However, Mattel re-issued some early Hot Wheels under the "Vintage" series and the "25th Anniversary" series in 1994. This was a popular trend in the '60s and indicate that it could be an early car from the '60s and '70s. "Redline" wheels - Redlines are what collectors call these early Hot Wheels, because of the Red "stripe" or circle around the wheel's sidewall, much like whitewalls. It is critical that you take the time to describe each car carefully, to avoid returns. Collectors are concerned with paint chipping and scratches, wear on the wheel chrome, wear or scratching on the windshield or other plastic parts, toning - a darkening of the metal underneath the transparent paint. How do you know if your Hot Wheels yard-sale-find has any value? Here are some things to look for.Ĭondition - As in any collectible, condition is crucial to what type of price you can expect to achieve. This often results in very low prices for nice items that will bring good prices at online auctions. Rarer cars often trade for between $150 and $500, and some of the rarest pieces sell for up to $22,000.īecause they are toys, many yard sale sellers pay little attention to them. (A recent private purchase of a Pink "Rear-Loader" Beach Bomb was estimated at $70,000.)Īlthough not all Hot Wheels cars are valuable, the average sales price for 1968 - 1973 issued cars is between $40 and $100. The earliest Hot Wheels cars are now 33 years old and have become the premier die-cast collectible, achieving incredible prices on eBay and other venues for mint and rare pieces. What more could a young hot-rodder want?Īided by extensive television advertising, which set some trends of its own, and those familiar Orange Track sets, millions of these little toy cars were sold in subsequent years. These fanciful replicas of '60s Muscle Cars were an instant hit and featured "chrome" mag wheels, independent suspension, brilliant "Spectraflame" paint jobs and realistic body and chassis detailing. With Pascal as a guide, here are the hottest Hot Wheels.Mattel's Hot Wheels toy cars burst on the scene in 1968 as a California Hot Rod answer to the staid and utilitarian Matchbox cars. Even if they’re cheap, some are still highly sought after by artists and customizers who wish to cut costs in their restoration efforts. The cheaper Hot Wheels, known as beaters, are worth a couple dollars, at most. Pascal said that just like with real cars, adding aftermarket parts or custom paint can actually devalue the original. That doesn’t mean swapping parts on what you already own will turn you into a celebrity at the next Antiques Roadshow. It’s toward the end of the production run when the people who assembling the cars begin dipping into different parts buckets. Pascal told us Hot Wheels can use as many as 30 different sets of wheels a year. The true diamonds are models with unreleased colors or wheel combinations. What’s the difference between a 10-cent toy, and one worth more than a real Porsche Taycan? According to Bruce, low-volume models in original condition are the cream of the crop, even when their age is showing. His collection of more than 7000 items is valued at just over $1 million. We called our old friend and Hot Wheels-fanatic Bruce Pascal to check up on what’s changed since last year in terms of rare and valuable cars. Hot Wheels celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018 with one of its best years ever.
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