Valuable Slot Cars

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Kids who were into cars, trucks, and motorcycles had plenty of cool toys to choose from in the 1970s and 1980s. These toys were well built and many moved under their own power. And since so many of these machines were modeled after the ones made famous on TV shows and movies, every kid wanted them. Today, adults cornball for their youth are paying large bucks for some of these toys. Here are a dozen vintage wheeled toys worth crawling through the attic for.

Stomper 4X4s

Launched in 1980, Stomper 4X4s by Schaper were aimed at young kids swept upwardly in the off-road craze. Powered by a single AA bombardment, these fiddling trucks cost about $x new and had a four-wheel drive arrangement that turned squishy paddle tires, one ready for within and one set for the outdoors. They even had headlights that lit up. Stompers produced absurd models including Subaru Brats, Dodge Power Wagons, Jeep Honcho pickup trucks and even larger Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks. The bodies of these toys were highly detailed and true to the real machines, which added to the fun.

What Are They Worth Today?

Stompers had a rough life. Kids played with them outside in the dirt only to see how capable they were. The bodywork got scratches; the clips that held them on the chassis could break. So Stompers on Ebay are listed with a Purchase-It-At present toll anywhere from $10 up to near $100 depending on rarity and status. The aforementioned large rig models seem to be some of the well-nigh valuable. Unopened models still sealed in cellophane control several hundred dollars.

Aurora A/FX Slot Cars

Slot car racing tracks were hugely pop in the 1960s and 1970s. Large ones occupied major real manor inside hobby shops, but it was the smaller size i:64 calibration slot cars and the tracks they ran on that provided years of fun for car-crazed kids at home. These sets, fabricated primarily past Aurora A/FX (Aurora Manufacturing plant Experimental) and Tyco, used plastic track with 2 metal wire runway running forth the surface (1 for ability and one for footing). The pocket-size cars accept electrical contacts that maintain a connectedness with the track's rails. The auto'due south speed was modulated by a hand-held controller; squeeze that trigger too much when your AFX car approached a curve and it could fly correct off the track, something nearly all of us did for fun at one point.

What Are They Worth Today?

In the mid 1970s, an entire AFX slot car fix, complete with two or more cars toll less than $40. Today, many of the cars themselves toll that much if the bodies are in good status. Rare models,can command more than $100, while whole track sets can reach close to $300. I particular '57 Chevy Nomad-bodied AFX car in its original packaging had a Buy-It-Now price of almost $850 on Ebay.

Knight Rider Knight 2000 Vox Motorcar

From 1982 to 1986, motorcar-loving kids around the country were treated to the Television show Knight Rider on Friday nights. It featured a computerized, semi-autonomous, crime-fighting and talking Trans Am known as KITT (Knight Industries Two One thousand). The premise sounds ridiculous today, only that all-new Trans Am was freshly styled for the 1980s—simply like its co-star, The Hoff. The show was a huge striking and toys flooded the market place. Ane of the coolest was the Voice Car by Kenner. Push downwardly on the absurd vintage blue California license plate and the Voice Car would say six different phrases. It came with a Michael Knight action figure, likewise.

What Are They Worth Today?

Knight Rider toys in general seem to exist very collectible.The Voice Car in okay to fair condition, with some scratches on the exterior, volition show up on Ebay with Buy-It-Now prices in the $50 to $60 range. Cars that are complete with the box in proficient shape with minimal scratches are listed at closer to $90. Sealed in the box they tin cost hundreds; we saw listed at shut to $900.

Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle

Motorcycle stunt riding belonged to Evel Knievel in the 1970s. Knievel was legendary not only for the wild jumps he completed, but the ones that he crashed on, likewise. When Ideal released a series of Evel Knievel toys from '72-'77, they were red-hot sellers, and the nigh popular and most valuable of these is the Stunt Cycle. The Stunt Cycle sat in a reddish launch stand with a handle on one stop to creepo up the gyro wheel on the back of the cycle. One time fully charged upwards, the cycle would launch and zoom beyond your living room or over a jump. It was awesome. Somewhen the compnay produced a Dragster, a Chopper, and the Sky Cycle, all of which worked on that gyro platform.

What Are They Worth Today?

The Stunt Cycle was so popular it was re-issued in the 1990s and again in the early on 2000s. But information technology'due south the original 1970s merch that brings the money. The rarest and virtually valuable Stunt Bike is the Silver High Jumper from 1977. It's rare and are advertised on Ebay with Buy-It-Now prices ranging from $1,000 to almost $3,000 in perfect condition. Sealed in the box and never opened? Way more. And so start digging around your parent's attic.

Barbie Star Traveler GMC Motorhome

Barbie's got to have her dream car. Mattel made a series of Barbie-themed Corvettes besides as a dune buggy and a hip niggling Beach Bus van back in the day. Simply the Star Traveler, launched in 1976, was the best of them all. Here was a faithful three-foot long scale replica of GMC's innovative front end-wheel drive, V8-powered motorhome. The Star Traveler was produced through the 1980s and featured many of the amenities of the real motorhome, including a shower, couch, beds, kitchen, and even a detachable sun deck and even a little hibachi grill.

What Are They Worth Today?

The Star Traveler cost a mere $19.97 in 1977's Sears Catalog and came in several colour schemes throughout the years, though the original yellow seems to be the virtually pop. Barbie toys are highly collectible, and this motorhome is no exception. Well-used Star Travelers are offered on Ebay in the $forty to $90 range. Just lightly-used ones that include all the accessories and the original box tin can range from $100 to over $200. And so the side by side time ane appears at a local thousand sale for ten bucks, snag it.

Hot Wheels

You know. Hot Wheels are some of the near popular and valuable toy cars of all fourth dimension. The brand launched in 1968 as a more fun and custom have on the traditional small toy car. Sixteen cars were released that very first year. Since that time in that location accept been thousands more launched in practically every design imaginable. Hot Wheels and those iconic playsets remain popular today with more than than four billion of them produced. Hot Wheels collectors are a devoted agglomeration. And then information technology's not hard to observe the ones you lot played with as a kid for sale today on Ebay. Most are notwithstanding cheap because the company built so many of them. But the funky and unique ones can command staggering prices.

What Are They Worth Today?

Considering there are and then many Hot Wheels out at that place, information technology depends on condition and rarity. One auto might exist worth 10 bucks in the near common paint scheme simply more than $300 in a rare colour that was sold outside the U.S. More often than not, the early cars with redline tires are some of the most valuable; the virtually desirable ones tin command thousands of dollars. One of the most valuable is the 1969 prototype VW "Beach Flop" worth more than $70,000. At that place are quite a few 70s models with some value. For instance, the "Staff Car" from '77 was only issued in a military machine-themed set and could be worth close to $800. Similarly, a rare version of the Porsche 911 in "Gilded Chrome" paint from 1975, 1976 or 1977 could bring its owner a cool grand. Then dig around your collection—there might be a hidden treasure.

Mego Dukes of Hazzard General Lee

The Dukes of Hazzard was one of the first Boob tube shows to launch a full-calibration toy marketing blitz. Toy companies produced a staggering number of branded products in the 1970s. From watches to sneakers to big bike cycles and "walkie talkies," practically everything a kid could wear, ride or play with had a Dukes version. The items that seem to get the large bucks today are from Mego. Mego fabricated not only the action figures just too a full range of cars from the show. Of course the General Lee, the Dukes' 1969 Dodge Charger, was the one on most kids' Christmas list back in 1981. And it was sweet, featuring a roof hatch for Bo and Luke Duke to jump inside for their next chance. Because as everyone knows, the General Lee'southward doors were welded shut.

What Are They Worth Today?

Cruise Ebay and the prices for these cars (which include the action figures) are center-popping. These Mego General Lees, including the original packaging in very good status, seem to exist list for $400 to $600. If you happen to have the Mego-produced Boss Hogg Cadillac taking up space in your basement, so you'd amend sit down. The listings on Ebay for this toy are wild. We saw an opened, played with Cadillac selling for just under $500 and 2 perfect ones in their boxes selling for $two,999 and $4,000.

Chiliad.I. Joe M.O.B.A.T. Motorized Battle Tank

One thousand.I Joe was the original action figure when it launched in the mid-1960s. But by the 1980s, information technology needed a re-boot, so Hasbro re-invented the Thou.I. Joe lineup of toys for 1982 every bit "The Real American Hero," and the toys got a big heave from the popular G.I. Joe cartoon launched at the same time. The show featured more than than 200 vehicles invented for the Joes. One of the nearly popular was the electric Motorized Boxing Tank which used ii D-cell batteries and cost $14.99.

What Are They Worth Today?

Co-ordinate to Toyworth.com, a K.I Joe MOBAT in fantabulous condition is valued at about $325 in the package or around $85 loose. Nosotros plant one listed on Ebay for $250 that included the box (with a few dings and scratches, consummate with instructions) and a non-working tank for $250. Another one that appeared to exist in excellent status loose was listed for $149 in working condition. If there's a pristine MOBAT from the early 1980s buried in some box in your garage, it could be fairly valuable.

Corgi Model 269 James Bond Lotus Esprit

Kids that grew up in the 1970s had ane James Bond car on their minds. Non the iconic Aston Martin DB5 of the 1960s, but the bright white wedge-shaped Lotus Esprit from 1977'south The Spy Who Loved Me. Information technology was captivating non only considering of how it looked, but considering of what it did. In the film, the Lotus plunges into the surf and transforms into Bond's personal submarine. And so when toy company Corgi came out with a James Bail Lotus Esprit, it was a big striking. The all-time part about this automobile was that it, too, transformed. Press the black button at the base of the windshield and the stabilizer fins and tail section pop out of the bodywork. It even came with four ruby rockets that could be launched from underneath the rear window.

What Are They Worth Today?

Well-worn examples seem to be trading for around $20. But like all toys, when the box and all the parts are included, the price ramps up. Quite a few of these cars in better status, including the box and all the rockets in excellent shape, are listed on Ebay for between $100 and $200.

Mego Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino

Besides the General Lee, Mego produced more of the coolest toys of the 1970s, including action figures and playsets from the original Planet of the Apes movies. When it comes to cars, the favorite might be their battery-operating Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch. Action figures from the evidence (sold separately) could ride inside the Torino as one big motorized bicycle underneath the 15-inch long car allowed it to spin and hinge in whatsoever direction. And it came with a lite on the roof that lit upwards as well equally a barricade, street light, and trash can to replicate a existent 70s-style law chase. Not a bad deal for under $12.

What Are They Worth Today?

The bombardment-powered model by Mego is rare and very hard to observe in excellent condition. We found one with the box in non-working condition for $119.99. So information technology's non unlikely that an instance of this toy in perfect boxed condition could sell for $300-$400—if you could find one.

Tamiya Wild Willys

In the 1980s, every car child wanted a Tamiya radio controlled (RC) car. These electric cars sold as kits were far more than powerful, detailed, and capable than anything else effectually. The early off-road buggies and four-wheel drive trucks were some of the most popular, including the Hornet and Grasshopper released in 1984 equally well equally 4X4s like Hot Shot ('85) and Monster Protrude ('86). These kits were all wonderful machines to own, in function because y'all built them yourself (or, depending on your historic period, got a bit of help from dad). Parts were bachelor to rebuild, upgrade and in some cases re-power your vehicle into something much quicker than what came in the box. Fifty-fifty in stock grade, these were incredible machines, with functional long-travel suspensions, big power and grippy tires.

What Are They Worth Today?

Tamiya has re-issued many of the well-nigh popular kits from the 1980s and to the casual observer they expect the same. However, those re-issued models are not exactly identical. And collectors want the original ones. An original Tamiya machine from the 1980s seems to go for near double what a re-effect does—$200-$300. If these cars are all the same in their boxes, unbuilt, they can command thousands of dollars.

Mighty Tonka Winnebago

Heavy steel Tonka trucks have been toy staples from the mid-1960 through to today. In the mid-70s, Tonka produced a version of Winnebago's popular motorhome. The roof lifted off to reveal a replica of a real Winnebago's interior consummate with seating, bathroom, and kitchen. It fifty-fifty came with two clothed dolls and a dog named Scamp. Just because it was a Tonka, this motorhome was rugged and built with the aforementioned tough steel sheelmetal and frame as the iconic dump trucks.

What Are They Worth Today?

The large, virtually two-foot-long versions of these toys in the original white and greenish paint scheme are listed on Ebay from almost $twoscore to $150 depending upon status. Nosotros did see one that included the box and the buyer was asking over $300. So clearly a Tonka Winnebago with the box must be a rare item.

Ben Stewart Ben is a lifelong enthusiast of anything with wheels.

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