The . This Hot Wheels car was created in 2008 for the toyline's 40th anniversary and its four billionth car made. The earlier models were packaged in a cardboard box with an illustrated label. 5 was a popular one too, featuring a red double-decker bus. Unfortunately, the line never took off, and almost all prototypes went missing. It has been restored to mint condition, making it one of the most valuable Matchbox cars ever made. Newer cars came from Macau or China. What powers matchbox cars? He wanted to make a school-friendly toy for his daughter. A mint condition version can sell for $30 today! Factory errors are among the top things that make collecting so interesting. CedarClosetCache From shop CedarClosetCache. Matchbox cars are worth a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Matchbox 1967 Magirus Deutz Crane (No. So her daddy invented cars that could fit in a matchbox to obey his kids school rules. 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This model was first released in the United States in 1961 and was based on the Ford Fairlane sedan. 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 . 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. 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. You are much less likely to find one with the original box in good condition. The first Hess . There are known to be a lot of collectors out there who collect reverse color BP Dodge wreckers. It needs a little more history to explain why it made the list. One of the rarest Matchbox cars ever existed is the Major Scale Quarry Truck. It had those low-friction wheels the locals loved. For Lesney Matchbox cars, these took the form of regional models with localized advertising. These vintage Matchbox cars are worth a TON! It was created in the early 1980s and produced for about three years. In 1953, British manufacturer Lesney Products rebranded its miniature toy vehicle line, and Matchbox cars were born. They looked as close to the real car as possible, and designers worked with photos and blueprints taken from the manufacturers. 8. No other versions of the car are made in that color or style. It wasnt until the Matchbox community heard it had been sold to a Japanese collector named Takuyo Yoshise. The infamous C4 generation of the Corvette was the first redesign since 1963 and resulted in 51,547 being sold in 1984 alone. Lesney initially planned to make bigger toys for Christmas sales in London when they started. The owner sold one for $10,000 three years after purchasing it, and later on, it was bought by a collector for $13,000! Weve talked about the 75 miniatures that were 2 tall and had no windows or interiors. We do know that the Mercedes Benz 230 SL was produced in three colors: white, white (Superfast), and yellow (Superfast). Three different colors for Mercedes Benz 230 SL models were available: white, yellow, and white (Superfast). 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. Some have bright colors and fun stickers, but others have doors that open and interiors that mimic their life-size muse. Worse, it is not entirely clear why this vehicle is so valuable. Mar 06, 6:00 . You can find one in good condition fairly easily. In some cases, these mistakes add value to the car. 3. They created their first die-cast in 1997, which was a road roller. By around 1968, Lesney was the market leader for matchbox toys. Just as an example, the first ever steamroller was marked Moko No. Collectors often find the best deals at dealer shows because online auctions tend to be less competitive than dealer shows. The car molding materials are a clue as well. 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. Matchbox Cars Playset with 1 Matchbox 1:64 Scale Toy Firetruck, Lights. The 1968 Volkswagen Bug is one of the rarest Matchbox cars and is also one of the most valuable. Current Number Still in Existence: Unknown; very few. Matchbox came from British schools that permitted students to bring small toys that could fit inside a matchbox. 1984-96 Chevrolet Corvette. 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 . 1 road roller was actually a shrunken version of a popular toy that they already sold. The Matchbox 30 Crane Truck is a popular item among collectors, and its not hard to see why. These small cars tend to fetch a higher price for their distinctive color or other features most of the time. The first period was from 1953 to 1965, and the second was from 1966 to 1991. The cars proved popular, and soon Dinky Toys was . 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. Most Matchbox cars have four wheels, but some have three or five wheels. This classic rare Matchbox truck is painted yellow on the bed and green on the cab. Eventually, Mattel acquired matchbox, and the company produced Matchbox cars afterward. But the king-size steamroller is marked K-9 (not K-1!) 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. Die-cast Matchbox toys first gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to matches. Ken Wettons only work still exists in the form of this truck. The Matchbox brand has been around for over 50 years and is still going strong today. The most sought after are obviously the most exclusive, the rarest of them all, but they come with a price. 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. Soon after, Matchbox took over Dinky. The Road Roller was made as a large vehicle, but it was made small enough for children to carry in a matchbox. 7. The crane arm is either red or orange and pale brown in pre-production models. 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. Thanks! It had to be a first for Lesney when they began producing Matchbox cars. The models differ only in small details such as rivets and wheel size, but overall they are very similar. Courtesy Bruce Pascal. This may not seem like a big deal, but remember, the most valuable Matchbox cars end up with collectors. As Lesney updated its models to match the market, some of the older series were retooled and upgraded. This is one of the few remaining works of Ken Wetton, and to top it all off, its a beautiful vehicle. 13. If you want this piece of matchbox history in mint condition, this matchbox car is worth up to $100. The sixth most expensive Matchbox car is the Green Ford Kennel Truck. 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. 4. It was the first model produced in Japan and set the tone for future Matchbox models. These Collectible Toy Cars Command Huge Price Tags. Many believed that this matchbox car would be kept in the company indefinitely. The star of the series drove a Ferrari and all kids wanted one. 1969 Rear-loading Volkswagen Microbus Beach Bomb in pink: 80,000 to 120,000 2. It is important to consider the age of Matchbox cars when determining their value. It has always been at the forefront of innovation regarding new technologies and materials used for toy production. Matchbox cars were packaged in two ways, depending on the era. 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. An excellent example of this is the 1968 Volkswagen Bug. with classics), a matchbox car was released in 1957, but it was based on a car made in 1928. 5 Best Rare Matchbox Cars To Buy Right Now . The word may be generic, but if youre selling to collectors, make sure its a Lesney! 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Even 42 years after the last matchbox model was released, these collectors are still on-the-hunt for these rare, vintage collectibles. $22.53 shipping. In some cases, printing the card in the wrong color can significantly increase value. chips, dents, or repairs), and working condition (e.g. 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. The first feature is that they were made in different colors and designs so that children could find one they liked best. The first diecast toy cars were sold in a set of six cars together: a sports car, a delivery van, a tank, a sports coupe, a truck and a farm tractor. By the Power of wait this isnt right something is missing. Matchbox Toys - History. By then, it was a public company complete with a glitzy New York IPO. The red model with a white interior is now worth more than $1,000. Fred Perry Sport Vintage Retro 90s Polo Shirt - Size 42 Rare (#204224708421) t***n (906) Past month. $1 1 Bid. Its not uncommon to find a Matchbox car with factory paint mistakes. It is clear from the reverse color version only that the BP logo is a paper sticker, making it an obvious giveaway. With sporty racing rim wheels and flamboyant designs, they were faster and flashier than Matchboxes. However, its a very rare model thats available only in Apple Green; it was made in 1967. Its a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance that Ecto-Containment Systems modified to carry ghost traps, proton packs, and other equipment. Matchbox, Random 70's 80's 90's Car Lot of 5 Toy Cars . Current value: $8,000 to $10,000. One was sold for $10,000 and the other for $13,000. Many of Matchbox's most rare cars are considered valuable thanks to their unique paint jobs or limited production runs. This can be confusing, so always double-check. This car is the second version, with working headlights and taillights. The Voltron Maquette is the holy grail for any Voltron collector. 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. Although these were commercial cars, collectors love them. Its no surprise that Matchbox cars are very popular among avid collectors worldwide who love collecting this timeless classic toy! Sometimes (e.g. Rodney Smith supervised diecast production. Check what features buyers want so you can emphasize them. Only one version of this car was officially released by Matchbox. Die Cast Metal Toy Car Collectible ad vertisement by CedarClosetCache. Matchbox was a brand name for British die-cast vehicles produced by Lesney Products beginning in 1953. Sold for 240 via Vectis Auctions Ltd (November 2015). 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. 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. 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. It was created by Lesney Products, a British company that also produced the successful Corgi model cars. Accessories followed in 1956, then the Majors in 1957. Only 17 left in stock - order soon. In the late 1960s, Mattel which today owns Matchbox introduced Hot Wheels. 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. Matchbox cars have been around for generations. 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. There arent always good reasons to collect this crane. A single Ken Wetton Major Scale Quarry Truck was tucked away for Lesney as a part of its history. If youre looking for a shorter roof edition, it usually costs around $20. For example, the strikingly unpainted steel chassis with the gull-wing doors feels like a direct influence of the new Tesla Truck. They can also be Hot Wheels, Dinky, Corgi, or Johnny Lightning, but only if your buyer is open to these other brands. If you have one in your collection, you should be proud of yourself! It has several features that make it unique, including working headlights, a detailed interior, and wheels. To non-collectors, the difference is insignificant, but to avid fans, it makes all the difference. The earliest models were marked Moko. That makes it the most valuable Matchbox car ever made, even though its just a smaller version of the original. This valuable matchbox car was sold for $3000 to an enthusiast bidder. Announced in 2019 by Netflix and Allspark,Transformers: War for Cybertronfollows the conclusion of thePrime Wars Trilogy. Later ones were stamped Matchbox Lesney. Ending Wednesday at 11:16AM PST 13h 38m. Dinky had gone bankrupt just before Lesney did, and Corgi followed suit in 1983. 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. The company was founded by Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith in North London. Rare Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-8 Sunbeam Motorcycle with Sidecar, chrome plated finish, emerald green passenger seat . Care Bears are one of the most iconic 80s properties out there. Some of the largest Hot Wheels collections are valued at over $1,000,000. 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. Ford Mustang. Matchbox, Random 70's 80's 90's Car Lot of 5 Toy Cars - Vintage Toy Cars Lot 3 . It was called the Models of Yesteryear. eBay, for instance, hosts many online auctions. Matchbox cars often command a high going rate, which a collector can find by quickly searching. A few months later, company co-owner Jack Odell created an even smaller version of the coach for his daughter to take with her to school, as she was allowed to bring in only toys that . And flamboyant designs, they were made in that color or other features most of the Tesla! Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance that Ecto-Containment Systems modified to carry ghost traps, proton packs and. Fit inside a Matchbox strikingly unpainted steel chassis with the gull-wing doors feels like a direct influence the! Used for toy production believed that this Matchbox car was sold for $ 30 today was a brand name British! Toys first gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to matches in 1928 kids! 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