Most Valuable Vintage Matchbox Cars, Ranked
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The inspiration behind Matchbox cars came from a school rule. Leslie and Rodney Smith started their toy company, Lesney Products, shortly after World War II, and tool and die maker Jack O’Dell joined them to make die-cast vehicles and other toys. Their first toy was a road roller, but when O’Dell’s daughter was told that only toys small enough to fit inside a matchbox could be brought to school, the rest was history. O’Dell created a smaller model, starting a trend in model cars that would last for generations.
Matchbox cars have always been inexpensive toys, with today’s models still selling for typically less than $2. But you might want to check your vintage Matchbox cars before giving them away since some can be worth thousands of dollars. As with most collectibles, the car’s condition is important, but most of these are valuable because they are rare. Many were produced as samples and differ from the variations chosen for mass production — therefore, explaining the reason why some are valued as much as 100 times their original cost.
29. VW Microvan Black Plastic Wheels (34) (Tie)
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Selling price: $1,199
Date released: 1960
Last sold: 2023
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $1,199
This van was made with four types of wheels: metal, gray plastic, silver plastic and black plastic. Unlike most other models, the black wheels are the most valuable variety.
* Note: All sale prices are based on the latest date the Matchbox car was sold, and then we ranked them based on inflation numbers.
29. Cadillac Sixty Special – Green (Tie)
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Selling price: $1,199
Date released: 1960
Last sold: 2023
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $1,199
This green model was manufactured in 1960, and a silver version was released the following year with silver plastic wheels. From 1962 to 1965, this car was a lilac color with black or gray plastic wheels. This particular model was sold in mint condition.
28. Dragon Wheels (43)
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Selling price: £1,000
Date released: 1972
Last sold: 2022
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £1,107 or $1,358
While not all Dragon Wheels Matchbox cars will fetch this much at auction, the version that sold for more than $1,200 in 2022 was a pre-production vehicle and was missing the “Dragon Wheels” sticker on the doors — earning it top dollar.
27. AEC Lorry – Duck Egg Blue (Y6)
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Selling price: $1,273
Date released: 1957
Last sold: 2022
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $1,291
The AEC Lorry was manufactured from 1957 to 1960. According to Matchbox Cars Wiki, it was sold only in gray, which means this blue model must have been a pre-production sample.
26. Bedford Low Loader (27)
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Selling price: $1,150
Date released: 1956
Last sold: 2020
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $1,319
This model was made in two versions: One was green and tan, and the other was this two-tone blue.
25. Racing Mini – Metallic Gold (29)
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Selling price: £750
Date released: 1970
Last sold: 2013
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £1,100 or $1,358
This metallic gold model was a factory color trial that had an unpainted base — making it quite unique for collectors.
24. RAF 10 Ton Pressure Refueller BPW
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Selling price: $1,399
Date released: 1959
Last sold: 2022
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $1,419
Most of these vehicles have gray plastic wheels. The fact that this one has black plastic wheels makes it particularly rare.
23. Ford Station Wagon (31)
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Selling price: £900
Date released: 1957
Last sold: 2014
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £1,289 or $1,591
The Ford Station Wagon was produced in yellow in 1961 and green with a pink roof from 1962 to 1964. There are fewer yellow cars on the market, especially in this condition.
22. Petrol Tanker (11)
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Selling price: $1,500
Date released: 1955
Last sold: 2021
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $1,643
This model can be found in three colors. It was originally made with a green cab, gold grill and fuel tanks and with metal wheels. The yellow and red versions are more common and, therefore, worth less.
21. Volkswagen Beetle Flying Bug Dragster (11)
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Selling price: £1,200
Date released: 1968
Last sold: 2021
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £1,471 or $1,805
This metallic red car is unusual because of its electric-blue windows, making it a rare find for vintage Matchbox car enthusiasts.
20. Racing Mini – White (29)
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Selling price: £1,300
Date released: 1970
Last sold: 2021
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £1,593 or $1,966
This white model was one of several factory color trial examples. This particular car was previously owned by Lesney R&D Technical Manager and Project Engineer Jim Walter Peck.
19. Bedford Wreck Truck (13)
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Selling price: $1,984
Date released: 1970
Last sold: 2022
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $2,012
This blue and cream truck is a pre-production model that features metal wheels with crimped axles.
18. Racing Mini – Blue (29)
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Selling price: £1,600
Date released: 1970
Last sold: 2022
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £1,771 or $2,186
This metallic blue model was a factory color trial that was previously owned by a former Lesney factory worker.
17. Ford Fairlane Police Car – Gray Wheels (55)
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Selling price: £1,600
Date released: 1963
Last sold: 2020
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £2,010 or $2,481
This police car was made for only two years. It came in either a light- or dark-blue body and had a red dome light. The dark-blue version came only with black plastic wheels, while the light-blue one can be found with black, silver or gray plastic wheels, the latter of which is the most valuable.
16. Mercury Cougar – Metallic Green (62)
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Selling price: £1,400
Date released: 1968
Last sold: 2007
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £2,485 or $3,067
This car was produced in two versions with slight wheel variations. The one that would earn more than $3,000 today is a pre-production version that featured a metallic light green with a red interior.
15. Ford Mustang
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Selling price: £2,100
Date released: 1966
Last sold: 2020
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £2,638 or $3,256
Just like its real-life counterpart, this model is sought after by collectors. It has been available in several variations, but this one, with a white body, red interior and black engine base, is the most valuable.
14. Jaguar MK 10 (28)
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Selling price: £2,000
Date released: 1964
Last sold: 2008
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £3,414 or $4,214
Most versions of this model had black plastic wheels, but the one that'll earn the big bucks has gray plastic wheels instead.
13. Racing Mini – Dark Red (29)
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Selling price: £2,600
Date released: 1970
Last sold: 2017
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £3,499 or $4,319
Another pre-production color trial, this dark-red model has its door outlines cast. Later models had these removed to make it easier to apply labels.
12. Soap Box Racer
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Selling price: $3,341
Date released: 1947
Last sold: 2006
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $4,919
About 10,000 of these were made, then scrapped, and it's estimated that only 10 racers survived. A reproduction was made in the 1900s, which was limited to 500 vehicles; while not worth as much, they are also highly sought after.
11. Ford Kennel Truck (50)
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Selling price: £3,200
Date released: 1969
Last sold: 2020
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £4,019 or $4,961
Most examples of this model were painted lime and metallic green with a black base. The plastic topper on the bed could be removed to reveal four white dogs inside. At some point, a series was produced in mint green with black wheels.
10. Ford Zodiac - Metallic Green (53)
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Selling price: £3,400
Date released: 1957
Last sold: 2021
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £4,167 or $5,143
This metallic green car has regular wheels and a factory hand-punched rivet. It was previously owned by Lesney artist Ron Jobson who produced the catalog and box artwork in the 1960s and 1970s.
8. Commer Pick-up Truck (50) (Tie)
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Selling price: £2,200
Date released: 1961
Last sold: 2017
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £4,438 or$5,444
This truck was made in three colors. The original was tan, while the red with a white top was produced in 1961 and 1962, and in 1963, the red truck was given a gray top. The red body with a white top is the rarest color combination and the most valuable.
8. Mercury Commuter Station Wagon – Yellow (73) (Tie)
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Selling price: £2,500
Date released: 1969
Last sold: 2007
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £4,438 or $5,444
This model features a pair of dogs peering out the window of the back cargo area. Most models of this car were green, but there was a limited-edition red model made in 1972 that had a bull’s head sticker. However, it's the yellow prototype, made in 1968, that is the most valuable.
7. BP Dodge Wrecker – Reverse Color (13)
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Selling price: $8,499
Date released: 1966
Last sold: 2013
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $10,828
This truck was either a factory error or pre-production model (it’s uncertain which is true). The original version of this model had a green cab and crane with a yellow bed. While some were released for sale, the official model came in the reverse color scheme, with a yellow cab and crane and green bed. Repainted fakes are not uncommon. While there are several small differences between the two, the originals had a BP logo decal, while later versions have a paper sticker.
6. Mercedes Benz 230SL – Apple Green (27)
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Selling price: $6,765
Date released: 1967
Last sold: 1999
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $12,052
The Benz 230 SL was released in 1966 with a white body and red interior. In 1971-71, a yellow model with black interior was available. It is suspected that the apple-green model that can earn in the tens of thousands was a pre-production model, though this has not been confirmed.
5. Mercury Cougar – Cream (62)
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Selling price: $10,000
Date released: 1967
Last sold: 2016
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $12,366
Most of the Matchbox cars that were this model type came in green. The pre-production sample, however, is quite rare, as it was cream with a white interior.
3. ERF Dropside Lorry - Mint (Tie)
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Selling price: £7,000 ($9,000)
Date released: 1958
Last sold: 2020
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £13,816 or $17,053
Most of these trucks were made in either red or blue. But this one, formerly part of a collection from car enthusiast Simon Hope, sold in January 2020 and had been produced in mint green.
3. Opel Diplomat – Seafoam Green (36) (Tie)
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Selling price: £11,000
Date released: 1966
Last sold: 2020
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): £13,816 or $17,053
This seafoam green car (with a gray baseplate) was a special edition, part of the 1967 G2d car transporter gift set. The regular model was metallic gold with a black baseplate engine (and sells for about $25 to $50).
2. Major Scale Quarry Truck
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Selling price: $15,000
Date released: 1955
Last sold: 2010
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $20,417
This 11-inch-long truck was made as a prototype. It was one of six samples created for a proposed “Major Scale” collection, but the company scrapped the design in favor of the smaller-scale vehicles for which it became known. It is believed that there is only one still in existence today.
1. Magirus-Deutz Crane Lorry – Brown (30)
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Selling price: $13,000
Date released: 1961
Last sold: 2004
Adjusted for inflation (as of January 2023): $20,425
This truck was a pre-production model. Unlike the regular models, which were silver with orange crane arms, this one is light brown with a red-orange crane arm. Only two known examples of this version exist. In 2008, another model sold for £4,800 (£9,429 or $11,638 in today’s dollars).