The Delorean was one of the first cars produced by Hot Wheels and is now one of the most sought-after toys from their line. 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. 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. Founded in 1953 by Lesney Products, Matchbox is a well-known toy brand. It has always been at the forefront of innovation regarding new technologies and materials used for toy production. There are many cheaper cars within the group, but not close to the Sea Green Opel Diplomat price. and has a red driver. This valuable matchbox car was sold for $3000 to an enthusiast bidder. Tom Sellek starred as Magnum PI in a TV show that was a hit back in the 1980s. He made a version of the popular Lesney Road Roller which could be put in a matchbox. It was sold last around 1999, over 20 years ago. The reason for this price? Matchbox Cars, Set of 9 Die-Cast 1:64 Scale Toy Trucks and Cars from the Matchbox Adventures World Tour Show, Realistic and Authentic Decos, Includes 1 Exclusive Vehicle No reviews $1125 FREE delivery Tue, Mar 7 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon Ages: 3 years and up Matchbox 9 Car Gift Pack, X7111 4.6 (46) $1991$20.99 So they might commandeer the childs toy, but more likely theyll buy their own toy and hide it away in mint condition, never unpacking it from its box. Focus on verifiably sold items, not open listings. The most sought after are obviously the most exclusive, the rarest of them all, but they come with a price. The majority of versions of it cost about the same as a nice dinner. Matchbox car collecting is a fun hobby, and there is a large community of collectors worldwide. doors or hoods that open), body-work (e.g. This car is one of the most valuable matchbox cars in history. With its distinctive green color scheme, this model can be found in good condition today, but its not cheap. Early models had metal wheels with treaded tires that could be removed for cleaning or repair (though sometimes they are missing this feature entirely). . Moko was their distributor and marketer, so those first 1 in 75 miniatures were marked Moko Lesney. Soon after, Matchbox took over Dinky. Naturally, all of Ann's friends wanted one, too, and by the end of 1953, Lesney had trademarked the name Matchbox as the brand for its new line of miniature cars and trucks . Despite the originals only going for around $30 today, it is still one of the most valuable Matchbox cars simply because of the way it captures the imaginations of children. Aston Martin Could Team Up with Lucid. The first Hess truck, released in 1964, sold for a mere $1.39. 100 Black-Owned Businesses to . Nice and clean with only three or four minuscule outer edge nicks, it stands four inches tall. If you intend to trade the most valuable matchbox cars, it helps to be familiar with their top series. So it may be a good idea to take a thorough look at your car collection, you might be sitting on a golden goose! $18.50 + $14.99 shipping. A price / valuation and model variation guide for the Models of Yesteryear range of die cast models by Lesney Matchbox, . From 1981 to 1983, the DeLorean Motor Company released the famous DeLorean. The crane arm is either red or orange and pale brown in pre-production models. The worth of matchbox cars may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. This vehicle has experienced a modern resurgence in pop culture, featuring stylized artwork for vaporwave music on YouTube and Soundcloud. The highest amount paid for a Hot Wheels car (so far) was $72,000 in 2000 for a pink 1969 Volkswagen Beach Bomb. < GO TO comic & tv series and 36th scale corgi cars & sets from the 1980's: buses, vans and trucks < GO TO buses . He wanted to make a school-friendly toy for his daughter. 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. Vintage 70's 80's Lesney Matchbox Superfast Diecast Car Truck Lot Of 48 Toy Cars. Take good photos from multiple angles. As the first three ever molded, they can fetch amazing prices as a full set. You can also check under the car to see the year and place of manufacture. It has been graded 8 out of 10 by collectors and is in excellent condition. Hope amassed almost . Matchbox cars are collectible toys for children and adults alike. Tell us in the comments! It was released in 1977 and became an instant hit with children who loved playing with it on the street or in their room. Apple Green was the most valuable color of this vehicle available in 1967. At least the valuable version is. There is no 1/64 scale on this truck; it is much larger. . The Superfast 8d Rover 3500 Police Car is a very rare item that can be found only in a few places worldwide today. There was something very unique about the Ford Fairlane, their gray wheels. And of course, one is more valuable than the other. They were initially made in England and are in high demand among collectors. Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith, friends, formed Lesney Products in June 1947. Most Matchbox cars are about 2 inches in length, but this big truck was about 11 inches long. The 1984 MR2 is one of the most iconic Matchbox cars. Even though its the firs it isnt the most valuable. Courtesy Bruce Pascal. Sold for 240 via Vectis Auctions Ltd (November 2015). Princess Adora, the twin sister of Prince Adam/He-Man, could also transform into an evil-battling superhero, She-Ra: Princess of Power. Y-16. Number Produced: Unknown for sure but believed to be very few. 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. It made our top 11 list of the most valuable and rare matchbox cars considering the cars value. The word grail does not get tossed around lightly, but this car falls under that category, as do many other items on this list. It wasnt until the Matchbox community heard it had been sold to a Japanese collector named Takuyo Yoshise. chips, dents, or repairs), and working condition (e.g. Cars in the series were marked with a Y + the toy number. This isnt a crucial step, but it makes reselling easier because you can segment your buyers. It was marked with an M + the toy number, and it mimicked big trucks and construction gear. Some of the largest Hot Wheels collections are valued at over $1,000,000. Matchbox Superfast Challenger#1 (3 Cars) England Hot Smoker. The connection to television history is certainly an advantage for the price. Matchbox Diecast Cars Best Selling 2022 Matchbox Moving Parts 1978 Subaru Brat Die Cast Car (6) $3.50 New Matchbox Diecast Collectible Car (MTL-30782) (50) $1.30 New Matchbox 79391473 1:64 Super Service Center Play Set $34.95 New Matchbox 2019 50th Anniversary Superfast 59 VOLKSWAGEN 23 Microbus (8) $6.89 New Ecto-1s most valuable Matchbox is the vehicle used by the Ghostbusters to travel around New York City and fight ghosts. Hot Wheels used numerous shades of blue, purple, and magenta for its models, and it is easy for the novice collector to confuse them all. Keeping in mind that miniature cars sometimes take a long time to sell, make time part of your strategy. 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. This model was first released in the United States in 1961 and was based on the Ford Fairlane sedan. Ending Wednesday at 11:16AM PST 13h 38m. Another famous Matchbox collector, Jim Gallegos, who is estimated to have more than 150,000 die-cast miniatures worth more than $1.4 million, reportedly bought a brown No. Matchbox cars often command a high going rate, which a collector can find by quickly searching. 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. As sales (and manufacturing) went overseas, the company switched the branding to Lesney Product. The orange, red, green, and copper are the most valuable of the cars made and can be worth more than $1,500 each. Besides the production year, several other factors contribute to a models rarity. You can then separate your haul by quality, condition, category, brand, and year. This list of the top 21 most valuable Matchbox cars shows you just how much your collection could be worth. $32.25 shipping . It appears that matchboxes switched to blister packs in the 1980s from the traditional plastic and cardboard boxes that other die-cast toy brands used. . Vukasin Herbez November 12, 2018. His character drove a Ferrari, which inspired a lot of kids to purchase one. Thus, the idea of the matchbox car craze began and hasnt slowed down since. 4. The most valuable Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars 1. Die-cast Matchbox toys first gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to matches. Review listings of similar models to see what features you can highlight. The Best Amazon Presidents' Day Deals of 2023. Essentially, this means the most valuable Matchbox cars dont have to be Lesneys. Ken Wettons only work still exists in the form of this truck. 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. The Matchbox line includes more than 2,000 cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Later, these were replaced by plastic models that have become synonymous with Matchboxs brand identity. Their No. You can find one in good condition fairly easily. Honestly, you never know what a toy could be worth today. Initially, the Matchbox Series contained 75 cars in matchbox replica packaging. Finding their values is an integral part of Matchbox car collecting, a popular hobby among collectors. The value of this rare turquoise vehicle is approximately $9,000. On later tracks, decals would be better instead of paper stickers. The monetary value comes in if you can find a car still in the box. One was sold for $10,000 and the other for $13,000. The statue consists of almost 106 individual pieces and even includes light-up eyes. For the most basic version, theres not much of a difference in price. As a car, it was middling, overpriced, and famously low quality, but the true value of this car lies in its design and vision. Check out our matchbox 1980s cars selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Here are some of the most valuable Matchbox cards sold recently. They also produced a king-size series that had bigger versions of their most popular matchbox cars. Here are the Top 10 Most Expensive Diecast Cars in the World: Contents [ hide] 10. 28 . The rare Volkswagen without the sunroof was only sold across Europe. Whether youre a serious collector, enjoy looking at them, or fondly remember playing with them growing up, the truth is that many of these die-cast miniature vehicles can be worth a lot of money on the second-hand market. Scale: 1:80. photo source: blog.hobbydb.com. Est: $0- $0. It cost only 45 cents for a kid. 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. A tan truck is said to be worth 8,513 pounds, ($11,760). 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 . So you might find a Major Truck or trailer that has a different style of wheels. Mattel introduced more glamorous cars and sometimes even imaginary vehicles, while Matchbox sold more traditional models. That way, you can get tens or even hundreds at about a buck each. Are hot wheels, matchbox and diecast cars good investments? It has several features that make it unique, including working headlights, a detailed interior, and wheels. Even more, theres hardly any information on the car at all. King-size cars came in 1960. The first version was made with opening doors and a trunk and had chrome wheels. Leslie and Rodney Smith started Lensey Products just after World War II and the company took off quickly. Many Matchbox collectors consider the Opel Diplomat in the color of Sea Green as a grail worthy model. There are some eBay auctions for which bids dont appear until the last day of listing, so this is not always indicative of interest. 30 cranes in 2004 for $13,000. Free shipping for many products! The first Hess . Some sellers are offering single unopened, obscure Teenies Beanies for thousands of dollars. Matchbox has been producing toys for children for over 60 years now. "Most of the 442s are magenta, and often get confused for the purple ones in photos," says Zarnock. Many collectibles start their life as toys targeted at kids. Companies are only now utilizing the nostalgia of the 1980s, albeit very delayed and as a limited supply. They sometimes used localized packaging, so the box might say Matchbox Superfast or the series numbering may differ. The reverse color scheme is exceptionally rare and hard to find, and according to the Matchbox Wikia, it was a factory mistake. The 1968 Volkswagen Bug is one of the rarest Matchbox cars and is also one of the most valuable. From 1947 to 1953, the company made larger die-cast vehicles and various other toys to sell during the Christmas season. Originally introduced in 1984, the Toyota MR2 is a mid-engine, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports car that attempted to balance fuel economy and driving pleasure for the middle class. To non-collectors, the difference is insignificant, but to avid fans, it makes all the difference. They came with either a red or orange crane arm, but there are not many of these today. This model was among the first to come up with open doors and hoods. 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. This very rare piece has been known to sell for over $15,000 at auction. RARE Vintage Matchbox City Garage Play Set (1980) Working Elevator. However, later in 1997, Mattel, Inc purchased the brand. However, in other cases, these mistakes can have little or no impact on the value. On top of this, the DeLoreans rear-mounted motor made sure it was truly the most eclectic car of the 1980s. Over time, the brand expanded to include large-scale die-cast models. convertible, turbo drive, etc.). At the moment, what you need to know about this car is that it was the first Matchbox car ever produced on a 1:64 scale. Factory errors are among the top things that make collecting so interesting. There are known to be a lot of collectors out there who collect reverse color BP Dodge wreckers. Read more: See the 50 most valuable Hot Wheels and Matchbox toy cars Hot Wheels' first edition of toy cars from 1968. But the king-size steamroller is marked K-9 (not K-1!) Current value: $8,000 to $10,000. Many believed that this matchbox car would be kept in the company indefinitely. 8. We do know that the Mercedes Benz 230 SL was produced in three colors: white, white (Superfast), and yellow (Superfast). Some of these were produced for promotional purposes or as promotional items for companies that sold their goods at a discount to stores that purchased large quantities of merchandise from them. Back in the 80s, there was a hit TV series called Magnum PI starring Tom Sellek. This is because almost all of the Magirus-Deutz Cranes were known to be silver with a crane arm tinted orange. For reference, the first 75 came out starting in 1953. These boxes were branded Moko Lesney. The models differ only in small details such as rivets and wheel size, but overall they are very similar. If youre looking for a shorter roof edition, it usually costs around $20. But by this time, the big names produced similar ranges, with fantasy models and race tracks included. 5 . 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. Have you ever wondered which Matchbox toy carsare the most valuable collectibles? John Odell (1920-2007), Leslie Smith (1918-2005), and Rodney . Despite being a 2-door coupe since its debut 37 years ago, the model underwent several drastic redesigns during its production life. Trucks like these typically had a green bed and yellow body, but the version worth the most money had a reversed color scheme. This is the most valuable Matchbox car in history. 1971 Purple Olds 442 Ebay / 84check Value: $5,000 Why? 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