It is also the most valuable 1:64 scale Matchbox on our list. This is the first official Matchbox model produced in 1953 and was modeled on a real vintage steamroller belonging to the owner of Lesney Products. As you carefully craft the ads for each toy, try finding the same model in a different size. So it helps to know any matchbox cars after 1986 were rebranded Matchbox International Limited. For a short time, Lesney even released a series of rechargeable electric Scorpion cars. The 1968 version is the most valuable of them all, with its red, blue, and white colors and the matching wheels. Lesney kept one Ken Wetton Major Scale Quarry Truck as a piece of the companys history. Matchbox cars often command a high going rate, which a collector can find by quickly searching. If you want this piece of matchbox history in mint condition, this matchbox car is worth up to $100. 9. Matchbox carshave been around since 1953 when Lesney Products entered the toy market with a line of miniature cars. Matchbox cars have been around for generations. It appears that it is rare to see it in the wild. That same year, a used Super Soaker CPS, known for being. This vintage matchbox is considered the Holy Grail of rare matchbox cars. doors or hoods that open), body-work (e.g. Since Matchbox cars first appeared in England in the 1940s, they have been collectibles worldwide. The ERF dropside lorry is a very popular Matchbox car, with many examples produced in the 1970s. 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 . To non-collectors, the difference is insignificant, but to avid fans, it makes all the difference. Vukasin Herbez November 12, 2018. 1. But why are matchbox cars so much more popular than other toy vehicles? 23 Corvette Stingray With Bloomington Gold 25th Anniversary $225. The model began life as a large chrome slab in the 1970s but later evolved into a completely redesigned model in the 1980s. 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. Ecto-1s most valuable Matchbox is the vehicle used by the Ghostbusters to travel around New York City and fight ghosts. We do know that the Mercedes Benz 230 SL was produced in three colors: white, white (Superfast), and yellow (Superfast). Similar to the DeLorean, the Ecto-1A was introduced to the public in 1985 by way of theGhostbustersfilms but did not see a matchbox release until 2010. Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning were US-made brands while the others were from the UK. 22 1968 Pink Beatnik Bandit. Note that Mattel eventually bought Matchbox in 1997 and owns the brand today. Honestly, you never know what a toy could be worth today. Vaporwave is a music genre that reimagines the 80s plasticity and turns it into an aesthetic that evokes the best of nostalgia and alchemy. Even if you never thought about it, you probably ended up here because a search engine pointed you to this article. Since 1968, Mattel's Hot Wheels have started a revolution with their fantastic shapes, lively colors, interesting details and features, which made them instant favorites and modern classics. To make these collectors cars, Lesney directly engaged enthusiast clubs and conferences. Star Wars 2 Kellogs Collectables & 6 Micro Machines (#204160096346) Finding their values is an integral part of Matchbox car collecting, a popular hobby among collectors. 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: 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. The orange, red, green, and copper are the most valuable of the cars made and can be worth more than $1,500 each. For reference, the first 75 came out starting in 1953. The company made promotional vehicles for product placement, mostly on their double-decker buses and yesteryear classics. These six cars were cast in lead and were based on a generic version of the listed car. Its not uncommon to find a Matchbox car with factory paint mistakes. There are 25 900 Range items illustrated in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue. 2. Now that matchbox is resurfacing again; collectors are delighted to see this trend continue. But Jack Odell kept some stuff for himself, rebranding his toys as Lledo spot the anagram! 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 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. 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. Matchbox cars are small toys designed to fit inside a matchbox. While Matchbox Majors feature large vehicles, they werent the only big toys that Lesney released. Moko was their distributor and marketer, so those first 1 in 75 miniatures were marked Moko Lesney. Many believed that this matchbox car would be kept in the company indefinitely. The toy he designed was a smaller version of Lesneys popular Road Roller that can easily fit inside a matchbox. The cars got more elaborate over time. Die-cast Matchbox toys first gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to matches. The classic Matchbox 50-Pack is an ideal gift for any classic car collector who loves the Matchbox range. For example, if youre collecting Matchbox vehicles from the early 1960s and find one with factory paint mistakes, it could be worth more than a mint-condition version of the same model. Hot Wheels werent as carefully crafted as Lesneys. Major Scale Quarry Truck. If youre considering a matching set like the one we mentioned above, double-check the authenticity. Princess Adora, the twin sister of Prince Adam/He-Man, could also transform into an evil-battling superhero, She-Ra: Princess of Power. You can pick up a mint condition version for $1,000-$15,000. Their No. Later models had plastic wheels with rubber tires that could not be removed without destruction. 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. The Best Amazon Presidents' Day Deals of 2023. Some of the most valuable Hot Wheels from the 1990s that have sold recently are: Hot Wheels Collector Number 271 ($3,000+) Hot Wheels #37 1990 All American Hot Bird ($200) 1990 '65 White Mustang Convertible #26 ($150) 1990 California Custom Blown Camaro #1289 ($150) 1991 Hot Wheels Bigfoot Champions Monster Rig Well, when Lesney went bankrupt in 1982, it was sold to Universal Toys. Many of Matchbox's most rare cars are considered valuable thanks to their unique paint jobs or limited production runs. Ad vertisement from shop CedarClosetCache. In 1953, British manufacturer Lesney Products rebranded its miniature toy vehicle line, and Matchbox cars were born. They are an important part of our culture, and their influence on car enthusiasts today is obvious. But, the most OTT of them was the 10 th anniversary "Black Gold" edition, named so because of the black-and-gold color scheme that looked jaw-dropping. 2. They created their first die-cast in 1997, which was a road roller. He made a version of the popular Lesney Road Roller which could be put in a matchbox. The Road Roller was made as a large vehicle, but it was made small enough for children to carry in a matchbox. Make sure you are searching completed listings, not only the active auctions. The . But by this time, the big names produced similar ranges, with fantasy models and race tracks included. 5 . Confirm the year of manufacture, both for the car and the toy. There is a sense of classic decadence to every design choice on this car, from the black leather interior to the pop-up lights. Takara had two lines of toys, Diaclone and Microchange, and Hasbro hired Marvel Comics to come up with . This is because almost all of the Magirus-Deutz Cranes were known to be silver with a crane arm tinted orange. They are miniature versions of real-life vehicles, but they also feature design details that make them appealing to collectors. A legendary Chevy model, the Monte Carlo was introduced in 1970 and stayed in production until 2007. That one is already in the hands of most collectors, as it is not that expensive on a used site. A Magirus-Deutz Crane truck sold for $10 in 1961 went for $10,000 after a few years and was purchased by a collector for $13,000 later. Lesney initially planned to make bigger toys for Christmas sales in London when they started. As a car, it was middling, overpriced, and famously low quality, but the true value of this car lies in its design and vision. Its no surprise that Matchbox cars are very popular among avid collectors worldwide who love collecting this timeless classic toy! This makes it easy to tell if someone has switched up sides or added their paint job, which would make it worth less money than its original price tag. Die Cast Metal Toy Car Collectible ad vertisement by CedarClosetCache. Sometimes (e.g. It has been graded 8 out of 10 by collectors and is in excellent condition. Matchbox Car. This can be confusing, so always double-check. Distributed by Netflix and executive produced by Hasbros Allspark. 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. RARE Vintage Matchbox City Garage Play Set (1980) Working Elevator. 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. 2. Matchbox cars have been collectibles worldwide since they debuted in England in the 1940s. His character drove a Ferrari, which inspired a lot of kids to purchase one. While there are cars that are more valuable than these two versions, the value of the history far outweighs the dollars. Review listings of similar models to see what features you can highlight. That makes it the most valuable Matchbox car ever made, even though its just a smaller version of the original. 5. Soon after, Matchbox took over Dinky. This amazing crane truck was auctioned for $ 13000. The best way to trade matchbox cars is to buy them in bulk at estate auctions, flea markets, garage sales, and the goodwill store. Other Series 5-Packs 9-Packs 12-Packs Collectors Series Convoy Dodge Series Global Series Hitch & Haul Japan Origins Japan Series In the 1980s, the Monte Carlo was a legendary Chevy model that remained in production until 2007. 100 Black-Owned Businesses to . King-size cars came in 1960. There are 30 models listed in the Sky-Busters range in the 1980/81 Matchbox Catalogue. 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. A series of rechargeable electric Scorpion cars more popular than other toy vehicles of manufacture, both for car... So those most valuable matchbox cars from the 80s 1 in 75 miniatures were marked moko Lesney mint version... Toys first gained their name because they originally came packaged similarly to matches and Matchbox cars have collectibles! 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