Many people have great nostalgia for the 1980s, and toys play a big part in that. It had everything from classic toys, cutting-edge video games, action figures, dolls, and movies.
It truly was the golden age of toys, and one of the greatest times to be a child. Many franchises and toys from the ‘80s have become best sellers, and are still as popular today - only now, they're worth a ton of money.
Tim Weeks, toy specialist at Wessex Auction Rooms, says: “It’s amazing to think how many of these classic toys are still tucked away people’s lofts and could be worth a small fortune. It’s not just boxed and carded examples that make money, even loose figures and vehicles in play-worn condition have value”.
Four Reasons The 1980’s Was The Greatest Decade For Toys
Many people consider this era to be the greatest decade for toys. It was a time of rapid innovation and creativity in the toy industry. Below, are four reasons that contributed to the era.
1. Advances in Technology: Not just toys, but the ‘80s was a great time for technology, such as microprocessors and electronic components, which allowed for creation of more advanced and interactive toys. This lead to the development of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the first line of Transformers toys, which could transform from one form to another.
2. Popular media culture: The ‘80s saw a rise in creativity in a variety of areas including movies, TV shows, and comic books. A great deal of media franchises were turned into toys such as Star Wars figurines, He-Man and Indiana Jones, and as such there became a demand for them.
3. Marketing: Toy companies in the ‘80s were very savvy when it came to marketing their products. They used strategies to tie in with popular media franchises, creating collectable lines of toys and promoting the idea of toy crazes to generate excitement and demand for their products.
4. Nostalgia: Many people who grew up in the ‘80s have great memories of the toys they played with during their childhood. The nostalgia has led to a renewed interest in 1980's toys and has contributes to their continued popularity among collectors.
The 1980’s was a decade like no other, bursting with creativity, innovation and marketing savvy in the toy industry, which led to the development of many iconic and beloved toys that continue to be cherished by collectors today. They serve as a reminder of happy times and hard times, but some also keep them as an heirloom to pass on from generation to generation.
However, if you no longer want them, consider researching specialist toy auctions to see how much they’re worth. After all, they could be worth a ton, and your bank balance will thank you for it.
Toy collector’s auctions always see extremely good results for anything TV related, and currently the 1980s examples are creating the biggest bidding wars. Driven by nostalgia, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony and JEM are hot property amongst those in their late 30’s and early 40’s who remember watching the TV shows and then nagging their parents to buy them the toys!
Take a trip down memory lane and see what people are willing to pay hundreds of pounds for today. Here are the top 10 rarest and most valuable collectibles from the ‘80s.
Top 10 Most Valuable 1980s Toys
1. Red Sea Crossing – Atari (£8,549)
Atari Inc.
Atari is a video game company founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. The company was one of the pioneers in the video games industry and played a significant role in the development of videos games as we know them today.
Atari’s early games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man helped to popularise video games and make them accessible to a wider audience. While most Atari games aren’t worth much, there are a few gems like the Red Sea Crossing; the game is known to have had two copies, making it the rarest game in the world.
The game is based on Moses crossing the Red Sea, and was sold for around £8,549 in 2012. If you’re a retro gamer and have Atari cartridges lying around, you may want to check out how much they’re selling for.
2. Pepsi Optimus Prime (£4,148)
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
In 1984, Pepsi and Hasbro collaborated to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Transformers franchise. This toy is a limited edition version of the popular Transformer character Optimus Prime, boasting a red, white, and blue colour scheme inspired by Pepsi’s logo.
Produced in limited numbers, Pepsi Optimus Prime has become a highly sought-after collectible item among Transformers fans and collectors. If you have one hiding in the attic, it could be worth around £4,148.
3. Classic He-Man Action Figures (£2,550)
Mattel
He-Man was created by Mattel in 1981 as the main character in the Masters of the Universe toy line.
If you have a He-Man action figure in your toy box, you could be sitting on a small fortune. Figures have been known to sell for around £2,550 - especially if they're still unopened and in their original boxes.
4. Vintage G.I Joe (£385.50 - £2033.30)
Hasbro
If you still have your old G.I Joe figures and accessories lying around then you may be quids in. Some of the most rarest items are the Green Beret, the Deep Sea Diver, and the Talking G.I Joe.
Vintage G.I Joe collectibles are highly prized items among collectors of toys and pop culture memorabilia due to their historical significance, cultural impact and nostalgia feels. While a box full of figurines and their original cards can get you around £400, a reseller pulled in around £2,033 for a set of 353 figurines and accessories.
5. Star Wars Action Figures (£1,728)
Lucasfilm Ltd.
It’s no surprise Star Wars was huge in the ’80s, and due to its popularity many people have been purchasing Star Wars toys. If you’re fortunate to still have the original figures from the first movie in 1977 AND they're in mint condition, it could be worth thousands of pounds.
For example, a rare action figure like the Han Solo small head toy is much more rare and valuable compared to the later version with a ‘big head’. If you have one of these figurines lying around somewhere in the attic, it could go for around £1,728.
6. 1986 American Girl Doll (£962)
American Girl
The 1986 American Girl Dolls were the first historical dolls released by the American Girl company. The original three dolls were Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly, each representing a different time period in American history.
Samantha Parkington was a Victorian-era doll, Kirsten Larson represented pioneer life in the 1850s, and Molly McIntire was a World War II-era doll. Each character comes with their own book designed to help young girls learn about history to encourage them to explore different time periods and cultures.
Highly sought after by collectors and investors, these dolls are known to be valuable pieces of American history, and can easily sell for around £962.
7. Daredevil Comic #168 (£891)
Marvel Comics
Daredevil Comic #168 marks the first appearance of the character Elektra, who become a major figure in the Daredevil mythos. Regarded as one of the greatest comic book issues of all time, it has since become very popular amongst collectors.
If you used to collect comic books as a kid, then you may want to check the attic or garage to see if you have one stashed away. The Daredevil Comic #168 can vary in price, however if it's been kept in mint condition it can sell for around £891.
8. 1983 Indiana Jones Action Figure (£773)
Paramount Pictures
For many children of the ‘80s, Indiana Jones represented the ultimate hero. He was fearless, intelligent and overcame every obstacle thrown his way. So much so, that he dented the hearts of his fans.
Kenner, a company known for producing popular action figurines in the 1980s, created figures based on Indiana Jones. Attracting fans from all over the world, the Indiana Jones action figure was to-die-for - today, this figure can be sold for around £773 if it's still factory sealed.
9. Cabbage Patch Kids (£732)
Do you have an old Cabbage Patch doll lying around? If so, it could be worth around £732. Back in the ‘80s, Cabbage Patch kids were all the craze with little girls.
As Cabbage Patch dolls grew in popularity, so did the desire to collect them. Many children saw these dolls as comforting and developed strong emotional attachments to their dolls.
Due to their unique design and limited availability, they continue to be popular collectibles amongst fans of vintage toys.
10. Game Boy (£634)
Dominating the ‘80s gaming scene was the Nintendo O.G, Game Boy. The device's exact value can depend on the demand, condition, packaging and accessories that come with it; if unused and in its original box, it can be sold for around £634.
Do you have any classic 1980’s toys stored away? Let us know.
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