Here Are 9 Toys From Your Past That Are Worth BIG Bucks
It's garage sale season, and last weekend I went back home to help my parents sort things out for a garage sale. It was a fun time until my dad put out a box of Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtle action figures that my younger brother and I used to play with. After a minor meltdown of asking him what the <bleep> was wrong with him, and then squirreling the box in my car for safe keeping, I started looking up the value of some of the toys I had just saved. I was surprised that I had some that fit the BIG dollar items. Unfortunately, I didn't have all the pieces, or it wasn't in great condition. But it gave me an idea for some toys you should be on the lookout for at garage sales that could net you a BIG return! Or before you set those toys out for a nickel and you lose out on hundreds or thousands of dollars!
HOT WHEELS/MATCHBOX CARS
Hot Wheels and Matchbox that are mostly from the 1960s, '70s, and '80s are really the only ones right now that have any sort of value. Some of the cars range in value from $141.75 (6* level or higher on the downloadable Starchart) to a whopping $11,277.74. The reason why the 11k car's price tag is so high is that it is a rare 1961 prototype of Matchbox's Magirus-Deutz Truck, only two of which are believed to exist. (Originally, it was worth less than a buck)
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (ACTION FIGURES)
Scratch the Cat: $1200
Undercover Raphael: $700 (I had one, but alas I lost the coat)
Sixth Scale Bebop and Rocksteady: $600
Hotspot: $574
Rocksteady: $495 (values taken from CBR.com)
BARBIE DOLLS
Original Barbie (1959): $2,200-3,000
Major Matt Mason (1967): $500-600 depending on the suit
#4 Blond Barbie (1960): $164-410
Karl Lagerfeld Doll (2014): $6000 (auction)
American Girl (1966): $899 (values obtained here and here)
VIDEO GAMES
Stadium Events (NES): $41,977
Air Raid (Atari 2600): $33,433
Nintendo World Championships (gold): $22,376
Nintendo Campus Challenge: $20,100
Red Sea Crossing (Atari 2600): $13,877 (values are from here)
LEGO SETS
Lego bricks aren't just for stepping on and screaming in horror. They're also quite the commodity. The beloved building toy has spawned a secondary market where rare sets can be worth thousands. (Values for sets can be found here!)
WRESTLING FIGURES
Wrestling figure collectors are one of the most dedicated fan bases in the world of pro-wrestling, often purchasing every version of every figure, regardless of how many times a toy company regurgitates the same wrestler's action figure, without any changes, and releases it as part of a new series line. Not only that, they're also known to purchase multiple figures: one to keep mint, and another to display. Check their values here as some could be super rare!
TRANSFORMER FIGURES
The Transformers line of toys from Hasbro that debuted in 1984 is one of the most successful toy franchises in the history of toys; and yet, it only began after a failed attempt by the Japanese company Takara to bring the same basic toys to the market in the United States in the early 1980s. Now over 30 years later, the original line of Transformers toys in the United States are some of the most collectible toys in existence. (Here is a good price guide for you)
POKEMON CARDS
In the '90s, most of us were busy hoarding Beanie Babies in hopes they would pay for our college education once they increased in value. That totally backfired, but another '90s toy hidden in the depths of our childhood bedrooms can actually be worth a boatload. Some rare Pokémon cards can easily pay for your college loans. The rarest cards were only given to a select few master trainers who won tournaments, but you may actually find some of the most expensive Pokémon cards in your regular collection. Factory errors also occurred, from the base set first edition misprint to free promotional movie cards that didn't come out as planned. These are among the rarest Pokémon cards in the bunch. (Here are the most valuable cards)
BOARD GAMES
Board games have become more popular and quite collectible. The prices for rare board games has risen quite a bit lately. While most board games are worth very little, there are plenty of board games worth hundreds to thousands of dollars. But remember just because it's old doesn't make it valuable. (You can check some prices here)