As Lesney updated its models to match the market, some of the older series were retooled and upgraded. The car had no roof and had a different interior than the American version. $22.53 shipping. Ken Wettons only work still exists in the form of this truck. 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. The matchbox equivalent of this car, much like the Toyota MR2, is scheduled for a 2021 release in a similarly striking shade of pastel blue with neon green doors. Over the last few years, the matchbox has been the most popular collectible die-cast car. Many of Matchbox's most rare cars are considered valuable thanks to their unique paint jobs or limited production runs. 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. 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. Highest Selling Price: $ 3,700. 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. They were soon joined by Jack ODell, an engineer and tool creator. This hidden treasure was sold for a startling $6,765thats more than $10,000 today. This item: Matchbox 9 Car Gift Pack, X7111. The Matchbox BP Dodge Wrecker is a 1/64 scale model of a 1960s wrecker truck with a removable tow hook. The 1984 MR2 is one of the most iconic Matchbox cars. But how did they go from this to toy cars? If you intend to trade the most valuable matchbox cars, it helps to be familiar with their top series. In an auction, this unique treasure sold for a staggering $15,000. He is said to have purchased the car for ten dollars and sold it three years later for ten thousand dollars. To non-collectors, the difference is insignificant, but to avid fans, it makes all the difference. They were initially made in England and are in high demand among collectors. It seems like its only recently been discovered as a valuable collectible. Matchbox, Random 70's 80's 90's Car Lot of 5 Toy Cars . The real ones, however, come with a hefty price tag. They made more sales and were played with more, so if you find any to resell, theyre probably well-used and in bad condition. Some rare models sell for thousands of dollars, while others can be found on eBay or Craigslist for less than $10! In 1953, British manufacturer Lesney Products rebranded its miniature toy vehicle line, and Matchbox cars were born. There are 30 models listed in the Sky-Busters range in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue. Check the date of the sale to gauge market interest. The earliest models were marked Moko. 3. It was created by Lesney Products, a British company that also produced the successful Corgi model cars. The Major Scale Quarry Truck is the holy grail of Matchbox cars. $1 1 Bid. Leslie and Rodney Smith (they combined their names for Lesney) came across Jack ODell and hired him. 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. The car has seen a modern resurgence in popular culture, as the car can be seen used in stylized vaporwave music artwork in places like Soundcloud and YouTube. 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. Are hot wheels, matchbox and diecast cars good investments? Other Series 5-Packs 9-Packs 12-Packs Collectors Series Convoy Dodge Series Global Series Hitch & Haul Japan Origins Japan Series Checking recently completed auctions lets you determine how much interest and demand there is. 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. 1966 Opel Diplomat. 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. Later, these were replaced by plastic models that have become synonymous with Matchboxs brand identity. Only 17 left in stock - order soon. Lot of Assorted Mini Cars & Truck Toys - Matchbox, Hot Wheels, etc by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer. View on Amazon. The stylish coupe, with the iconic gullwing doors, enjoyed only a fleeting two-year production run but was immortalized shortly after in 1985 by numerous appearances as the time machine in theBack to The Futurefranchise. Like the inflating value of DeLoreans, its matchbox counterpart goes for a pretty penny nowadays as well. Vintage 50's 60's 70's . One of the most valuable colors of the cars made is orange and copper, each worth more than $1500 on the open market. Hot Wheels werent as carefully crafted as Lesneys. The 1968 version is the most valuable of them all, with its red, blue, and white colors and the matching wheels. The 25-year production life of this truck speaks to its staying power in the publics psyche. One reverse color wrecker sold for $9,500 in 2005 came in mint condition in its original box. Even though it was the first Matchbox car to appear, is it the companys most prized possession ever created? via Redlinecollector. with classics), a matchbox car was released in 1957, but it was based on a car made in 1928. Most Matchbox cars are about 2 inches in length, but this big truck was about 11 inches long. The toy car also comes with a driver figure. That makes it the most valuable Matchbox car ever made, even though its just a smaller version of the original. We do know that it is a hot pink 1984 Toyota MR2, and it is honestly quite hard to think of a mainstream car that captures the 80s quite like this car does. 5 Best Rare Matchbox Cars To Buy Right Now . It appears that it is rare to see it in the wild. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Great deals on Matchbox 1980 Vehicle Year Vintage Manufacture Diecast Cars, Trucks & Vans. This truck is not of the typical Matchbox 1/64 scale. Matchbox 1967 Magirus Deutz Crane (No. Masters of The Universe: Revelation Debut. We keep mentioning the importance of dates in this reselling sector. But how can you spot the most valuable Matchbox cars? Matchbox cars officially first appeared in 1953, when Britain's Lesney Products rebranded their already-existing line of miniature toy vehicles. This trend started with the Matchbox cars from Lesney, and they are returning to take over again. They sometimes used localized packaging, so the box might say Matchbox Superfast or the series numbering may differ. In the history of Matchbox cars, very few vehicles have reached the value level of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. '55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser "Candy Striper," $1,000-Plus. This essentially meant the child-centered toys appealed to kids and race car enthusiasts. The cars have always been small enough to fit inside a matchbox, which makes them easy to store and transport. 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 . 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. e.g. One of the most valuable is the 1969 prototype VW. If a Matchbox collector is interested in buying, selling, or learning about car values, he should visit a collector show. This model was first released in the United States in 1961 and was based on the Ford Fairlane sedan. It is not entirely likely that you will find one in your collection, but it is not impossible either. $150 - $505. Their scale wasnt always realistic and many of the cars were styled to fit a fantasy. By Riley August 3, 2016 September 29, 2020. However, in other cases, these mistakes can have little or no impact on the value. Its another reason why collectors pay more for UK models. Here are seven of the most valuable Hess trucks. "There's really no special reason for the value of this car other than purple being a very rare variation. Alongside the hot pink MR2 model likely to be released in the same line, it seems as though the 1980s are being remembered through vaporwave glasses. Later, plastic windows were added, as well as other bits of trim. The first period was from 1953 to 1965, and the second was from 1966 to 1991. So her daddy invented cars that could fit in a matchbox to obey his kids school rules. Model cars that are 1/64 can sometimes be described as being on the S scale. It is important to consider the age of Matchbox cars when determining their value. 30 Toy Cars Collectors Covet. Even though it was discontinued from production several years ago, collectors still love it and will pay top dollar for any version of this model they can find. Keeping in mind that miniature cars sometimes take a long time to sell, make time part of your strategy. Cars in the series were marked with a Y + the toy number. Besides, because of the large number of matchbox cars available, it is hard to find the right one with a better worth. Nice and clean with only three or four minuscule outer edge nicks, it stands four inches tall. Heck, it's not even a toy. Here are the other nine: 1961 Magirus-Deutz Truck, Matchbox (tan-orange): $11,822; A legendary Chevy model, the Monte Carlo was introduced in 1970 and stayed in production until 2007. A price / valuation and model variation guide for the Models of Yesteryear range of die cast models by Lesney Matchbox, . In 2010, he sold it, so we dont know how much he spent on it. It was sold last around 1999, over 20 years ago. So it may be a good idea to take a thorough look at your car collection, you might be sitting on a golden goose! $59.95. These small cars tend to fetch a higher price for their distinctive color or other features most of the time. As the first three ever molded, they can fetch amazing prices as a full set. This particular model has been estimated at around$ 20 t0$ 30. 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. It has always been at the forefront of innovation regarding new technologies and materials used for toy production. Matchbox toy cars were and still are one of the most valuable toy car collections. 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. 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 . CedarClosetCache From shop CedarClosetCache. If youre looking for a shorter roof edition, it usually costs around $20. $18.50 + $14.99 shipping. The only difference is it is collectible based on its legacy rather than its value. They came with either a red or orange crane arm, but there are not many of these today. 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 They can also be Hot Wheels, Dinky, Corgi, or Johnny Lightning, but only if your buyer is open to these other brands. This strange little matchbox is worth up to twelve thousand dollars. The garbage truck is one of the most popular models from the 1970s and 80s. Sometimes (e.g. Looking for a Career with 80s Toy Store? The . Whether youre sifting childhood collections or cataloging a new lot, heres some advice: Do you have any more tips on the most valuable Matchbox cars? Over time, the brand expanded to include large-scale die-cast models. TY Teenie Beanie Babies: Over $800. Fortunately, there is good news! Vintage 1980s Rare Matchbox Twin Pack | Mercedes Benz G-Wagon And Horse Box with Horses | Polizei German Police | Diecast | Emergency 911 . It had to be a first for Lesney when they began producing Matchbox cars. These collectibles, when built as a collection, can be just as valuable as fine art or precious jewelry. Here are some of the most valuable Matchbox cards sold recently. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was first introduced as a Matchbox car in 1988 and has remained popular. 1984-96 Chevrolet Corvette. This list of the top 21 most valuable Matchbox cars shows you just how much your collection could be worth. 1/43 and 1/32: The most common model car ratio in the world is the 1/43 scale, made popular by the Dinky Die Cast Toys, . 8. The truck was originally released in 1961-1965 relating to Matchboxs Crane series that included tractors and other vehicles with cranes. A series of eight prototype proof of concept models were produced by Ken Wetton, the chief model maker. Perhaps the most common is a wrong color on a vehicle that was supposed to be another color, or perhaps the wrong decals were applied at the factory. You can also note variations in the model (e.g. jammed or missing wheels). Not much is known about this release, as it is scheduled for 2021. There are 76 models listed in the Super Kings range in . That one is already in the hands of most collectors, as it is not that expensive on a used site. Initially, the Matchbox Series contained 75 cars in matchbox replica packaging. They also released a retro series in 1956. Soon after, Matchbox took over Dinky. Rare Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-8 Sunbeam Motorcycle with Sidecar, chrome plated finish, emerald green passenger seat . Rodney Smith supervised diecast production. 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. 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. You can also check under the car to see the year and place of manufacture. To make these collectors cars, Lesney directly engaged enthusiast clubs and conferences. With its distinctive green color scheme, this model can be found in good condition today, but its not cheap. Aston Martin Could Team Up with Lucid. This is very uncommon, and according to the Drive, only a few have been found in the color combination of tan with the crimson jib and metal double-hook. 1971 Spectraflame Purple Bye Focal - $6000. It sold for an astounding $6,765 thats roughly $10,000 now if you consider inflation. So just like Barbie, Matchbox cars eventually got accessories (that were sold separately). 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. Its not difficult to find a good one if you know how to look for them. Most of these models sold very well in the market and are collected by enthusiasts today. 80s Toy Store Frequently Asked Questions. There is a sense of classic decadence to every design choice on this car, from the black leather interior to the pop-up lights. It cost only 45 cents for a kid. Then came the Major series. This is a vintage Matchbox model of aMercury Cougar. Familiar with their top series most valuable matchbox cars from the 80s Year and place of Manufacture avid,... You can also note variations in the hands of most collectors, as well as other of... Exists in the market and are in high demand among collectors to twelve thousand dollars Matchbox to obey his school... 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