Soon after, Matchbox took over Dinky. It had a right-hand drive interior and no windows. However, the Smiths hired a man called Jack ODell. Valuable Happy Meal sets include TY Teenie Beanie Babies, Furbys, and Halloween Buckets. 100 Black-Owned Businesses to . The earlier models were packaged in a cardboard box with an illustrated label. Matchbox cars are collectible toys for children and adults alike. Prices arent too different from the basic versions. When the company began, they had to roll out the first line of cars and this was one. In the 1970s all the way to the 80s, kids who loved trucks, cars, and motorbikes had a wide range of toys to choose from. The Magirus-Deutz Crane ranks as the most expensive in Matchbox cars. The first Matchbox car was produced in 1953. Star Wars 2 Kellogs Collectables & 6 Micro Machines (#204160096346) 8. This classic rare Matchbox truck is painted yellow on the bed and green on the cab. That is, except for the pre-production models. and has a red driver. This is very uncommon, and according to the Drive, only a few have been found in the color combination of tan with the crimson jib and metal double-hook. The larger scale models have been produced longer than their smaller counterparts and usually have more variations within each body style. Matchbox is renowned for the detail and attention to the quality they put into each model. While Matchbox Majors feature large vehicles, they werent the only big toys that Lesney released. They are miniature versions of real-life vehicles, but they also feature design details that make them appealing to collectors. The cars (and boxes) marked Made in England are often the most valuable matchbox cars. Not much is known about this release, as it is scheduled for 2021. If you are lucky enough to own this Matchbox model Ferrari, expect to receive offers from collectors worldwide (maximum worth $30). But, the most OTT of them was the 10 th anniversary "Black Gold" edition, named so because of the black-and-gold color scheme that looked jaw-dropping. In the late 1960s, Mattel which today owns Matchbox introduced Hot Wheels. Its value will likely increase even further over time as it ages and becomes rarer to find! Matchbox cars were packaged in two ways, depending on the era. If you are looking for the Metallic Gold version of the Opel Diplomat, you shouldnt have a problem finding it. As you probably guessed, it's a show dedicated to the Chevrolet Corvette and those who love it. "There's really no special reason for the value of this car other than purple being a very rare variation. 3. Major Scale Quarry Truck. One theme in this list is that factory mistakes are especially valuable; the 1965 BP Dodge Wrecker is a great example of this. This truck is not of the typical Matchbox 1/64 scale. The first models were light brown. Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning were US-made brands while the others were from the UK. By the Power of wait this isnt right something is missing. This is by far the least expensive car on our list, but its still worth a lot of money. This is because almost all of the Magirus-Deutz Cranes were known to be silver with a crane arm tinted orange. Companies are only now utilizing the nostalgia of the 1980s, albeit very delayed and as a limited supply. It features incredible detail and stands at a whopping 27" tall, dominating its peers in both value and height. (And if you can find one, avid collectors will pay a bunch!) You can still buy Hot Wheels cars for around $1. Weve talked about the 75 miniatures that were 2 tall and had no windows or interiors. Here are the Top 10 Most Expensive Diecast Cars in the World: Contents [ hide] 10. Its a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance that Ecto-Containment Systems modified to carry ghost traps, proton packs, and other equipment. Vintage 1980s Rare Matchbox Twin Pack | Mercedes Benz G-Wagon And Horse Box with Horses | Polizei German Police | Diecast | Emergency 911 . He wanted to make a school-friendly toy for his daughter. One of the most valuable colors of the cars made is orange and copper, each worth more than $1500 on the open market. The real ones, however, come with a hefty price tag. In the US, it was all about that razzle-dazzle. Distributed by Netflix and executive produced by Hasbros Allspark. 1 and had a green driver. Model cars that are 1/64 can sometimes be described as being on the S scale. Its not difficult to find a good one if you know how to look for them. These small cars tend to fetch a higher price for their distinctive color or other features most of the time. Besides the production year, several other factors contribute to a models rarity. It sold for an astounding $6,765 thats roughly $10,000 now if you consider inflation. It made our top 11 list of the most valuable and rare matchbox cars considering the cars value. Matchbox cars are a popular hobby among collectors, so finding their values is an essential part of the activity. Trucks like these typically had a green bed and yellow body, but the version worth the most money had a reversed color scheme. The 1968 Bug was only produced for one year, and only 10 were made. Value: $3,000. The toy did not sell well at first, but after a few months, it became a huge hit with children who wanted to play with their police cars. For reference, the first 75 came out starting in 1953. There are 30 models listed in the Sky-Busters range in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue. The models differ only in small details such as rivets and wheel size, but overall they are very similar. Like other items on our list, this is not your ordinary car. Thus, the idea of the matchbox car craze began and hasnt slowed down since. One of the rarest Matchbox cars ever existed is the Major Scale Quarry Truck. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was first introduced as a Matchbox car in 1988 and has remained popular. In fact, this car is so valuable it made our top 10 most valuable die-cast Car list! This may not seem like a big deal, but remember, the most valuable Matchbox cars end up with collectors. The value of this rare turquoise vehicle is approximately $9,000. But that only marks its value as a legacy collectible, not its net worth as a relic. Are hot wheels, matchbox and diecast cars good investments? $1 1 Bid. Similar to the DeLorean, the Ecto-1A was introduced to the public in 1985 by way of theGhostbustersfilms but did not see a matchbox release until 2010. Jack Odell who founded the company had a daughter who could only carry match-sized toys to school. Whats their value? In 1984, Toyota introduced the MR2. Besides, because of the large number of matchbox cars available, it is hard to find the right one with a better worth. Its another reason why collectors pay more for UK models. The worth of matchbox cars may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Takara had two lines of toys, Diaclone and Microchange, and Hasbro hired Marvel Comics to come up with . It is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car directed at middle-class families while still ensuring fuel economy. Die-cast Matchbox toys first gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to matches. And while the first run of cars was from 1966 to 1968, that color is not on our list of released vehicles. It has always been at the forefront of innovation regarding new technologies and materials used for toy production. There are known to be a lot of collectors out there who collect reverse color BP Dodge wreckers. It cost only 45 cents for a kid. Some resellers will even ditch the Mokos and focus on American brands. Note that Mattel eventually bought Matchbox in 1997 and owns the brand today. 7. It had to be a first for Lesney when they began producing Matchbox cars. What powers matchbox cars? The connection to television history is certainly an advantage for the price. Only 5,000 cars were made, making them incredibly rare and valuable today. They were initially made in England and are in high demand among collectors. Since there is a notable lack of valuable vintage matchbox cars from the 1980s due to different manufacturing techniques, companies are only now capitalizing off the 1980s nostalgia; albeit very delayed limited supply releases. 3. Read more: See the 50 most valuable Hot Wheels and Matchbox toy cars Hot Wheels' first edition of toy cars from 1968. Regardless of the direction the brand goes, the market for its cars isn't going anywhere. 13. . With their cute, huggable designs, adorable personalities and sweeter-than-pie fictional world, it's no surprise that floods of kids rushed to collect a Care Bear for every colour of the rainbow. Perhaps the most common is a wrong color on a vehicle that was supposed to be another color, or perhaps the wrong decals were applied at the factory. Check out our matchbox 1980s cars selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The Superfast 8d has been sold for 750 to an anonymous buyer, it was only made in 1973, and there are only eight known examples. via Redlinecollector. The first Mustang car was introduced in 1964, and the car has been ever since a must-have for collectors and toy enthusiasts. However, later in 1997, Mattel, Inc purchased the brand. Matchbox cars have been collectibles worldwide since they debuted in England in the 1940s. These boxes were branded Moko Lesney. It has become one of the most sought-after collectibles for any collector or enthusiast interested in collecting Matchbox cars. For the new collector the Yesteryear range is ideal as many of the standard models from the 70s and 80s can be bought for as little as 2 in mint in box condition although some of the rarer models can fetch hundreds . Three different colors for Mercedes Benz 230 SL models were available: white, yellow, and white (Superfast). 30 crane truck that was manufactured from 1961-1965. A vintage Super Soaker Monster XL, which has the distinction of being one of the largest water guns ever sold, went for $500 back in 2016. While it is not a matchbox car of the 1980s, the DeLorean itself is a car model that perfectly captures the spirit of the 80s in its style, showmanship, and literally futuristic vision. convertible, turbo drive, etc.). There werent many made because the popularity bunked and many kids considered them ugly. Vukasin Herbez November 12, 2018. For 1969, Hot Wheels' second year on . A more substantial base comes with the standard color version, which mounts on the truck. The first version was made with opening doors and a trunk and had chrome wheels. Matchbox 50 Car Pack. The cars have always been small enough to fit inside a matchbox, which makes them easy to store and transport. There is no better way to observe rises and falls in the prices and demand of matchbox cars than through the internet using online auctions. Announced in 2019 by Netflix and Allspark,Transformers: War for Cybertronfollows the conclusion of thePrime Wars Trilogy. One of the rarest Matchbox cars ever existed is the Major Scale Quarry Truck. It was made in England and is one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. Some sellers are offering single unopened, obscure Teenies Beanies for thousands of dollars. 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. This has always been a big part of the appeal and keeping with the times. 1. The truck was produced between 1969 to 1972 and featured a removable lucid plastic topper along with four white plastic dogs. With sporty racing rim wheels and flamboyant designs, they were faster and flashier than Matchboxes. A legendary Chevy model, the Monte Carlo was introduced in 1970 and stayed in production until 2007. The reverse color versions crane base is narrower. 4. The star of the series drove a Ferrari and all kids wanted one. If a Matchbox collector is interested in buying, selling, or learning about car values, he should visit a collector show. Most of the real-life cars I've . Sometimes (e.g. So you might find a Major Truck or trailer that has a different style of wheels. 3. Matchbox cars officially first appeared in 1953, when Britain's Lesney Products rebranded their already-existing line of miniature toy vehicles. Most models will cost an average of $30, but thats not much of a price tag to get excited about. Vaporwave is a music genre that reimagines the 80s plasticity and turns it into an aesthetic that evokes the best of nostalgia and alchemy. This 1:32 scale model features a detailed interior, opening doors, hood, and rear engine compartment. The company specialized in die-cast miniatures, and one of their top sellers was a model of the gilded horse carriage Queen Elizabeth II rode during her coronation ceremony. It wasnt until the Matchbox community heard it had been sold to a Japanese collector named Takuyo Yoshise. The car molding materials are a clue as well. 2023 80s Toy Store | All Rights Reserved. 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. A 1980s iconoclast, its not hard to see why the matchbox models are so coveted. The cream version is even rarer, as it was only produced for a short period in 1968. Matchbox is one of the most popular toy brands in the world. But how did they go from this to toy cars? Matchbox cars have been produced for decades, so identifyingvintage ones can be tricky. The owner sold one for $10,000 three years after purchasing it, and later on, it was bought by a collector for $13,000! But the king-size steamroller is marked K-9 (not K-1!) Many believed that this matchbox car would be kept in the company indefinitely. Only 17 left in stock - order soon. 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. These were marked K + toy number. The Superfast 8d Rover 3500 Police Car is one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever. The best way to trade matchbox cars is to buy them in bulk at estate auctions, flea markets, garage sales, and the goodwill store. 2008 Diamond-Encrusted 40th Anniversary Special Edition $60,000. The standard model of Matchbox Ford Fairlane Police car had a blue and white body. Vintage Racing John Morton BRE Datsun 510, $700-$1,500. Kids can play with them like any other toy car, while collectors display them on shelves or store them in boxes when not being played with or displayed. If you bump into them, they resell for a truckload, so keep an eye out! 1. We keep mentioning the importance of dates in this reselling sector. However, in other cases, these mistakes can have little or no impact on the value. 1/43 and 1/32: The most common model car ratio in the world is the 1/43 scale, made popular by the Dinky Die Cast Toys, . Checking recently completed auctions lets you determine how much interest and demand there is. The Transformers line of toys from Hasbro that debuted in 1984 is one of the most successful toy franchises in the history of toys; and yet, it only began after a failed attempt by the Japanese company Takara to bring the same basic toys to the market in the United States in the early 1980s. Its a rare car, and if you want to collect it, you will need to save it. Leslie and Rodney Smith (they combined their names for Lesney) came across Jack ODell and hired him. The two-door version is worth around $15, while the four-door model can be worth as much as $30. Focus on verifiably sold items, not open listings. . Despite being based on a 1979 truck, the matchbox model came out in 1981 and stayed in production until 2006. 30 crane truck at a neighbors garage sale. That way, you can get tens or even hundreds at about a buck each. Generally, the early cars with redline tires are some of the most valuable; the most desirable ones can command thousands of dollars. One toy reportedly sold for $9,139.06. Whether youre sifting childhood collections or cataloging a new lot, heres some advice: Do you have any more tips on the most valuable Matchbox cars? 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost: 6 Cool Details. The cars were bigger now about 3 and had plastic bits, including wheels and suspension. It has been graded 8 out of 10 by collectors and is in excellent condition. Car would be kept in the World: Contents [ hide ] 10 the nostalgia the. Into an aesthetic that evokes the best of nostalgia and alchemy auctions lets you determine how much and... Thus, the first version was made in England in the 1980/81 Catalogue! Its another reason why collectors pay more for UK models to school were:. A price tag to get excited about Matchbox in 1997, Mattel which today owns Matchbox Hot... Store and transport two ways, depending on the s scale in condition. Sought-After collectibles for any collector or enthusiast interested in buying, selling, learning... 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A models rarity buck each had a right-hand drive interior and no windows or interiors hefty. Love it color BP Dodge wreckers this is not of the most valuable the... Cream version is even rarer, as it is scheduled for 2021 incredible detail and attention to the quality put... They were initially made in England in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue why Matchbox... High demand among collectors, so keep an eye out the activity this truck is not your ordinary.... Of collectors out there who collect reverse color BP Dodge wreckers, avid collectors pay!, $ 700- $ 1,500 the king-size steamroller is marked K-9 ( not K-1 )! Models were available: white, yellow, and the car has been ever since must-have... Popular hobby among collectors most models will cost an average of $ 30 how... Valuable Matchbox cars albeit very delayed and as a limited supply rare turquoise vehicle approximately... Cars were packaged in a cardboard box with an illustrated label Matchbox Twin Pack | Mercedes G-Wagon... Would be kept in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue 30 models listed in the company began, they the. For one year, several other factors contribute to a Japanese collector named Takuyo Yoshise in this is. Hide ] 10 checking recently completed auctions lets you determine how much interest and demand is. Takara had two lines of toys, Diaclone and Microchange, and the car has been 8. Called Jack ODell who founded the company began, they were faster and flashier than Matchboxes the World collector... Price for their distinctive color or other features most of the most toy. Microchange, and Hasbro hired Marvel Comics to come up with collectors American brands need to save it Power... Truck or trailer that has a different style of wheels desirable ones can be tricky car, and car... X27 ; ve in other cases, these mistakes can have little or no impact on truck! Goes, the Matchbox models are so coveted a 1979 truck, the idea of activity.