Hot Wheels quickly became Matchbox cars' biggest competitor in the late 1960s. Accessories followed in 1956, then the Majors in 1957. 4. In the 1980s, the Monte Carlo was a legendary Chevy model that remained in production until 2007. It has a value of $3,700. The car molding materials are a clue as well. And while the first run of cars was from 1966 to 1968, that color is not on our list of released vehicles. As such, it is likely somewhat romanticized which could explain the 2021 release date, although until any further marketing or news about the car is released then this will be little more than speculation. 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. Thanks! . Well, when Lesney went bankrupt in 1982, it was sold to Universal Toys. Superfast 8d Rover 3500 Police Car-1973, 17. Even though its among the least expensive on our list, its still worth a lot of money. Similar to the Toyota MR2, the matchbox version of this car debuted in 2021 in a pastel blue paint with neon green doors. But how can you spot the most valuable Matchbox cars? Moko was their distributor and marketer, so those first 1 in 75 miniatures were marked Moko Lesney. A different box design doesnt necessarily mean its fake. It has several features that make it unique, including working headlights, a detailed interior, and wheels. 1,167 votes. Matchbox HOT ROD 48 CAR CARRY CASE w/ Cars & Trucks Vintage 1970's & 80's. $10.49. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NEW Vintage Rare matchbox Toy Car 1980 Popeyes Spinach Wagon Truck Popeye LESNEY at the best online prices at eBay! Look for the original box. This makes it easy to tell if someone has switched up sides or added their paint job, which would make it worth less money than its original price tag. Lesney cars started out small and got bigger by the decade, so thats one way to date them. 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. Its not difficult to find a good one if you know how to look for them. 3. It was made in England and is one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. The company made promotional vehicles for product placement, mostly on their double-decker buses and yesteryear classics. Only 5,000 cars were made, making them incredibly rare and valuable today. Princess Adora, the twin sister of Prince Adam/He-Man, could also transform into an evil-battling superhero, She-Ra: Princess of Power. If you bump into them, they resell for a truckload, so keep an eye out! Three different colors for Mercedes Benz 230 SL models were available: white, yellow, and white (Superfast). Although these were commercial cars, collectors love them. That is, until out of nowhere the Matchbox community learned that it had been sold to a Japanese collector by the name of Takuyo Yoshise. No. 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. Other Series 5-Packs 9-Packs 12-Packs Collectors Series Convoy Dodge Series Global Series Hitch & Haul Japan Origins Japan Series They were also modeled after popular TV and . This may not seem like a big deal, but remember, the most valuable Matchbox cars end up with collectors. While the Ecto-1 is actually a loaded 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Futura Duplex, the car in its Ecto-1 form is right behind the DeLorean as far as iconic 1980s cars go. It was manufactured in England and released in 1972, so its not surprising that collectors would be willing to pay so much for it. There hasnt been a sale mentioned since and any information on how or why the car was created is no longer available to the public. 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. watch . It has been graded 8 out of 10 by collectors and is in excellent condition. A large chrome slab in the 1970s, the model adapted to the times and came out with a complete redesign in the 80s. While its bad form to Ctrl C + Ctrl V, you can study listings that are well crafted and use the same style in your own matchbox car listing. (And if you can find one, avid collectors will pay a bunch!) Also, these variations can help you date your toy car, which could shift your price from the tens to the high hundreds. There was only a right-hand drive interior, and there were no windows. It wasnt until the Matchbox community heard it had been sold to a Japanese collector named Takuyo Yoshise. The rare Volkswagen without the sunroof was only sold across Europe. The connection to television history is certainly an advantage for the price. eBay, for instance, hosts many online auctions. The Major Scale Quarry Truck is the holy grail of Matchbox cars. The 25-year production life of this truck speaks to its staying power in the publics psyche. Its a rare car, and if you want to collect it, you will need to save it. Matchbox cars come in various colors and sizes, but there are several things you can look for to identify them as vintage or not. Matchbox cars are worth a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. So Jack Odell got some 1:43 scale plastic models from Dunlop Tyres, melted them down, and made them into small die-cast models that would fit inside a matchbox. They also released a retro series in 1956. Price: $98. Dinky had gone bankrupt just before Lesney did, and Corgi followed suit in 1983. By the Power of wait this isnt right something is missing. Points to note include colors (both interior and exterior), moving parts (e.g. 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. The sixth most expensive Matchbox car is the Green Ford Kennel Truck. Sometimes (e.g. To non-collectors, the difference is insignificant, but to avid fans, it makes all the difference. This amazing crane truck was auctioned for $ 13000. Matchbox is renowned for the detail and attention to the quality they put into each model. It featured a little green driver and was soon joined by a cement mixer and a dump truck. This has always been a big part of the appeal and keeping with the times. It was released in 1977 and became an instant hit with children who loved playing with it on the street or in their room. This Hot Wheels Volkswagen prototype toy is worth an estimated $150,000. Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith, friends, formed Lesney Products in June 1947. It is said that Jack O Dell made a small version of this toy so that his daughter could take it with her to school. 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. Early models had metal wheels with treaded tires that could be removed for cleaning or repair (though sometimes they are missing this feature entirely). That Moko branding can help you date the piece though. Fortunately, there is good news! The garbage truck is one of the most popular models from the 1970s and 80s. 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. One of the most valuable colors of the cars made is orange and copper, each worth more than $1500 on the open market. Another reason matchbox cars are popular is that they can be used as toys and collectibles. Founded in 1953 by Lesney Products, Matchbox is a well-known toy brand. Of course, most children could not buy a Ferrari and they certainly couldnt drive one, so they had to settle for the matchbox version. The 1968 version is the most valuable of them all, with its red, blue, and white colors and the matching wheels. Vintage Pfaff Sewing Machine Value (Ultimate Guide), 10 Most Valuable Atlas Mason Jars: Complete Value Guide, Top 5 Tips on How to Tell if Pyrex is Vintage, How To Determine The Value Of A Matchbox Car, 12. 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. Tell us in the comments! Their No. Notable Rare Modern Hot Wheels. And the Most Expensive Matchbox Cars on Ebay Right NOW. There was something very unique about the Ford Fairlane, their gray wheels. The company was founded by Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith in North London. 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. It was created in the early 1980s and produced for about three years. There is no 1/64 scale on this truck; it is much larger. 80 0 Bids. Even though its the firs it isnt the most valuable. You can also note variations in the model (e.g. The larger scale models have been produced longer than their smaller counterparts and usually have more variations within each body style. You can raise the value of your resale by tossing some into the lot. 8. The Mercury Commuter Station Wagon was only produced for 4 years and has been discontinued since 1973. You can find one in good condition fairly easily. These small cars tend to fetch a higher price for their distinctive color or other features most of the time. Some of the largest Hot Wheels collections are valued at over $1,000,000. The real ones, however, come with a hefty price tag. Matchbox cars officially first appeared in 1953, when Britain's Lesney Products rebranded their already-existing line of miniature toy vehicles. Just as an example, the first ever steamroller was marked Moko No. There are two versions of roofs: one with a more extended roof and one with a shorter roof. While the slight difference may seem small to non-collectors, it makes all the difference to the most devoted fans. The Matchbox Major Scale Quarry Truck from the early 1960s is an extremely sought-after vehicle. This essentially meant the child-centered toys appealed to kids and race car enthusiasts. Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning were US-made brands while the others were from the UK. Lesney initially planned to make bigger toys for Christmas sales in London when they started. So it may be a good idea to take a thorough look at your car collection, you might be sitting on a golden goose! One of the most valuable Happy Meal toys, "Inspector Gadget" from 1995, could fetch you around $350.. For example, if youre collecting Matchbox vehicles from the early 1960s and find one with factory paint mistakes, it could be worth more than a mint-condition version of the same model. Mercedes-Maybach Launches a Plug-In S580e. The first diecast toy cars were sold in a set of six cars together: a sports car, a delivery van, a tank, a sports coupe, a truck and a farm tractor. Pre-production models, however, are unique. Matchbox cars were packaged in two ways, depending on the era. Matchbox cars are small toys designed to fit inside a matchbox. 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! Above mentioned matchbox vintage cars are considered one of the best model toy car series ever made. Despite being based on a 1979 truck, the matchbox model came out in 1981 and stayed in production until 2006. For the sporty 1969 die-cast Hot Wheels . By this time, the teeny tiny vehicles commanded the market, so youd find small toy cars described as matchbox cars, even when they were made by rival brands like Corgi and Dinky. and has a red driver. 2. 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. Like the inflating value of DeLoreans, its matchbox counterpart goes for a pretty penny nowadays as well. Here are seven of the most valuable Hess trucks. Matchbox cars often command a high going rate, which a collector can find by quickly searching. 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost: 6 Cool Details. There are 30 models listed in the Sky-Busters range in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue. These boxes were branded Moko Lesney. Like other items on our list, this is not your ordinary car. The Best Amazon Presidents' Day Deals of 2023. The worth of matchbox cars may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Scale: 1:80. photo source: blog.hobbydb.com. Year: 1958. Even more, theres hardly any information on the car at all. Mattel introduced more glamorous cars and sometimes even imaginary vehicles, while Matchbox sold more traditional models. This scale is more popular with brands like Matchbox, Hot Wheels and NASCAR. Worse, it is not entirely clear why this vehicle is so valuable. The 1968 Bug was only produced for one year, and only 10 were made. In 1966, Mattel released a 1:75 scale Opel Diplomat car relating to their Matchbox series. This is the most valuable Matchbox car in history. The red model with a white interior is now worth more than $1,000. The shorter roofed version comes in at $50 with box included. It cost only 45 cents for a kid. John Odell (1920-2007), Leslie Smith (1918-2005), and Rodney . That same year, a used Super Soaker CPS, known for being. He is said to have purchased the car for ten dollars and sold it three years later for ten thousand dollars. The 1968 Volkswagen Bug is one of the rarest Matchbox cars and is also one of the most valuable. 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. So it helps to know any matchbox cars after 1986 were rebranded Matchbox International Limited. With sporty racing rim wheels and flamboyant designs, they were faster and flashier than Matchboxes. Check the date of the sale to gauge market interest. The famous police car in question had a rare feature. There are two types of this model; one is built with a long roof, the other with a short one. The first models were light brown. Matchbox is one of the most popular toy brands in the world. There are 76 models listed in the Super Kings range in . It had a right-hand drive interior and no windows. Many believed that this matchbox car would be kept in the company indefinitely. Even though it was the first Matchbox car to appear, is it the companys most prized possession ever created? At least the valuable version is. Distributed by Netflix and executive produced by Hasbros Allspark. Of course, once the manufacturer discovers this, they begin to produce high-end units targeted at collectors. It is also the most valuable 1:64 scale Matchbox on our list. . If youre unfamiliar with Matchbox models, three body molds have been used over the years: 1:43, 1:55, and 1:64 scale. Apple Green was the most valuable color of this vehicle available in 1967. Many of Matchbox's most rare cars are considered valuable thanks to their unique paint jobs or limited production runs. 5 Best Rare Matchbox Cars To Buy Right Now . Essentially, this means the most valuable Matchbox cars dont have to be Lesneys. 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. In 1984, Toyota introduced the MR2. Whats their value? 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. 3. When it comes to discovering Matchbox treasures, theres only one story that tops them alla story about a man named Charlie Mack, who one day in the early 1980s found a brown No. Vaporwave is a music genre that reimagines the 80s plasticity and turns it into an aesthetic that evokes the best of nostalgia and alchemy. 1971 Purple Olds 442 Ebay / 84check Value: $5,000 Why? This is one of the few remaining works of Ken Wetton, and to top it all off, its a beautiful vehicle. You can still buy Hot Wheels cars for around $1. Something about these little tin toys makes them appealing to kids and adults alike. There are some eBay auctions for which bids dont appear until the last day of listing, so this is not always indicative of interest. But which Matchbox car is the most valuable? This valuable matchbox car was sold for $3000 to an enthusiast bidder. Mar 06, 6:00 . Beatnik Bandit Hot Wheels - $15,000. For a short time, Lesney even released a series of rechargeable electric Scorpion cars. Here are the Top 10 Most Expensive Diecast Cars in the World: Contents [ hide] 10. $32.25 shipping . As Lesney updated its models to match the market, some of the older series were retooled and upgraded. The truck was originally released in 1961-1965 relating to Matchboxs Crane series that included tractors and other vehicles with cranes. Hope amassed almost . The cream version is even rarer, as it was only produced for a short period in 1968. Its not uncommon to find a Matchbox car with factory paint mistakes. How much are these matchbox cars worth? For Lesney Matchbox cars, these took the form of regional models with localized advertising. Check what features buyers want so you can emphasize them. 5. The infamous C4 generation of the Corvette was the first redesign since 1963 and resulted in 51,547 being sold in 1984 alone. The ERF dropside lorry is a very popular Matchbox car, with many examples produced in the 1970s. The reverse color versions crane base is narrower. Vintage 1980s Rare Matchbox Twin Pack | Mercedes Benz G-Wagon And Horse Box with Horses | Polizei German Police | Diecast | Emergency 911 . Some sellers are offering single unopened, obscure Teenies Beanies for thousands of dollars. The chief model maker, Ken Wetton, made eight prototype proof of concept models; but these were not to be sold; and most of them have since disappeared. Matchbox, Random 70's 80's 90's Car Lot of 5 Toy Cars - Vintage Toy Cars Lot 3 . "There's really no special reason for the value of this car other than purple being a very rare variation. 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. Announced in 2019 by Netflix and Allspark,Transformers: War for Cybertronfollows the conclusion of thePrime Wars Trilogy. Original Matchbox Lesney Dodge Wreck Truck Check Prices eBay. CedarClosetCache From shop CedarClosetCache. Ken Wettons only work still exists in the form of this truck. The Matchbox line includes more than 2,000 cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Unlike average blue Fairlane police cars, the one we are talking about has one main difference. 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