What Are My Matchbox Cars Worth? Here’s How to Find Out
Matchbox cars, the classic miniature toys, have become worldwide collectibles since their creation in England in the 1940s. With a number of collectors buying and selling Matchbox cars, finding values for them is an important part of the hobby.
Matchbox cars officially first appeared in 1953, when Britain’s Lesney Products rebranded their already-existing line of miniature toy vehicles. The name “Matchbox” was used because, at the time, British schools only allowed students to bring toys small enough to fit in a matchbox. Mattel eventually bought the company and continues to release cars under the Matchbox brand.
Lesney originally released 75 vehicles in its initial line (shown below), with many variations released in subsequent years. The number of vehicles as increased substantially over the years, especially after the Mattel acquisition.
Mattel’s Matchbox cars have been extremely popular in America, and collectors rely on several sources to determine the value of their cars.
Online Auctions, Websites, and Social Media
When it comes to collectibles, nothing tracks the rise and fall of current prices (as well as demand), like the internet. online auction sites such as eBay. With a quick search, a collector can probably find the going rate for most Matchbox cars. Before accepting eBay results as the market rate for particular cars, however, there are several factors to take into account.
It is important to search completed listings, not ongoing auctions. There may be a dozen ongoing auctions for a particular Matchbox car, all with no (or very low) bids. This is not always an indicator of interest; many eBay auctions do not see bids until the final day of listing. Checking recent completed auctions (this can be selected through the search options) provides a better idea of overall interest and demand.
Online auctions can sometimes skew values, especially if collectors get into a bidding war. To find a car’s real value, collect several results, throw out the top and bottom finishes, and average the remaining results. This should give a collector a better idea of value.
Online price guides are also available: a guide to vintage Lesney releases is available from the North Carolina Hot Wheels Association (click here).
On Facebook, The Matchbox Cars Group allows for buying and selling of cars (click here to visit it), and gives a good look at the trends on pricing and demand. The Diecast Model Cars Group on Facebook (click here to visit) covers other lines like Dinky and Corgi in addition to Matchbox, but with over six thousand members, there’s a lot of information and knowledge there.
Die-Cast Car Collector Shows
A Matchbox collector who is looking to buy, sell or learn car values should seek out a local die-cast dealer show (which cover many diecast brands). Even as eBay as helped “shrink” the hobby by making Matchbox cars accessible to anyone, dealer shows still provide a place to ask questions as well as buy and sell. In fact, dealer shows are often the best place for collectors to find bargains, as the demand is sometimes less competitive than online auctions.
HotWheelsCollectors.com (click here to visit it) is an official Mattel site, but they offer a forum that often promotes shows. Shows mentioned in the forum are not limited to Hot Wheels – they cover all types of die-cast. Additionally, MBoxCommunity.com sponsors an annual show specializing in the Matchbox brand, but their site is currently down, as the site owner is ill.
Be sure to check out our conventions listing on this site (click here to visit it), which includes some diecast car shows.
Price Guides
Printed price guides often provide a comprehensive list and visual record of Matchbox cars, even if values can become outdated with time.
Tom Larson is the author of “Warman’s Matchbox Field Guide” (click here to get it from Amazon), one of the best guides on the subject. New editions are always coming, keeping the information up to date.
Dana Johnson has also published a price guide, covering Matchbox from 1947 (early toys before they officially took on the brand) to 2007. It can be purchased on Amazon by clicking here.
Post your thoughts in the comments section below on the Matchbox price guide. In addition, share this on social media.
