on, it was bought by a collector for $13,000! This truck is not of the typical Matchbox 1/64 scale. Tom Sellek starred as Magnum PI in a TV show that was a hit back in the 1980s. But how can you spot the most valuable Matchbox cars? Current Number Still in Existence: Unknown; very few. Capitalism follows a pretty predictable formula. No other versions of the car are made in that color or style. You will likely need to spend around $30 to get your hands on a unique piece of Matchbox history and the original die-cast car in mint condition. The Major Scale Quarry Truck is the holy grail of Matchbox cars. $150 - $505. It is also the most valuable matchbox of the 1:64 scale on this list. Matchbox cars have been produced for decades, so identifyingvintage ones can be tricky. That makes it the most valuable Matchbox car ever made, even though its just a smaller version of the original. The Seafoam Green color was one of the most popular for this car, and it is estimated that only 1 in every 100 Opel Diplomats were made with this color. The name Matchbox was chosen because it sounded like matchbox, but it also referred to the size of the car. This Magirus-Deutz truck with a tan body is incredibly rare, with only two thought to have been produced. Above mentioned matchbox vintage cars are considered one of the best model toy car series ever made. It was called the Models of Yesteryear. Star Wars 2 Kellogs Collectables & 6 Micro Machines (#204160096346) Free shipping for many products! There is one version thats worth its weight in gold. With sporty racing rim wheels and flamboyant designs, they were faster and flashier than Matchboxes. Road Roller Originally had been designed to be a larger vehicle, but it shrunk in size to make it easier for kids to use it as a toy. The truck was thought to be an indestructible company treasure. This trend started with the Matchbox cars from Lesney, and they are returning to take over again. If you want to add this rare car to your collection, we hope you've been saving. Some resellers will even ditch the Mokos and focus on American brands. This model came in green and cream colors. Treasure Hunt '67 Camaro, $1,500-$3,000. This isn't a Hot Wheels car you'll be able to find at the store, but it is one of the most expensive Hot Wheels cars ever made. Ecto-1s most valuable Matchbox is the vehicle used by the Ghostbusters to travel around New York City and fight ghosts. There were some minor differences in the way the wheels were made and the way the rivets were made, but otherwise, the two models are almost the same. It made our top 11 list of the most valuable and rare matchbox cars considering the cars value. The Matchbox Major Scale Quarry Truck from the early 1960s is an extremely sought-after vehicle. Weve talked about the 75 miniatures that were 2 tall and had no windows or interiors. This classic rare Matchbox truck is painted yellow on the bed and green on the cab. The 1969 pink Beach Bomb leads his list of the top 10 most valuable Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. Hot wheels and Matchbox cars from England, there were two blue Rodger Dodgers but others doors... 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