No one knew this in the past, but some of the toys that came out in the 70s, 80s and 90s are now worth a pretty penny.
Of course, the better the condition, the more money you can get for them… and don’t forget to keep the box! Check them out!
Fisher Price Little People Play Castle
It’s a bit hard to pin down the worth of a Fisher Price Little People Play Castle. Some of them sell for $30 while others sell for $205. We’re guessing the sweet spot is somewhere in between… maybe $90 or so. Obviously it depends on the condition, whether you have the original box or not, etc… The Play Castle came out somewhere around 1974, possibly before that.
Polly Pocket
Polly Pocket was a girl’s toy series that morphed over time. At first, they were 1 inch tall, hard plastic figurines that came with pocket carrying cases. Later on, they grew to about 2-3 inches tall and were made of softer, pliable rubber. The characters featured all types of personalities (and races) and were initially very popular. Special editions were also made which today fetch more money. The Snow White edition (with dwarves) costs about $100 on Etsy.
Furby
The Furby was the first ever (successful) robot for your home. Yes, it was a toy pet that would “learn” some words (which were actually programmed). It reacted to you and was kind of fun to have around. Kids (and parents, as a result) went MENTAL for this toy. It was one of the first toys to feature parent battles in stores at Christmas time. Originally $35, their worth rose to HUNDREDS of dollars at the height of their popularity. Now, an original one is sold on Amazon for approximately $60-$80.
Tamagotchi
1996 was the year the Tamagotchi was released upon the public… specifically in Japan. It then quickly too over the world, turning countless humans into slaves of their keychain pets. The Tamagotchi was a little electronic pet that required you to take care of it… frequently… or else it would DIE! Thankfully, there is some justice in the world and Tamagotchis did NOT become valuable collector’s items! You can buy one for $6 on Amazon, but we ask you to consider your purchase very carefully before you do!
Sega Game Gear
Sega Game Gear, which came out in 1990, was the first ever portable video game system with a backlit screen. Nintendo’s Gameboy was not backlit… actually, it had no lighting of any sort. Sega’s portable had some awesome games, too, like Sonic! Nowadays, you can get one on Amazon for about $30… which might not seem like a lot, until you consider that electronics of any sort over 2 years old are worth diddly squat!
G.I. Joe Storm Shadow
The Holy Grail of 1980’s G.I. Joe toys was Storm Shadow, the white Cobra ninja. Well, actually, Snake Eyes (the Blind G.I. Joe ninja) might actually be the Holy Grail, but Storm Shadow was, by far, cooler. A sealed (still in box) Storm Shadow is currently being sold on eBay for $700… and we think that’s a DEAL!
Cabbage Patch Kid
Xavier Roberts invented Cabbage Patch Kids in the 70’s, but originally they were called Little People and were not for sale. You could adopt one and it had a name and birth certificate. In 1982, he began selling them as Cabbage Patch Kids. While most are not worth much and can be bought for cheap, there are some early ones that are hand signed by Xavier himself. Those ones can sell for approximately $2,500 per doll!
Original Game Boy
The Gameboy as a whole (all versions) sold more units than any other video game system in history… the PS2 sold more if you count each Gameboy version separately. While the Gameboy sells for more than you would expect ($50+, depending on condition), it’s still not old enough to be considered an antique. Maybe in a few decades, new-in-box Gameboys will be fetching premium prices. Just remember, there were millions of these systems made, which could keep prices down!
Mint Condition Pokemon Cards
It could be argued that Pokemon, at one point, was bigger than Jesus. It seemed like EVERY KID ON EARTH was into the Japanese franchise, and everyone was collecting Pokemon cards! Well, some of those Pokemon cards are now worth a whole lot of money! In mint condition (and professionally graded, which increases the value), some cards are known to sell for $1,000 to $5,000. One card in particular, called the Pikachu Illustrator, sells for $100,000. Only 6 of them exist, but one is NOT considered to be in circulation… so 5.
G.I. Joe Action Marine
America is awash with toys related to violence… such as action figures. One of the classic American action figures is G.I. Joe. Most will remember the small, plastic, 1980’s G.I. Joe figurines, but before that, there were the big G.I. Joes. Near the start of the Vietnam war (1964), toy manufacturer Hasbro released the military dolls to make a profit (and to glorify active service for sure…). If you have one of these 1964 G.I. Joes in a box, you can get about $400 for it on eBay.
Mighty Max
While nowadays it would be “okay” for boys to play with Polly Pocket toys… that wasn’t the case in the 90’s… or in any other decade besides this one, in fact. Bluebird Toys, a toy manufacturing company, saw an opportunity to cash in and created a Polly–Pocket-like toy line… for boys! The toys were tiny figurines that would fit in little pocket cases shaped like snakes and such. With a name like Mighty Max, how could any boy resist? The original toys, in-box, are worth a bit more than what they retailed for. Skull Mountain (a larger play-set) goes for about $80 on eBay.
Super Soaker
The Super Soaker was the ultimate in seems-like-a-good-idea-but-is-actually-a-really-terrible-idea toys. It was a water gun that you pressurized. While all water guns work as a result of water pressure (pull the trigger, the pressure shoots water from the gun, then press the trigger again), Super Soakers too it to the extreme. First you pressurize it (a lot!) and then you HOLD the trigger and it keeps firing as long as there’s pressure. It’s a surefire (pun intended) way to take someone’s eye out. An original 1990 Super Soaker (in-box) goes for $100 on eBay.
Micro Machines
If it doesn’t say Micro Machines, it’s not the real thing! Remember that commercial with the fastest talking man in the world? We do. Micro Machines were basically plastic Hot Wheels in miniature form! You could fit like 37 of them in your pocket. Micro Machines were absolutely awesome and we’re happy to admit we still have around 85 of them at home. They’re also worth a bit more than original retail price. One website devoted to Micro Machines will buy them off of you for $20 a piece… OUT of box. Imagine how much they would pay for IN box!
He-Man And Battle Cat
Besides G.I. Joe and Transformers, nothing says 80’s like He-Man. He was the main character in the cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He-Man was a very powerful warrior and the alter-ego of Prince Adam. He also had a green tiger called Battle Cat. If you happen to have the He-Man and Battle Cat box set, you can get around $250 for it on eBay… and if you’ve had it graded by the Action Figure Authority, that price jumps to $500+.
Talkboy
If you’ve ever watched Home Alone 2, featuring Macaulay Culkin, then you might remember the Talkboy. It’s a small electronic recorder (which uses a cassette tape) that allows you to record some dialogue and then replay it with effects… essentially morphing your voice into something drastically different. If it worked for Kevin, it’ll work for you! New, in-box, a Talkboy can sell for about $175 on eBay… much more than originally.
Sega Genesis
The Sega Genesis is known as one of the best consoles in human history. Sure, it’s primitive by today’s standards, but it was ground-breaking when it first came out. You’ll be happy to know you can score a used Sega Genesis on Amazon starting at $17. You’ll be amazed at the graphics… well, amazed might be a strong word… how about, you’ll laugh at the graphics.
Playmobil Victorian Mansion
When first starting out, the founder of Playmobil set out to make a series of toys that were perfect for children… the goal was to make sure they did not restrict a child’s imagination, while at the same time offering some direction for their creativity. He came up with the Playmobil figurines. As soon as he showed them to children, they LOVED the toys and instantly started creating stories for them while they played. One of the play-sets that Playmobil sold was the Victorian Mansion. Today, you can buy a Victorian Mansion (used but with a box) on eBay for about $225.
Original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
We love the cartoon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from the 80’s and 90’s… and if you don’t, there’s something very wrong with that! The only good excuse you could have is: “I haven’t seen the cartoon, yet.” Anyway, Playmates Toys released a series of TMNT action figures. Today, they are worth some pretty coin. Leonardo, for instance, sells for $90 on eBay if you have him still sealed in the original packaging.
Power Rangers Action Figures
The problem with relatively recent collectibles (such as action figures) is that as soon as toy manufacturers saw that there was a market for it, they went into overdrive creating as many figures as possible. If you add on a very popular TV show, you get action figures produced in excess… FOR YEARS! That’s the problem with the original Power Rangers toys, there are just too many. Some people believe that a set of 6 is worth $180 on eBay… but no one is buying at that price. Sorry Power Rangers… you’ve overproduced!
Lite Brite
Lite Brite is like the Gillette of Toys. It was a must-have toy (at least in the 60’s and 70’s) that required you to buy refills. Lite Brite doesn’t work quite as well once an image has been “punched” into a new sheet (since it left used up holes that let light through). Since Lite Brite has been around for so long, if you’re planning on selling, the older it is, the better. If you have a 70’s still-in-box Lite Brite, you can sell it for about $50 on eBay. Might as well keep it and give it to your grandkids.
Street Sharks
The Street Sharks seemed like a cash-in on the popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Four anthropomorphic friends, based on some creatures (sharks, in this case) who fight against bad guys. Well, they seem to have succeeded, because Street Sharks was a profitable franchise… if not as long-lived as TMNT. The original figures sell for over $100 per piece if still in-box.
Digimon
Digimon is a Japanese phenomenon similar to Pokemon. The backstory is different, the result is the same… lots of profit! Besides toys, there were movies, TV shows, video games and much, much more! One Digimon figure on eBay, Guilmon, is being sold for $49 and is used. Stay tuned to see if it sells.
Hot Wheels Collection
There are so many different Hot Wheels cars that have come out over the decades that it’s ridiculous! Some people have amassed HUGE collections and have attempted to sell them to collectors on eBay. One such collection, which features over 900 Leo Mattel India Hot Wheels (still in packaging) is trying to sell on eBay for $75,000. That’s approximately $83.33 per car.
Original Transformers
Transformers were AWESOME! Robots that would transform into vehicles (or accessories of various sorts). One of the coolest ever Transformer was the Decepticon leader, Megatron. Megatron transformed into a silver handgun. Today, if you have a USED Megatron, with accessories and box, you can sell it for $240 on eBay. If it was brand new and sealed, that price would jump drastically. And if, on top of that, it was also graded by the Action Figure Authority… you’re rich!
Ty Beanie Baby Princess Diana
Prepare to lose your s*** if you’ve got this one! One of the Ty Beanie Babies Princess Diana bears was auctioned off on eBay for $625… THOUSAND! Yup, someone paid $625,000 for a Princess Diana Beanie Baby. That’s like 2 Ferraris… 3 if you buy them used!
Nintendo World Championships Video Game
The Nintendo Entertainment System is older than most people alive today, but some of us had one, yours truly included. Some of the old NES cartridges were very rare and now go for thousands of dollars… the rarest of them being the cartridge of the Nintendo World Championships video game. There were only 90 grey ones given out to the winners of the tournament, and another 26 gold promotional ones! They sell for about $15,000. And yes, you still have to blow into them to make them work!
Crossfire
Crossfire was one of the coolest board games around when growing up… so long as you grew up in 1971 or later. The game has you trying to score your puck into a net, by shooting metal ball bearings at it (essentially TOWARDS the other player). The game has altered since its inception, but a new-in-the-box 1971 Crossfire can go for about $75 on eBay!
Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy Ruxpin was a 1985 teddy bear that talked and had facial expressions. The talking came from a pre-recorded cassette. Teddy Ruxpin was the top-selling toy in 1985 and 1986. If you’d like to find one on eBay that’s still sealed-in-box and in mint condition, it’s going to set you back by about $350.
G.I. Joe Mobile Command Center
While some G.I. Joe figures sell for ungodly amounts of money, the ultimate G.I. Joe toy you could get was the G.I. Joe Mobile Command Center. It was a big G.I. Joe mobile base with mounted machine guns and anything else your fighting force might need to fend off an attack by the evil Cobra… and it turned into a vehicle! A mint condition, still-in-box Mobile Command Center sells for about $700 on eBay, which is much more than the $24.95 you had to pay to get it.
Stretch Armstrong Collection
Stretch Armstrong was a latex rubber action figure that could be stretched up to 4 or 5 feet. After a bit of time, it would shrink back to its original size. If the toy started ripping, it could be fixed. Stretch Armstrong was made from 1976 to 1980 and if you want one of the original ones, mint-in-box, you’re going to have to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars! There are few Stretch Armstrongs that remain, which were kept in the right conditions so as to prevent deterioration.
Rocket Firing Boba Fett Action Figure
Besides the usual list of suspects (Luke, Han, R2-D2), one of the most popular Star Wars characters is the bounty hunter, Boba Fett. Over the years, there have been many Boba Fett action figures released, and several of them even fired the rocket that Boba Fett has on his backpack. One such figure, the 12″ jumbo Boba Fett, sells for anywhere between $140 and $250, depending on the condition and whether it is still in the box.
American Girl Dolls
American Girl dolls were 18″ tall dolls of various ethnic backgrounds. Many of them have come out over time, but are eventually “retired,” which then allows them to grow in value on the secondary market… like eBay! Some of the original dolls are worth quite a bit! One such doll we found on eBay was still brand-new-in-box and was selling for $800. Not too shabby!
Hot Wheels Bye Focal
The Hot-Wheels Bye Focal was a specific car that was released in 1971. It was based on the 1970 Dodge Challenger but souped up and with a clear hood. Not many of these exist and some of them had defects which caused them to literally crumble. Even out-of-box Bye Focals are worth a lot of money, some fetching over $250 for a USED one on eBay. Highly collectible.
First Edition Pound Puppies Plush
We’re not sure if you remember the Pound Puppies plush toys but we sure do! Everybody loves puppies, so these toys were a surefire way of making a profit. But who would have known how much these puppies would be worth today? A bad condition Pound Puppy 1st edition (with a mangled box) is selling on eBay for $200. If they’re in mint condition, they can fetch (pun intended) up to $2,000!
The post If You Have These OG Toys, You’re Rich! appeared first on Detonate.