Antique Toys: Cars, Planes, Trains, and more!

Remember how much fun you had playing with your toys when you were a kid? How you were so excited that you just ripped the box open with nary a thought about how that box could make your Barbie or Lionel train car worth an absolute fortune one day? Yeah, neither did anybody else. But as it turns out, antique toys, and collectible toys in their original boxes (and, of course, never played with) command prices that rival cars and jewelry. We're not kidding—it turns out that hanging on to old toys was a pretty good investment strategy—and they don't even have to be expensive toys. 

Here are some examples. A limited-edition Pez dispenser (only two were made) sold on eBay for $32,205 in 2006. A hand-painted Monopoly game (painted by the game's inventor, Charles Darrow) sold for over $146,000 in 2010.

What Makes Antique Toys so Valuable?

Now, if you've been cleaning out the garage and wondering what to do with old toys, you may have some treasures on your hands. It's also quite likely that some fads you bought into thinking they'd be worth something one day are, sadly, just not that interesting for collectors. There's no way to know if that Happy Meal or action figure will be worth five figures forty or a hundred years from now, but limited editions are the best candidates to increase in value. Other factors that come into play with antique and vintage toys are whether a particular toy has a unique variation, is discontinued, or has just caught fire by collectors.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

For some reason, modes of transportation—antique toy airplanes, cars, and trains— have always been popular with collectors. Old metal airplanes and model cars are popular toys—Matchbox and HotWheels come to mind, but there are several other miniature die-cast manufacturers. Rare cars, in mint condition—still in the box—can fetch in the thousands. while pink models are the most valuable.

Lionel trains are one of the rare toys that have been collected for generations, and truth be told, the market is low these days. But don't give away your Lionel collection, especially if it's a standard-gauge model. A Sears train set is worth a lot more than the $49.79 it cost new, and a 1934 standard gauge set might be worth more than your house—the most valuable set clocked in at a cool $250,000.

How Do I Know if My Toy Is Worth A Lot?

Toy collectors and dealers have a relatively simple system for determining the value of a given toy. Here are a few levels a dealer uses to determine a toy's value.

C-10— in box—the best of the best, in an unopened box. Bonus points if the box is still factory-sealed.

C-10—no box, but mint condition

C-9—may have a tiny bit of wear—maybe a scuff mark on the bottom of Barbie's fluffy mules

C-8—excellent condition, but has been played with (as a toy should be!)

C-7—very good, but shows signs of overall wear. Metal toys may show rust or peeling paint.

C-6—good, but signs it was well-loved and played with a lot—maybe a piece is missing, or it needs repair

Old Crow's Dealers Can Help You with Your Toys

If you've got some toys you're not sure about, or you're interested in collecting toys, the dealers at Old Crow Antiques can help you decide which toys to invest in or tell you what your toys are worth. We have over 42,000 square feet of showroom space, so there's sure to be an antique toy for you to take home.

Image Credit: Rafael Tenorio / GettyImages