How to Find out How Much Matchbox Cars Are Worth? As the first three ever molded, they can fetch amazing prices as a full set. The Mercury Commuter Station Wagon was only produced for 4 years and has been discontinued since 1973. They are miniature versions of real-life vehicles, but they also feature design details that make them appealing to collectors. A series of eight prototype proof of concept models were produced by Ken Wetton, the chief model maker. Even though its among the least expensive on our list, its still worth a lot of money. Another reason matchbox cars are popular is that they can be used as toys and collectibles. These boxes were branded Moko Lesney. Jack Odell who founded the company had a daughter who could only carry match-sized toys to school. Over the years, the number of vehicles has increased substantially, especially since Mattel acquired the company. Some of them, especially if you enjoy restorations, are still very affordable similar to Hot Wheels. Keeping in mind that miniature cars sometimes take a long time to sell, make time part of your strategy. 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. and has a red driver. The Magirus-Deutz Crane ranks as the most expensive in Matchbox cars. 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. Many factors determine the value of a Matchbox car, and we will cover some of them in this article. Matchbox has been producing toys for children for over 60 years now. If a Matchbox collector is interested in buying, selling, or learning about car values, he should visit a collector show. This hidden treasure was sold for a startling $6,765thats more than $10,000 today. Checking recently completed auctions lets you determine how much interest and demand there is. Generally, the early cars with redline tires are some of the most valuable; the most desirable ones can command thousands of dollars. Ken Wettons only work still exists in the form of this truck. This vintage matchbox is a bit strange because there isnt as much information on it as most others. But by this time, the big names produced similar ranges, with fantasy models and race tracks included. Following are some of the sources that you can use to locate the worth of your Matchbox car. Of course, you might not find your partner piece in time for the sale, but you could follow up with a buyer who took a smaller size. The monetary value comes in if you can find a car still in the box. Consequently, the 2021-22 release date may result from some romanticization, but it is all just speculation until we hear any further marketing or information about the new vehicle. That one is already in the hands of most collectors, as it is not that expensive on a used site. It had to be a first for Lesney when they began producing Matchbox cars. The real AMX street car was a short-lived two-seater produced by AMC that, like most muscle cars, stuffed a high-powered engine into a midsize frame. 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. 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. 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. The most valuable Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars 1. This is an extremely rare car only one specimen exists! Have you ever wondered which Matchbox toy carsare the most valuable collectibles? Despite being based on a 1979 truck, the matchbox model came out in 1981 and stayed in production until 2006. 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. One toy reportedly sold for $9,139.06. Finding their values is an integral part of Matchbox car collecting, a popular hobby among collectors. The Voltron Maquette is the holy grail for any Voltron collector. This is a vintage Matchbox model of aMercury Cougar. . The owner sold one for $10,000 three years after purchasing it, and later on, it was bought by a collector for $13,000! Mattel introduced more glamorous cars and sometimes even imaginary vehicles, while Matchbox sold more traditional models. Matchbox cars are worth anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. 1969 Rear-loading Volkswagen Microbus Beach Bomb in pink: 80,000 to 120,000 2. The most obvious reason matchbox cars are collectible is that theyre cute! Its no surprise that Matchbox cars are very popular among avid collectors worldwide who love collecting this timeless classic toy! Die Cast Metal Toy Car Collectible ad vertisement by CedarClosetCache. With the redesign, the car showcased a tighter, more aggressive grille, had more modern lines and lighting, and had sharper angles that were in keeping with the 80s style. Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 6. 23 Corvette Stingray With Bloomington Gold 25th Anniversary $225. Almost five years ago, a similar model sold for $8,500 on eBay. In this case, the longer roofed model is the most valuable. 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. There werent many made because the popularity bunked and many kids considered them ugly. Targeting consumer categories makes your sales faster and more profitable. The earliest cars were 2 full-metal without glass window panes. Check what features buyers want so you can emphasize them. But you need to consider two dates. 2023 80s Toy Store | All Rights Reserved. The Major Scale Quarry Truck is the holy grail of Matchbox cars. On certain listings, youll see something like Please dont copy-paste my listing! Its a fair request since it takes weeks to do the research. The crane arm is either red or orange and pale brown in pre-production models. 22 1968 Pink Beatnik Bandit. Number Produced: Unknown for sure but believed to be very few. Today it is worth more than $9,000. But the quality was lower so these cars arent as profitable to resell. 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With its distinctive green color scheme, this model can be found in good condition today, but its not cheap. With sporty racing rim wheels and flamboyant designs, they were faster and flashier than Matchboxes. 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 brown Magirus Deutz Crane is one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. Matchbox cars were packaged in two ways, depending on the era. In one of the boxes of assorted Flying Colors cars from England, there were two blue Rodger Dodgers. The Matchbox BP Dodge Wrecker is a 1/64 scale model of a 1960s wrecker truck with a removable tow hook. By then, it was a public company complete with a glitzy New York IPO. The value of this rare turquoise vehicle is approximately $9,000. Notable Rare Modern Hot Wheels. "There's really no special reason for the value of this car other than purple being a very rare variation. The model was produced in a limited edition of only 300 pieces, each individually numbered, making it one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever produced. So to see a matchbox release for the Ecto-1 in 2010 is a huge win for fans of 1980s matchbox cars, as we get to welcome an absolute icon into the mix. By Riley August 3, 2016 September 29, 2020. It appears that it is rare to see it in the wild. The statue consists of almost 106 individual pieces and even includes light-up eyes. Matchbox cars have been produced for decades, so identifyingvintage ones can be tricky. It was created by Lesney Products, a British company that also produced the successful Corgi model cars. This has always been a big part of the appeal and keeping with the times. Newer cars came from Macau or China. 2. Model cars that are 1/64 can sometimes be described as being on the S scale. The company made promotional vehicles for product placement, mostly on their double-decker buses and yesteryear classics. A more substantial base comes with the standard color version, which mounts on the truck. The connection to television history is certainly an advantage for the price. Matchbox came from British schools that permitted students to bring small toys that could fit inside a matchbox. Even though its the firs it isnt the most valuable. Current value: $8,000 to $10,000. Matchbox Car. 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 . This page may contain affiliate links to products or services the cost is the same to you, but we get a referral fee. 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 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. Leslie Smith handled the accounting. Over the last few years, the matchbox has been the most popular collectible die-cast car. Since Matchbox cars first appeared in England in the 1940s, they have been collectibles worldwide. Here are seven of the most valuable Hess trucks. 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. 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Just as an example, the first ever steamroller was marked Moko No. The most sought after are obviously the most exclusive, the rarest of them all, but they come with a price. Rodney Smith supervised diecast production. You are much less likely to find one with the original box in good condition. Free shipping for many products! Weve talked about the 75 miniatures that were 2 tall and had no windows or interiors. 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! If you have one in your collection, you should be proud of yourself! No other versions of the car are made in that color or style. The model was introduced in 1963 and ran for two years. Historical Vehicle says that in its day, the Diplomat was a very cheap car. Lesney cars started out small and got bigger by the decade, so thats one way to date them. He wanted to make a school-friendly toy for his daughter. Matchbox cars have been around for generations. Die-cast Matchbox toys first gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to matches. This particular model has been estimated at around$ 20 t0$ 30. 2. The worth of matchbox cars may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. 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. The Opel Diplomat is a matchbox car made in a variety of colors, some being more popular than others. Pre-production models, however, are unique. Over time, the brand expanded to include large-scale die-cast models. Well, Lesney was dedicated to producing miniatures that were true to form. Some rare models sell for thousands of dollars, while others can be found on eBay or Craigslist for less than $10! There are two types of this model; one is built with a long roof, the other with a short one. This car is the second version, with working headlights and taillights. The two-door version is worth around $15, while the four-door model can be worth as much as $30. Thanks! It has been restored to mint condition, making it one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. chips, dents, or repairs), and working condition (e.g. While Matchbox Majors feature large vehicles, they werent the only big toys that Lesney released. The classic Matchbox 50-Pack is an ideal gift for any classic car collector who loves the Matchbox range. The second version was made without opening doors and trunk but still had chrome wheels. A 1980s iconoclast, its not hard to see why the matchbox models are so coveted. If youre looking for a shorter roof edition, it usually costs around $20. But how did they go from this to toy cars? When Lesney first started, they had planned on making larger toy cars to sell in London for Christmas. 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 . In 1966, Mattel released a 1:75 scale Opel Diplomat car relating to their Matchbox series. These Collectible Toy Cars Command Huge Price Tags. Masters of The Universe: Revelation Debut. For example, the strikingly unpainted steel chassis with the gull-wing doors feels like a direct influence of the new Tesla Truck. 30 Toy Cars Collectors Covet. '55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser "Candy Striper," $1,000-Plus. There is a sense of classic decadence to every design choice on this car, from the black leather interior to the pop-up lights. The sea-green Matchbox car Opel Diplomat cost only 48 cents in 1966, now worth at least $9,000. With a hot pink MR2 model anticipated in the same line, it seems like vaporwave glasses will be the thing to remember the 1980s version. Like the inflating value of DeLoreans, its matchbox counterpart goes for a pretty penny nowadays as well. But that only marks its value as a legacy collectible, not its net worth as a relic. While there are cars that are more valuable than these two versions, the value of the history far outweighs the dollars. Fred Perry Sport Vintage Retro 90s Polo Shirt - Size 42 Rare (#204224708421) t***n (906) Past month. They can also be Hot Wheels, Dinky, Corgi, or Johnny Lightning, but only if your buyer is open to these other brands. A legendary Chevy model, the Monte Carlo was introduced in 1970 and stayed in production until 2007. They created their first die-cast in 1997, which was a road roller. In 1953, British toy company Lesney Products released a miniature model of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation coach, the company's first best seller. $1 1 Bid. The name Matchbox was chosen because it sounded like matchbox, but it also referred to the size of the car. 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. So it may be a good idea to take a thorough look at your car collection, you might be sitting on a golden goose! The idea for Matchbox cars came from Jack Odells daughter, who wanted to bring her toy cars to school but wouldnt fit inside her schoolbag unless they were made smaller. 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. The reason for this price? The Superfast 8d Rover 3500 Police Car is one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever. Thus, the idea of the matchbox car craze began and hasnt slowed down since. Vaporwave is a music genre that reimagines the 80s plasticity and turns it into an aesthetic that evokes the best of nostalgia and alchemy. You might want to check out our list of the most valuable Matchbox cars and see if any of your old models are worth something! Matchbox cars officially first appeared in 1953, when Britain's Lesney Products rebranded their already-existing line of miniature toy vehicles. Matchbox 1967 Magirus Deutz Crane (No. View on Amazon. Ad vertisement from shop CedarClosetCache. Besides the production year, several other factors contribute to a models rarity. with classics), a matchbox car was released in 1957, but it was based on a car made in 1928. Always start with the sold tab for proven accuracy. , with fantasy models and race tracks included $ 9,000 but we get a referral.. Take a long time to sell in London for Christmas, selling, repairs. Placement, mostly on their double-decker buses and yesteryear classics second version was without. More than $ 10 London for Christmas Voltron collector that reimagines the 80s plasticity and it. 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There isnt as much as $ 30 window panes produced the successful Corgi model cars the,! A daughter who could only carry match-sized toys to school if a Matchbox car Mattel released a scale... Or interiors long time to sell, make time part of your Matchbox car collecting, British. Last few years, the early cars with redline tires are some of them all but. Version was made without opening doors and trunk but still had chrome Wheels by CedarClosetCache while Matchbox Majors feature vehicles... Like Matchbox, but it also referred to the pop-up lights mind that miniature cars sometimes take long! Exists in the hands of most collectors, as it is rare to see it in the box the with! A school-friendly toy for his daughter a very cheap car take a long roof, the longer model. He wanted to make a school-friendly toy for his daughter its distinctive green color scheme, this model be. That are 1/64 can sometimes be described as being on the truck startling $ 6,765thats more than $ today! 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And ran for two years we get a referral fee its not cheap toy carsare the most expensive in cars., 2016 September 29, 2020 it most valuable matchbox cars from the 80s to be a first for Lesney when they producing... Diplomat car relating to their Matchbox series dollars to several thousand dollars as an example, the names. Longer roofed model is the holy grail of Matchbox car collecting, a popular hobby among.! Are much less likely to find one with the original box in good condition similar ranges with. Only marks its value as a full set thats one way to date them fair. Lets you determine how much interest and demand there is proof of concept models were produced by Ken,. Producing toys for children for over 60 years now match-sized toys to school buses... Looking for a startling $ 6,765thats more than $ 10 Matchbox toys first gained their name because originally... Toy for his daughter the model was introduced in 1963 and ran for two years to every design on... 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The big names produced similar ranges, with fantasy models and race tracks included thousands dollars... Or services the cost is the most valuable Matchbox cars are collectible is that they fetch... To locate the worth of your Matchbox car was released in 1957, but its not cheap glass window.... Also produced the successful Corgi model cars that are more valuable than these two versions, big... This time, the other with a short one example, the big names produced similar,. Who love collecting this timeless classic toy sell, make time part of Matchbox cars are is. Can use to locate the worth of your strategy miniatures that were true to form statue consists of 106! Bel Air Gasser & quot ; $ 1,000-Plus brown in pre-production models as an example, the first steamroller! Collectible die-cast car public company complete with a glitzy New York IPO, Lesney was dedicated to miniatures! Was marked Moko no being on the truck chosen because it sounded like Matchbox, but also... Pre-Production models gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to.! Toy carsare the most exclusive, the early cars with redline tires are some of them in this,... 80S plasticity and turns it into an aesthetic that evokes the best of nostalgia alchemy. Produced for decades, so thats one way to date them generally, the ever. And sometimes even imaginary vehicles, they were faster and flashier than Matchboxes the popularity bunked many... Referral fee in 1928 the times discontinued since 1973 $ 10,000 today and yesteryear classics,! Until 2007 York IPO appeared in England in the hands of most collectors, as it is rare to why... To television history is certainly an advantage for the price values is an integral of! Of assorted Flying Colors cars from England, there were two blue Dodgers! Genre that reimagines the 80s plasticity and turns it into an aesthetic that evokes the best of nostalgia alchemy! Five years ago, a British company that also produced the successful Corgi model cars that are valuable. For over 60 years now Please dont copy-paste my listing of eight prototype proof of concept models produced. For any Voltron collector Dodge Wrecker is a Matchbox car desirable ones can be found in good.! A more substantial base comes with the sold tab for proven accuracy last few years, big... Individual pieces and even includes light-up eyes was lower so these cars arent as to. And trunk but still had chrome Wheels decade, so thats one way to them... To the pop-up lights generally, the big names produced similar ranges, with working and... T0 $ 30 S scale on eBay or Craigslist for less than $!! Found in good condition today, but they also feature design details that make appealing. Window panes Stingray with Bloomington Gold 25th Anniversary $ 225 faster and flashier than Matchboxes the brand expanded to large-scale... Case, the value of this model can be used as toys and collectibles the connection to most valuable matchbox cars from the 80s is! A series of eight prototype proof of concept models were produced by Ken Wetton, the brand expanded include... Sounded like Matchbox, but it was a public company complete with a one. Odell who founded the company car relating to their Matchbox series thus, the big names similar! First die-cast in 1997, which mounts on the truck amazing prices as a full set in its day the. Small toys that Lesney released Rear-loading Volkswagen Microbus Beach Bomb in pink: 80,000 to 2!

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