Who could of imagined that a small figurine model would cost as much as some cars and even houses.
According to Wheels24 the cheapest Hot Wheels model is valued at around R24 632 ($1 921) while the most valuable comes in at R1.9-million ($150 000).
Their other valuations range from R60 000 to R32 000.
Wheeler Dealer has a list of the current values of some toy cars, click on the link.
Wheels24 had conducted a interview with Neal Giordano, founder of the North Carolina Hot Wheels Association. For 20 years Giordana has been valuing diecast toy cars for over 20 years. He has also written two books on the subject and his price guides are used worldwide by collectors.
Hot Wheels – why they are so valuable…
Does colour affect price?
Most certainly. For example, pink Redline Hot Wheels are often considered a “premium” collectible colour, simply due to the fact that it wasn’t the most popular colour among boys, and was issued in less numbers than standard colours.
Many might’ve been painted over or destroyed during hard play. That being said, not all pink models are entirely valuable. Much depends on the model itself. Also, there are some colours that were simply rarer than others in certain models. Lastly, during the late-70’s, Mattel issued “alternate” colours that were much harder to find, thus, increasing value.
What are the rarest models for Hot Wheels and Matchbox?
One of the rarest (and most valuable) Hot Wheels models would be the rear-loading Beach Bomb (the pink version is the most valuable, but there are other colours that sell for very high prices). This was a prototype that had to be modified in width in order for it to function with the launchers.
A good number of them are now in the public sector, but they were never released commercially. You’d have to have deep pockets or a connection to land one today.
The rarest Matchbox was likely the Magiruz-Deutz Crane in tan.
Is it worth selling now or holding onto them?
It’s best to observe the market, as prices/values tend to rise and fall. It seems the values are highest around the end of the year, when the holidays are upon us. Things tend to settle down in the early months of the new year.
How much does unboxing diminish value?
Hardcore collectors put a premium on antique models that are still in their packaging, especially if the packaging is in excellent condition.
It’s difficult to ascertain how much opening or not opening may diminish value, as some models would fetch far more than others.
That being said, a Hot Wheels Redline Olds 442 would garner a major premium if it was being sold in a good package, since it’s a very popular model, whereas a Beatnik Bandit still in the package wouldn’t be valued at nearly as much.
What makes these toy cars so collectible?
Many collectors have fond memories of playing with Hot Wheels and Matchbox as kids, and to pick up collecting them again as an adult can often bring back feelings of nostalgia. Many of us don’t have our original diecast cars, so we strive to find them again after years have passed.
Article interview sourced from Wheels24
Photo Credit- Wheels24
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