2008 Diamond-Encrusted 40th Anniversary Special Edition $60,000. 1. But how did they go from this to toy cars? 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. 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. $150 - $505. Have you ever wondered which Matchbox toy carsare the most valuable collectibles? In 1953, British manufacturer Lesney Products rebranded its miniature toy vehicle line, and Matchbox cars were born. But this wasnt always the case though. Despite the originals only going for around $30 today, it is still one of the most valuable Matchbox cars simply because of the way it captures the imaginations of children. For a short time, Lesney even released a series of rechargeable electric Scorpion cars. The 1969 Ford Kennel Truck is the most valuable Matchbox car in history. Only 17 left in stock - order soon. 13. Pre-production models, however, are unique. There were some minor differences in the way the wheels were made and the way the rivets were made, but otherwise, the two models are almost the same. e.g. . 2023 80s Toy Store | All Rights Reserved. This particular model has been estimated at around$ 20 t0$ 30. This vintage matchbox is a bit strange because there isnt as much information on it as most others. So it may be a good idea to take a thorough look at your car collection, you might be sitting on a golden goose! Care Bears are one of the most iconic 80s properties out there. He made a version of the popular Lesney Road Roller which could be put in a matchbox. The company was founded by Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith in North London. Regardless of the direction the brand goes, the market for its cars isn't going anywhere. Of course, once the manufacturer discovers this, they begin to produce high-end units targeted at collectors. In some cases, printing the card in the wrong color can significantly increase value. You can then separate your haul by quality, condition, category, brand, and year. Distributed by Netflix and executive produced by Hasbros Allspark. This is one of only three models produced with this design, and its about half the size of a standard Matchbox car. But by this time, the big names produced similar ranges, with fantasy models and race tracks included. This was the first-ever 1:64 scale Matchbox car made. Now that matchbox is resurfacing again; collectors are delighted to see this trend continue. It had to be a first for Lesney when they began producing Matchbox cars. Nice and clean with only three or four minuscule outer edge nicks, it stands four inches tall. Mattel introduced more glamorous cars and sometimes even imaginary vehicles, while Matchbox sold more traditional models. 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. Some resellers will even ditch the Mokos and focus on American brands. 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. There are two types of this model; one is built with a long roof, the other with a short one. It appears that it is rare to see it in the wild. Current price: MSRP $1250, sold out. Bubble Power She-Ra. Lesney kept one Ken Wetton Major Scale Quarry Truck as a piece of the companys history. If you bump into them, they resell for a truckload, so keep an eye out! 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. 1 and had a green driver. It needs a little more history to explain why it made the list. Most of these models sold very well in the market and are collected by enthusiasts today. A lot of times these little cars are valued because they have a very special color or other option. Lot of Assorted Mini Cars & Truck Toys - Matchbox, Hot Wheels, etc by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer. There are some eBay auctions for which bids dont appear until the last day of listing, so this is not always indicative of interest. So heres one way to maximize profit. The cream version is even rarer, as it was only produced for a short period in 1968. Prices arent too different from the basic versions. Superfast 8d Rover 3500 Police Car-1973, 17. 30 cranes in 2004 for $13,000. It has been restored to mint condition, making it one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. These were marked K + toy number. As a car, it was middling, overpriced, and famously low quality, but the true value of this car lies in its design and vision. This essentially meant the child-centered toys appealed to kids and race car enthusiasts. It was marked with an M + the toy number, and it mimicked big trucks and construction gear. Initially, the Matchbox Series contained 75 cars in matchbox replica packaging. It was created by Lesney Products, a British company that also produced the successful Corgi model cars. The reason for this price? The Best Amazon Presidents' Day Deals of 2023. Certain colors have premium value, so it helps to have a list (and a swatch) of the most sought-after shades. 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. 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 ERF dropside lorry will set you back around $9000. You don't want to miss these, whether you're pricing your own collection or thrift hunting for treasure.All thes. There are known to be a lot of collectors out there who collect reverse color BP Dodge wreckers. 4. 5 Best Rare Matchbox Cars To Buy Right Now . Many collectibles start their life as toys targeted at kids. Only 19 left in stock - order soon. That way, you can get tens or even hundreds at about a buck each. Value: $3,000. Also, speaking of Mattel, the Hot Wheels line of cars is often considered a valid matchbox car by collectors and enthusiasts heads up! You can still buy Hot Wheels cars for around $1. View on Amazon. This vintage matchbox is considered the Holy Grail of rare matchbox cars. Some models were made with grey wheels. The Superfast 8d Rover 3500 Police Car is a very rare item that can be found only in a few places worldwide today. 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. Its much bigger. Year Produced: 1968. photo source: Hot Wheels Wiki. The worth of matchbox cars may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. One toy reportedly sold for $9,139.06. 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. Only 5,000 cars were made, making them incredibly rare and valuable today. Hot Wheels werent as carefully crafted as Lesneys. But you need to consider two dates. One reverse color wrecker sold for $9,500 in 2005 came in mint condition in its original box. $19.92. The 1969 pink Beach Bomb leads his list of the top 10 most valuable Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. 1. The modelhas been discontinued for many years, so its value has increased significantly over time. Y-16. How much are these matchbox cars worth? A particular Matchbox car may be the subject of a dozen auctions, all with very low (or no) bids. Soon after, Matchbox took over Dinky. Matchbox is renowned for the detail and attention to the quality they put into each model. Hot Wheels didn't do much to mark the event, but fans have. This model was released by Lesney Products Ltd. in 1964 relating to its Superfast series of models designed to be larger than other Matchbox cars. Ford Fairlane Police Car isnt your typical model in much the same way as most of what weve listed. When determining the value of Matchbox toy cars, the age of the cars is crucial. Historical Vehicle says that in its day, the Diplomat was a very cheap car. Matchbox cars are collectible toys for children and adults alike. A more substantial base comes with the standard color version, which mounts on the truck. They came with either a red or orange crane arm, but there are not many of these today. Apple Green was the most valuable color of this vehicle available in 1967. 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. The 1968 Bug was only produced for one year, and only 10 were made. $23.90. The Major Scale Quarry Truck is the holy grail of Matchbox cars. Vintage 1980s Rare Matchbox Twin Pack | Mercedes Benz G-Wagon And Horse Box with Horses | Polizei German Police | Diecast | Emergency 911 . Model cars that are 1/64 can sometimes be described as being on the S scale. Ending Wednesday at 11:16AM PST 13h 38m. John Odell (1920-2007), Leslie Smith (1918-2005), and Rodney . From 1947 to 1953, the company made larger die-cast vehicles and various other toys to sell during the Christmas season. And its this American domination of the trading space that made Lesney introduce their Matchbox Superfast series, aimed at the US. Some have bright colors and fun stickers, but others have doors that open and interiors that mimic their life-size muse. Thus, the idea of the matchbox car craze began and hasnt slowed down since. But Jack Odell kept some stuff for himself, rebranding his toys as Lledo spot the anagram! The last sale for a car of this kind is listed in the 1990s, almost 20 years ago. The word may be generic, but if youre selling to collectors, make sure its a Lesney! This amazing crane truck was auctioned for $ 13000. Trucks like these typically had a green bed and yellow body, but the version worth the most money had a reversed color scheme. They created their first die-cast in 1997, which was a road roller. 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