Yahoo Finance Have Hot Wheels Toys at Home? They Could Be Worth a Fortune
From comic books and LEGO sets to whisky, alternative investments are gaining popularity as a hedge against inflation. Hot Wheels cars are amongst the toys highly coveted by collectors. If you are lucky enough to have some vintage Hot Wheels cars from the 1970s and ’80s in your attic, especially if they are new-in-box, you could hold your retirement savings in the palm of your hand.
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What Are Hot Wheels?
Hot Wheels is a brand of scale model cars produced by American toymaker Mattel. The first Hot Wheels model came onto the market in 1968. Since then, the toys have become incredibly popular. According to a press release from the manufacturer, Mattel has produced more than 4 billion Hot Wheels cars. That’s more cars than Ford, GM, and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) have collectively produced since the auto industry launched.
Mattel partners with many different car manufacturers to create scale-model die-cast replicas of their cars. Including different lines of their custom models. In 2000, the pink 1969 Volkswagen Beach Bomb sold for $72,000, making it one of the most expensive Hot Wheels cars bought or sold. Today, according to HotCars.com, the same toy (one of only two models like it in existence) would go for $175,000.
Happiness for Just More Than $1
One of the amazing things about Hot Wheels toys is that they have largely escaped the effects of inflation. When the brand launched, the toy cars sold for roughly 69 to 89 cents each, according to collectors. Today, you can snag a car from the Mainline collection for $1.29. Had the toys kept pace with inflation, they would cost roughly $6.49 today, according to an article in USA Today, using data from the Consumer Price Index.
This low cost makes it easy for collectors to get into the game if they can predict which models will sell for more on eBay in the aftermarket. If the cars don’t appreciate, they haven’t lost much and still have a toy they can gift a child to enjoy or hang onto as a memory of their childhood or a mini representation of their favorite vehicle.
“Any parent can buy a Hot Wheels car and make their kid happy for $1,” Bruce Pascal, a passionate collector with a private museum of more than 10,000 Hot Wheels, told USA Today. “How many other items in the world can do that?”
Why Are Some Hot Wheels So Expensive?
As with other types of collectibles, the most expensive Hot Wheels cost so much because of their rarity. Many of the most expensive models are from the early production runs in the 60s and 70s or were created through manufacturing errors. The rarest Hot Wheels models often only have a couple of units ever created.
But how can you tell which Hot Wheels are expensive? A quick way to see whether your Hot Wheels car may be an older, more valuable model is to see whether it has a red circle on each tire. These “Redline” Hot Wheels models were made in the first ten years of production and can often be more valuable. However, just because your Hot Wheels car has these red circles does not mean it is an original Redline. Consider taking your model car to an expert for evaluation.
When determining the value of a toy collectible, the condition of the item and whether it is still in its original packaging heavily contribute to its value. A vintage Hot Wheels car in prime condition could be more valuable than a model with visible damage, such as scuffs or scratches.
9. Purple Olds 442 – $12,000
Due to their age and scarcity, redline model Hot Wheels cars often sell for more than other toys. This shiny purple Oldsmobile, one of the rarest Redline vehicles, could command a hefty $12,000 if you find one that you decide to sell.
8. Mercedes-Benz 300SL- $12,000
With just 50 of these gullwing sportscar toys produced, the Hot Wheels Mercedes-Benz 300SL reportedly sold for $12,000 at auction, according to EnterpriseAppsToday.com.
7. Brown Custom Charger – $13,000
Part of Bruce Pascal’s extensive collection, this Dodge Charger may be a prototype that never went into product. That explains its value of $13,000, according to CarandDriver.com.
6. Mad Maverick Ford – $13,000
This sporty toy looks different from the Ford pickup by the same name. The Maverick was a 1969 compact car from the Detroit car manufacturer, and the Hot Wheels replica sports a crazy-high price tag. If you can find one of only five models created with Mad Maverick’s name embossed on the undercarriage, you could get up to $13,000 if you sell it, according to HotCars.com.
5. Over Chrome Chevy Camaro – $25,000
Hot Wheels collectors seem to love their Camaros, and this 1968 model is one of only two made, making it exceptionally rare and coveted. If you have one of these in your collection, you could see a hefty $25,000 profit.
4. Over Chrome Mustang – $40,000
One of America’s most beloved muscle cars, the Mustang, revels in pint-sized glory with details like a pop-up hood showcasing the engine and window tinting just as you’d see on the real thing. Only a handful of these were made, according to HotCars.com, and if you can find one new-in-box, it’s likely to sell for $40,000 or more.
3. Autographed Tesla Cybertruck – $40,000
When billionaire Elon Musk visited New York to appear on Saturday Night Live in 2021, he autographed a remote control Hot Wheels version of the Cybertruck. You can buy that same item right now on eBay from seller A&E Sports for $40,000. It includes a certificate of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services.
2. White Enamel Custom Camaro – $100,000
One of only 16 produced, this 1968 sports car is a prototype that allows Hot Wheel designers to check for imperfections before mass production. However, a handful got out to the public. If you can find one, it could be worth $100,000, according to HotCars.com.
1. The Pink Rear-Loading Beach Bomb – $$175,000
What is one of the rarest Hot Wheels cars? The Pink Rear-Loading Beach Bomb only has two models in existence, making it the rarest and most expensive. There were only two of these pink Hot Wheels collectibles produced because of a manufacturing error that caused them to be too skinny for Mattel’s latest racetrack accessory. There are a few prototype models in other colors but the two pink ones are the rarest and most expensive.
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Chris Ozarowski contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Have Hot Wheels Toys at Home? They Could Be Worth a Fortune
