Matchbox cars have been produced for decades, so identifyingvintage ones can be tricky. Only one version of this car was officially released by Matchbox. 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. 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. 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. That makes it the most valuable Matchbox car ever made, even though its just a smaller version of the original. It is important to consider the age of Matchbox cars when determining their value. The sixth most expensive Matchbox car is the Green Ford Kennel Truck. There hasnt been a sale mentioned since and any information on how or why the car was created is no longer available to the public. Its not uncommon to find a Matchbox car with factory paint mistakes. In 1953, British toy company Lesney Products released a miniature model of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation coach, the company's first best seller. Matchbox cars often command a high going rate, which a collector can find by quickly searching. Top tips for valuing rare diecast cars. Many of Matchbox's most rare cars are considered valuable thanks to their unique paint jobs or limited production runs. The value of this rare turquoise vehicle is approximately $9,000. 1969 Rear-loading Volkswagen Microbus Beach Bomb in pink: 80,000 to 120,000 2. The shorter roofed version comes in at $50 with box included. They also produced a king-size series that had bigger versions of their most popular matchbox cars. But this wasnt always the case though. Here are some of the most valuable Matchbox cards sold recently. Scale: 1:80. photo source: blog.hobbydb.com. They were soon joined by Jack ODell, an engineer and tool creator. These boxes were branded Moko Lesney. This strange little matchbox is worth up to twelve thousand dollars. 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 The ERF dropside lorry is a very popular Matchbox car, with many examples produced in the 1970s. They created their first die-cast in 1997, which was a road roller. The truck was produced between 1969 to 1972 and featured a removable lucid plastic topper along with four white plastic dogs. If a Matchbox collector is interested in buying, selling, or learning about car values, he should visit a collector show. Theyre so rare, its almost impossible to find them. While there are cars that are more valuable than these two versions, the value of the history far outweighs the dollars. 1984-96 Chevrolet Corvette. This model features a yellow body with white plastic wheels and an open sunroof. There was only a right-hand drive interior, and there were no windows. The 1968 Volkswagen Bug is one of the rarest Matchbox cars and is also one of the most valuable. Leslie and Rodney Smith started Lensey Products just after World War II and the company took off quickly. Matchbox is renowned for the detail and attention to the quality they put into each model. Matchbox Car. Since Matchbox cars first appeared in England in the 1940s, they have been collectibles worldwide. 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. The first Matchbox car was produced in 1953. This truck is not of the typical Matchbox 1/64 scale. When Lesney first started, they had planned on making larger toy cars to sell in London for Christmas. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO - $18,000. The real AMX street car was a short-lived two-seater produced by AMC that, like most muscle cars, stuffed a high-powered engine into a midsize frame. $1 1 Bid. Lets get going! Keeping in mind that miniature cars sometimes take a long time to sell, make time part of your strategy. Most Matchbox cars have four wheels, but some have three or five wheels. 28 . Companies are only now utilizing the nostalgia of the 1980s, albeit very delayed and as a limited supply. WARNING: This review contains several MAJOR spoilers. It features incredible detail and stands at a whopping 27" tall, dominating its peers in both value and height. Facing a crisis, the firm introduced its "Superfast" line with racing wheels and slicker designs in 1969, ending what is known as "the regular wheels" era, Mack says. Not much is known about this release, as it is scheduled for 2021. This vintage matchbox is a bit strange because there isnt as much information on it as most others. Matchbox, Random 70's 80's 90's Car Lot of 5 Toy Cars . He is said to have purchased the car for ten dollars and sold it three years later for ten thousand dollars. In 1953, British manufacturer Lesney Products rebranded its miniature toy vehicle line, and Matchbox cars were born. Even though its the firs it isnt the most valuable. The worth of matchbox cars may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. 5 was a popular one too, featuring a red double-decker bus. Princess Adora, the twin sister of Prince Adam/He-Man, could also transform into an evil-battling superhero, She-Ra: Princess of Power. Bone up on . Like other items on our list, this is not your ordinary car. From 1947 to 1953, the company made larger die-cast vehicles and various other toys to sell during the Christmas season. For example, the strikingly unpainted steel chassis with the gull-wing doors feels like a direct influence of the new Tesla Truck. Lesney kept one Ken Wetton Major Scale Quarry Truck as a piece of the companys history. Matchbox cars are worth a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. 2. 1. Check the date of the sale to gauge market interest. There is a sense of classic decadence to every design choice on this car, from the black leather interior to the pop-up lights. We dont know where the green comes from. 30 cranes in 2004 for $13,000. They were also modeled after popular TV and . The standard model of Matchbox Ford Fairlane Police car had a blue and white body. The first period was from 1953 to 1965, and the second was from 1966 to 1991. It has several features that make it unique, including working headlights, a detailed interior, and wheels. This Magirus-Deutz truck with a tan body is incredibly rare, with only two thought to have been produced. '55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser "Candy Striper," $1,000-Plus. It featured a little green driver and was soon joined by a cement mixer and a dump truck. 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. This hidden treasure was sold for a startling $6,765thats more than $10,000 today. In fact, this car is so valuable it made our top 10 most valuable die-cast Car list! Targeting consumer categories makes your sales faster and more profitable. The orange, red, green, and copper are the most valuable of the cars made and can be worth more than $1,500 each. RARE Vintage Matchbox City Garage Play Set (1980) Working Elevator. This model came in green and cream colors. 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. Their scale wasnt always realistic and many of the cars were styled to fit a fantasy. How to Find out How Much Matchbox Cars Are Worth? Current value: $8,000 to $10,000. 80s Toy Store Frequently Asked Questions. "There's really no special reason for the value of this car other than purple being a very rare variation. 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? This very rare piece has been known to sell for over $15,000 at auction. Care Bears are one of the most iconic 80s properties out there. It appears that it is rare to see it in the wild. Mercedes-Maybach Launches a Plug-In S580e. Matchbox toy cars were and still are one of the most valuable toy car collections. They sometimes used localized packaging, so the box might say Matchbox Superfast or the series numbering may differ. This essentially meant the child-centered toys appealed to kids and race car enthusiasts. This is the most valuable Matchbox car in history. Check out our matchbox 1980s cars selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The majority of versions of it cost about the same as a nice dinner. Initially, the Matchbox Series contained 75 cars in matchbox replica packaging. Ending Wednesday at 11:16AM PST 13h 38m. Its no surprise that Matchbox cars are very popular among avid collectors worldwide who love collecting this timeless classic toy! Sixty-eight-year-old Simon Hope's Matchbox collection was so massive that he had to use three different auctions to clear the whole lot. There arent always good reasons to collect this crane. Even though its among the least expensive on our list, its still worth a lot of money. The word grail does not get tossed around lightly, but this car falls under that category, as do many other items on this list. They can also be Hot Wheels, Dinky, Corgi, or Johnny Lightning, but only if your buyer is open to these other brands. 30 crane truck at a neighbors garage sale. Matchbox, Random 70's 80's 90's Car Lot of 5 Toy Cars - Vintage Toy Cars Lot 3 . 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. A large chrome slab in the 1970s, the model adapted to the times and came out with a complete redesign in the 80s. It had a right-hand drive interior and no windows. When it comes to discovering Matchbox treasures, theres only one story that tops them alla story about a man named Charlie Mack, who one day in the early 1980s found a brown No. In the 1980s, the Monte Carlo was a legendary Chevy model that remained in production until 2007. It has always been at the forefront of innovation regarding new technologies and materials used for toy production. Some of them, especially if you enjoy restorations, are still very affordable similar to Hot Wheels. Over the last few years, the matchbox has been the most popular collectible die-cast car. 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. The Major Scale Quarry Truck is the holy grail of Matchbox cars. What powers matchbox cars? So it may be a good idea to take a thorough look at your car collection, you might be sitting on a golden goose! 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