The next most expensive Matchbox car on our list is the Mercury Station Wagon. Produced from 1969 to 1973, this particular model is considered valuable due to its color. The majority of Matchbox Station Wagons were painted a metallic light green color, whereas this one’s yellow.
An unusually colored sea green 1966 Opel Diplomat, a 1968 crane truck with a 360-degree swing arm radius, and a Swinging London double-decker bus are only a few of the rare Matchbox cars that collectors worldwide dream of adding to their miniature car collections.
What are old Matchbox cars worth? – Related Questions
Does anyone buy Matchbox cars?
With a number of collectors buying and selling Matchbox cars, finding values for them is an important part of the hobby. Collectors rely on several sources to determine the value of their Matchbox cars, including the Internet, fellow collectors and printed price guides.
40th-anniversary Diamond – Encrusted Hot Wheels – $140,000.
24K Gold Bugatti Veyron – $2.9 million.
What are some of the rarest Matchbox cars?
8 Rarest Matchbox Cars That Can Earn You a Fortune
Matchbox Ford Fairlane Police Car – Gray Wheels.
Matchbox Mercury Commuter Station Wagon- Yellow.
Matchbox Mercedes Benz 230SL- Apple Green.
Matchbox Mercury Cougar- Cream.
Matchbox BP Dodge Wrecker- Reverse Color.
Matchbox Opel Diplomat-Seafoam Green.
Are Matchbox cars collectable?
Hotwheels and Matchbox cars are very popular toys, and they can also make valuable collector’s items.
Which is better Hot Wheels or Matchbox?
Matchbox tends to be more focused on realism being copies of the cars and lorries (Matchbox has far more lorries than Hot Wheels) that can be seen on the roads. Hot Wheels has more fantasy elements and the cars tend to be slightly modded or hot rodded from the base car.
They started marketing and selling them in the United States in 1954. It was not until 1960 that Hot Wheels introduced their line of miniature cars. To date, there have been more than 12,000 individual Matchbox model lines, and the total production is over three billion miniature toys and trucks.
How much did Matchbox cars cost in 1963?
The key for Matchbox’s success was the price. In the 1960s, toys like this Matchbox Lambretta TV175 — produced between 1961 and 1966 — were typically 39 cents.
What is the first Matchbox car?
In 1954, the 19th vehicle in the series was rolled out: a dainty MG TD roadster, the first Matchbox car. The toys quickly spread to the United States where they typically sold for 49 cents. They were finely wrought things.
Why do Matchbox cars have an elephant?
The elephant is one of Thailand’s national symbols. Mattel includes the elephant on the bases to honor the Thai workers who assemble the cars.
Are Matchbox Toys still made?
Matchbox is a popular toy brand which was introduced by Lesney Products in 1953, and is now owned by Mattel, Inc, which purchased the brand in 1997.
Matchbox (brand)
Speciality store for Matchbox collectibles in Berlin, Germany, 2015
Product type
Toys, scale model vehicles
Owner
Mattel (1997–)
Produced by
Mattel
Country
United Kingdom
What metal are Matchbox cars made of?
The metal used in die-casting is either a lead alloy (used early on), or more commonly, Zamak (called Mazak in the UK), an alloy of zinc with small quantities of aluminium and copper.
By the mid-’60s, Matchbox was the largest brand of die-cast model vehicles in the world, and had diversified the line into multiple series. On 11 July 1982, after years of difficulties due to the economic climate in Britain at the time, Lesney went bankrupt and into receivership.
How do you date a Matchbox car?
Which came first Hot Wheels or Matchbox?
Origins: Matchbox was launched in 1953 by UK-based Lesney Products. Hot Wheels was created in the USA by Mattel in 1968 and quickly picked up speed (pardon the pun) due to the low-friction wheels and new styles. Hot Wheels competed against Matchbox all the way till 1997, when Mattel acquired its owner Tyco Toys.
Where are Matchbox cars made now?
Despite these efforts, Matchbox’s high cost of manufacturing in England drove Lesney into bankruptcy. Universal Internal Ltd. acquired the product, formed Matchbox International, and moved most of the production to Asia.
What can you do with Matchbox cars?
Mattel Will Recycle Your Old Matchbox Cars for Free. These Are the Ones You Shouldn’t Throw Away. If they’re in perfect condition, some of your Matchbox editions could be worth hundreds (and maybe thousands) of dollars.