Collecting Matchbox Cars: What Grandparents Need to Know

Matchbox Cars are More Than Toys: They Are Collectibles 

I spent the Thanksgiving weekend parking cars...Matchbox cars that is. For three days straight I played with my grandson on the floor rolling vintage Matchbox cars down a homemade ramp I made from a piece of Foam board. After the cars rolled down the ramp, we parked the cars. When the parking lot got too crowded it was down the ramp again. After three days of parking cars...you get to know them really well.

Now my company is gone and I am packing away the cars. I am also wondering just how well do I know these little die cast cars? The answer is, I know squat about the history or value of these cars which are very collectible. What I do know after doing some simple research is that some of the cars we were rolling down the ramp are worth a bit of change. I had no idea these little cars could sell for $20, $40, $90 dollars etc.  Of course prices are related to year made,
condition, rarity, boxed etc. Whoa ...it is time to do some careful analysis of the matter before we play again.

Here are some great resources to check out:

Top Image from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/5990026/Real-money-from-your-toy-collection.html

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/model-cars/matchbox

http://matchboxclub.com/

http://www.toycarcollector.com/matchbox_lesney.htm

http://play.matchbox.com/en_US/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists