Accessories followed in 1956, then the Majors in 1957. Notable Rare Modern Hot Wheels. Take good photos from multiple angles. It was called the Models of Yesteryear. These model cars have varying levels of realism. 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. It was made in England and is one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. 1. Matchbox is renowned for the detail and attention to the quality they put into each model. Since Matchbox cars first appeared in England in the 1940s, they have been collectibles worldwide. Factory errors are among the top things that make collecting so interesting. It was manufactured in England and released in 1972, so its not surprising that collectors would be willing to pay so much for it. It wasnt until the Matchbox community heard it had been sold to a Japanese collector named Takuyo Yoshise. For a short time, Lesney even released a series of rechargeable electric Scorpion cars. 100 Black-Owned Businesses to . The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was first introduced as a Matchbox car in 1988 and has remained popular. 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. Ecto-1s most valuable Matchbox is the vehicle used by the Ghostbusters to travel around New York City and fight ghosts. Here are the other nine: 1961 Magirus-Deutz Truck, Matchbox (tan-orange): $11,822; 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. A legendary Chevy model, the Monte Carlo was introduced in 1970 and stayed in production until 2007. This essentially meant the child-centered toys appealed to kids and race car enthusiasts. 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 $1000 a piece. Some early packaging indicated that it was a 102 model range. He is said to have purchased the car for ten dollars and sold it three years later for ten thousand dollars. This particular model has been estimated at around$ 20 t0$ 30. But do not worry because we are here to help. In 1966, Mattel released a 1:75 scale Opel Diplomat car relating to their Matchbox series. 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. This is a vintage Matchbox model of aMercury Cougar. The first period was from 1953 to 1965, and the second was from 1966 to 1991. In one of the boxes of assorted Flying Colors cars from England, there were two blue Rodger Dodgers. The classic Matchbox 50-Pack is an ideal gift for any classic car collector who loves the Matchbox range. The 1968 Bug was only produced for one year, and only 10 were made. A Price list of 600 old corgi toys mostly boxed from the 1960s 70s 80s including Buses Juniors Classics and links to other old diecasts by Dinky Matchbox Lledo Solido & 60 other makers. The . Unlike average blue Fairlane police cars, the one we are talking about has one main difference. The 1980 Series 1-75 models, which are illustrated in the 1980/81 International edition Matchbox Catalogue under the name "Matchbox 75", were mostly issued with Superfast Wheels. The 1968 Pink Beatnik Bandit is one of the 16 original Hot Wheels cars, also known as the "sweet 16." Ed "Big Daddy" Roth designed this particular car, and the ultra-vivid colors are worth a pretty penny today. From 1981 to 1983, the DeLorean Motor Company released the famous DeLorean. This may not seem like a big deal, but remember, the most valuable Matchbox cars end up with collectors. That same year, a used Super Soaker CPS, known for being. The statue consists of almost 106 individual pieces and even includes light-up eyes. 1 and had a green driver. The crane arm is either red or orange and pale brown in pre-production models. 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. The larger scale models have been produced longer than their smaller counterparts and usually have more variations within each body style. Later versions lacked the silver sprayed grille and headlights found on the green versions. Following are some of the sources that you can use to locate the worth of your Matchbox car. Matchbox cars were initially made by the Lesney Company in 1953. The first Hess . Some models were made with grey wheels. Year Produced: 1968. photo source: Hot Wheels Wiki. 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. So it may be a good idea to take a thorough look at your car collection, you might be sitting on a golden goose! Many Matchbox collectors consider the Opel Diplomat in the color of Sea Green as a grail worthy model. Like other items on our list, this is not your ordinary car. The name Matchbox was chosen because it sounded like matchbox, but it also referred to the size of the car. Leslie Smith handled the accounting. There is a sense of classic decadence to every design choice on this car, from the black leather interior to the pop-up lights. 1971 Spectraflame Purple Bye Focal - $6000. This isnt a crucial step, but it makes reselling easier because you can segment your buyers. Collectors often find the best deals at dealer shows because online auctions tend to be less competitive than dealer shows. But this wasnt always the case though. via Redlinecollector. Weve talked about the 75 miniatures that were 2 tall and had no windows or interiors. 5 was a popular one too, featuring a red double-decker bus. Lesney bought out Mokos shares in 1959 so any matchbox series released after that didnt have the Moko sash. One theme in this list is that factory mistakes are especially valuable; the 1965 BP Dodge Wrecker is a great example of this. The cars were bigger now about 3 and had plastic bits, including wheels and suspension. This is by far the least expensive car on our list, but its still worth a lot of money. If you could get a matching M-3 and K-3 for example, youll earn more money. . With an estimated value of around $4,100, this little Matchbox truck is worth more than some regular size cars. Most recently, a copy of one of these crane trucks sold at auction for approximately $13,000 to famous car collector Jim . 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. One toy reportedly sold for $9,139.06. If youre looking for a shorter roof edition, it usually costs around $20. Only one version of this car was officially released by Matchbox. One reverse color wrecker sold for $9,500 in 2005 came in mint condition in its original box. Vintage 70's 80's Lesney Matchbox Superfast Diecast Car Truck Lot Of 48 Toy Cars. Lesney initially planned to make bigger toys for Christmas sales in London when they started. It is also the most valuable matchbox of the 1:64 scale on this list. Lesney cars started out small and got bigger by the decade, so thats one way to date them. 13. and has a red driver. Among the two editions (and the older one), the Road Roller with the more extended roof is the most valuable. Matchbox cars were packaged in two ways, depending on the era. Companies are only now utilizing the nostalgia of the 1980s, albeit very delayed and as a limited supply. Capitalism follows a pretty predictable formula. That way, you can get tens or even hundreds at about a buck each. The famous police car in question had a rare feature. 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. We will tell you the 21 most valuable matchbox cars and their details to give you a better idea of the price of the ones you are trying to sell and buy. 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. Cars in the series were marked with a Y + the toy number. The infamous C4 generation of the Corvette was the first redesign since 1963 and resulted in 51,547 being sold in 1984 alone. The first models were light brown. The cars proved popular, and soon Dinky Toys was . The Bloomington Gold Corvette Show is a car show held every year in Bloomington, Indiana. Early models had metal wheels with treaded tires that could be removed for cleaning or repair (though sometimes they are missing this feature entirely). An art collector purchased the piece for $ 6765 in 1999. A single Ken Wetton Major Scale Quarry Truck was tucked away for Lesney as a part of its history. Car Name Series Color Tampo Base Color / Type Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Notes Photo; 3-Window '34: HiRakers: Red w/Brown fenders Flame tampos on trunk Unpainted / Metal Clear Chrome BW: 1132 '40's Woodie: HiRakers: Orange no tampo Unpainted / Metal Blue tint Tan BW: 1131 Brown wood grain panels CAT Bulldozer: 8. The first version was made with opening doors and a trunk and had chrome wheels. Matchbox toy cars were and still are one of the most valuable toy car collections. It is also the most valuable 1:64 scale Matchbox on our list. Current price: MSRP $1250, sold out. Finding their values is an integral part of Matchbox car collecting, a popular hobby among collectors. For example, 1:64 scale trucks were produced until 1989, while 1:43 scale trucks were only produced until 1982 before being discontinued completely due to poor sales performance. Sold for 240 via Vectis Auctions Ltd (November 2015). Most of the toys back then had self-mobility capacity and could move on their own. John Odell (1920-2007), Leslie Smith (1918-2005), and Rodney . Tom Sellek starred as Magnum PI in a TV show that was a hit back in the 1980s. Lets get going! The two-door version is worth around $15, while the four-door model can be worth as much as $30. They sometimes used localized packaging, so the box might say Matchbox Superfast or the series numbering may differ. Dinky had gone bankrupt just before Lesney did, and Corgi followed suit in 1983. For the sporty 1969 die-cast Hot Wheels . Matchbox is one of the most popular toy brands in the world. Ford Fairlane Police Car isnt your typical model in much the same way as most of what weve listed. Read more: See the 50 most valuable Hot Wheels and Matchbox toy cars Hot Wheels' first edition of toy cars from 1968. The Garbage Truck (Refuse Truck in the UK) matchbox model is based on a 1979 model garbage truck, with a hatch on the back that opens and closes. If you want to add this rare car to your collection, we hope you've been saving. A particular Matchbox car may be the subject of a dozen auctions, all with very low (or no) bids. Over time, the brand expanded to include large-scale die-cast models. There arent always good reasons to collect this crane. First introduced in . Year: 1958. It features incredible detail and stands at a whopping 27" tall, dominating its peers in both value and height. 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 . He wanted to make a school-friendly toy for his daughter. Ending Wednesday at 11:16AM PST 13h 38m. The first Matchbox car was produced in 1953. 5 Best Rare Matchbox Cars To Buy Right Now . Theyre so rare, its almost impossible to find them. Matchbox cars have been collectibles worldwide since they debuted in England in the 1940s. Matchbox cars come in various colors and sizes, but there are several things you can look for to identify them as vintage or not. The ERF dropside lorry is a very popular Matchbox car, with many examples produced in the 1970s. Even more, theres hardly any information on the car at all. The 1969 Ford Kennel Truck is the most valuable Matchbox car in history. Free shipping for many products! There are 25 900 Range items illustrated in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue. Matchbox cars were designed with several unique features that made them appealing to children and collectors alike. "There's really no special reason for the value of this car other than purple being a very rare variation. These boxes were branded Moko Lesney. Vintage Racing John Morton BRE Datsun 510, $700-$1,500. This very strong glass made some time between 1905 and 1910 displays a bold 5 cents in addition to the logo. 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. Most of the real-life cars I've . Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning were US-made brands while the others were from the UK. At this point, manufacturing the toys in the UK stopped making financial sense, so they moved to Macau and later China. These six cars were cast in lead and were based on a generic version of the listed car. 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.