How many original Matchbox cars are there?
Model numbering: The 1-75 (or 75) series. Lesney gradually increased the number of models in its standard Matchbox Series range from three in 1953 to 75 in 1960. The 1-75 range would then remain at 75 models for almost 40 years. Hot Wheels is an American media franchise and brand of scale model cars invented by Elliot Handler and introduced by his company Mattel on May 18, 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until Mattel bought Matchbox owner Tyco Toys in 1997.In 1953 the first Matchbox Cars were made. Introduced in 1953 were MB1 Diesel Roadroller, MB2 Dumper and MB3 Cement Mixer. Each year new models were added, with some being replaced, until there were 75 in the range – thus the range was kept to 75 models at any one time, and was known as the ‘1-75 range’.History of Hot Wheels and Matchbox Hot Wheels was introduced by Mattel in 1968, aiming to revolutionize the die-cast toy car market with its innovative designs and features. On the other hand, Matchbox has a longer history, dating back to 1953 when it was first launched by Lesney Products.
What was the very first Matchbox car?
The first Matchbox cars were based on larger toys that Lesney Products had made between 1948 and 1953, including a Diesel Road Roller and a Cement Mixer. Only a year after the cars were offered in England, Lesney worked out a deal with the Fred Bonner Corporation to import the cars to America. Universal Internal Ltd. Matchbox International, and moved most of the production to Asia. Today Matchbox still rolls as a top seller, now part of the Mattel family of toys.
How can you tell if a Matchbox car is rare?
A factory error or pre-production model: The rarest Matchbox cars are the ones that weren’t meant to be sold. If your car has the wrong colorway or is a pre-production model, it’s probably pretty valuable. The value of a Matchbox car is determined by its age and condition. The Matchbox cars that fetch the most money at auction are older models from the ’50s and ’60s. Identify your car’s age using an online database like the Matchbox Wiki.With most Matchbox cars, older vehicles tend to be more valuable than those produced in recent years. When a Matchbox car was produced in the first run of any specific model, it tends to be more valuable than those produced in subsequent years. So do your research on your particular model to see what value it holds!
How to tell if toy cars are valuable?
In addition to brand, rarity, age and condition, other factors that impact valuation are size and trends. Larger scale models tend to realise higher prices but can put some collectors off as they are more challenging to display and store. Availability: If a car was produced in limited numbers, it tends to be worth more. This is because less cars are available so its rarity increases its potential value. Makes, model, drivers or sponsors which are highly sought after may also be worth more because they are difficult to obtain.
How old is Hot Wheels?
Hot Wheels is an American media franchise and brand of scale model cars invented by Elliot Handler and introduced by his company Mattel on May 18, 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until Mattel bought Matchbox owner Tyco Toys in 1997. Matchbox is older having begun in England in the fifties, Hot Wheels came onto the scene in 1968 from the USA, with their fast wheels on piano wire axles. I prefer Matchbox because of That Nostalgia Buzz they were the toy cars I grew up with.Matchbox is older and make more realistic vehicles. Hot Wheels came after, designed to be faster on their race tracks with bolder, more exagerated shapes.