When you're spring cleaning and come across your old toy box, don't immediately put it in the donate pile! You may be sitting on a vintage jackpot and not even realize it. Some people collect antique dolls or sell antique furniture, but it may surprise you to learn that an entire community of collectors trades and sells vintage Hot Wheels. If you were one of the thousands of children who loved those classic car toys, with the right rare Hot Wheels, you could be in business!
But how do you tell which vintage Hot Wheels are valuable? How do you set up a booth to sell your cars? We can teach you all there is to know about antique, rare Hot Wheels.
History of Hotwheels
The classic toy cars, lovingly called Hot Wheels, were created by Elliot Handler, one of the founders of the toy company Mattel. When they reached the market in 1968, they were designed to be agile and trackable, inspired by a wide array of models of real-life cars. Since then, Hot Wheels have been the go-to car toy for kids worldwide. As more and more collections are released, the older ones become more beloved—and valuable!
What Qualifies as a Vintage Hot Wheel?
A vintage Hot Wheel is a car made from 1968 to 1980. Modern Hot Wheels were manufactured from 1980 until 1989, and Contemporary Hot Wheels have been since 1990 to today. But just because your collectible Hot Wheel isn't made in the vintage era doesn't mean it isn't valuable!
Pro tip: to check the year a collectible Hot Wheel was made, check the base! Almost every
vintage Hot Wheel has the year it was manufactured engraved on the bottom. Like this 1968 Custom Camaro which was one of a handful of Enamel White prototypes for the original “Sweet 16” car that were never meant to be sold. (You can read more about it here.)
How to Determine If a Hot Wheel Car is Valuable
There are specific models of vintage Hot Wheels that can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, but generally, the price is driven by the number of cars made and how much a collector wants it. So, when you're hunting through your own collectible Hot Wheels or looking at rare Hot Wheels online, it's important to understand how to determine the value of your toy cars:
1. How is the condition?
2. Any rare variations?
3. In what era was it made?
1. How is the Condition of the Hot Wheel Toy Car?
When pricing rare Hot Wheels, collectors care about the toy's condition. Value can depend on whether or not it's in packaging and if there are any damages to the car. In general, a collectible Hot Wheel will be worth something regardless of its condition, but the value will increase if it's near perfect.
Mint condition refers to collectible Hot Wheels inside their original packaging. Of course, some will prefer the car be packaged and never touched, but others like to keep the childlike joy alive and prefer the car to be usable. So, if your rare Hot Wheel isn't packaged but still qualifies as rare, there is a collector out there who will pay a pretty penny for it!
As with any collector's item, if your vintage Hot Wheel is dinged up or damaged in any way, the value may decrease. You can still sell them, especially if they're a rare Hot Wheel, but they won't be worth as much money.
2. Does the Hot Wheel Toy Have Any Variations?
While most Hot Wheels produced in one line look the same, a few rare Hot Wheels have variations. Different wheels, windows, paint, colors, and graphics can all lead to different, valuable variants of vintage Hot Wheels. If they released a limited-edition car, the price of those rare Hot Wheels would skyrocket.
If there are any manufacturing errors, your car is considered one of a kind. Since Hot Wheels are considered rare for these errors, they are extremely valuable!
3. In What Era Was the Hot Wheel Made?
The most important factor when hunting for collectible Hot Wheels is when the car was made. Each era has a different characteristic to help you determine the possible price of your rare Hot Wheel:
Original Sweet Sixteen (1967)
Redlines (1968-1977)
Treasure Hunt (1995 to today)
Original Sweet Sixteen Hot Wheels
The first line of collectible Hot Wheels was lovingly dubbed "The Sweet Sixteen," and featured sixteen cars inspired by California hot rods. The original Hot Wheel, the dark blue Custom Camaro, started the game. Today, cars from this collection are among the most valuable toy vehicles ever made.
Redline Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels made from 1968 to 1977 feature "redlines" or red stripes across the tires. Since they stopped using Spectraflame paint and marking the tires with red lines after 1977, these collectible Hot Wheels are more valuable than today's cars. Some are even worth around $200!
Treasure Hunt and Super Treasure Hunt Hot Wheels
If you're looking for rare Hot Wheels, the Treasure Hunt cars have been released since 1995. These collectible Hot Wheels are mixed with common ones on the shelves, so finding them is half the fun. Look for a circle symbol with a flame inside on either the logo or spoiler on the car. If you see that hidden symbol, your rare Hot Wheel is valuable!
Super Treasure Hunt cars are even rarer than regular Treasure Hunt Hot Wheels! There are only a few thousand in the world, so keep your eyes peeled for the tell-tale TH symbol with a golden flame.
Storing and displaying you collectible Hot Wheels
Once you have begun your collection what are some great ways to store them? Some who keep them in their original packaging like to display them on peg wall with hooks. For those Hot Wheels that are out of the package you could build a custom shelf or buy a display case like this one on Amazon.
Collecting and Selling Vintage Hot Wheels
After determining the potential value of your vintage Hot Wheels, you can become a seller and collector! If you want to join the online world of rare Hot Wheel collectors, eBay is an easy place to start. There, you can compare prices of similar collectible Hot Wheels to get an accurate idea of how to market your own.
Some sellers market and sell their vintage Hotwheels on Amazon there is a Hot Wheels store and individuals sell their collectible Hot Wheels mystery packs on Amazon too that can help you jump start your collection.
If you want to get into the hands-on world of antiquing, consider setting up a booth at a flea market or antique mall. Cultivate your in-person community of Hot Wheels lovers at our Algonquin, Highland, or Melbourne locations.
There are vintage toys all around you, in your home, in relatives' attics, and in vintage stores. So, rev your engines, hunt down rare Hot Wheels, and start your collection now!
*If you purchase something from one of our Amazon Links it provides us a small commission. Thank you, this contributes to our Blogs.*
This Blog post is dedicated to Tom at America's Antique Mall in Melbourne who shares is collection and his love of Hot Wheels with us and hosts such fun Hot Wheels events at our Melbourne, Florida store. Thanks Tom for being such a wealth of knowledge and a great Vendor!
