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While everyone has fond memories of the toys they played up with, times have changed and made those childhood classics considerably valuable. Provided below is an overview of eight of the most iconic toys that happen to be worth a hefty chunk of change.
Fortress Maximus
One of the most notable examples of a valuable Transformers G1 Toy would be 1987’s Fortress Maximus. Standing 22″ tall in robot mode, “Fort Max” was the largest transformer for a quarter-century and certainly the tallest toy of G1. This massive Autobot was a “Headmaster” (meaning its head was another, smaller robot) and had two “alt modes:” a battle station and a city. As you might expect, a Fort Max with all of the fiddly components and accessories can fetch hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
The USS Flagg (1985)
This aircraft carrier was part of the GI Joe toy line. This playset also gets mentioned because of its size; the toy is 7 feet long, easily making it one of the largest model playsets ever released by toy manufacturers. Beyond its awe-inspiring size, this carrier toy could store multiple “Skystriker” fighter toys and came with a speaker sound system that could activate general announcements or even be used as a microphone. When first pitched, the audience was informed that the USS Flagg was actually a playset and not just a presentation table. This toy’s scale is also the reason why 80s GI Joe figures were “shrunk” to 3.75″.
1980s “Wun-Dar” aka Savage He-Man
To grossly summarize the situation, this figure was believed to have been a mail-away promotion connected to the “Wonderbread” line of baked goods, hence the name. The truth is that Wun-Dar was a promotion that involved mailing off three proofs of purchase in exchange for receiving a re-colored He-Man figure called “Savage He-Man.” This toy is paid homage in later toylines by including a bread loaf accessory.
Ghostbusters Firehouse HQ
While just about anything tethered to Ghostbusters was a hit of the 1980s, the firehouse remains a true icon. It featured a spinning pole to descend to the garage, a ghost containment unit, a “goop grate” and a 5-ounce can of “Ecto-Plazm” slime. Variants include the Ecto-Plazm-less German version, a box lacking paint along the front, and a hybrid UK/US box labeled “Fire Station” on several facets of the packaging.
Boxed 1978 Kenner Luke Skywalker
The very first “Star Wars” action figures were arguably also the first example of pre-ordering toys. Kenner was so overwhelmed with demand that they offered an “Early Bird Certificate Package,” including a mail-in certificate for the first four figures produced. In February of 1978, those who registered with Kenner received boxes containing Luke, Leia, R2-D2, and Chewbacca, plus foot pegs and a backdrop. Several variants from this original line have cropped up over the years and Luke is known for two: a double-telescoping lightsaber (known as “DT Luke”) and a boxed version that fetched $25k during an auction of a collector’s entire collection.
TMNT Technodrome (1990)
This sphere-on-treads featured a giant eye at its top and two fold-out panels to display various rooms. It also had a containment facility along the center for action figures. Other features included seated gun turrets and handholds along the exterior for characters to climb upon.
First Edition Barbie
America’s first lady of fashion dolls continues to be a notable investment. The original Barbie from 1959, clad in a zebra-stripe swimsuit and with her hair styled in an updo, has fetched up to $8k.
Original Monopoly
Despite being published nearly a century ago, vintage sets of this board game and a constant source of family arguments, often arising from failing to play according to the official rules, can still be found on occasion. While the highest known auction price for a ’30s Monopoly set was just over $3k, dozens of younger variants can fetch several hundred dollars if all pieces are accounted for.
Putting the Toys Away
While it is true that even old toys can find a home somewhere, toys from the 1980s were a boom for the secondary market. Despite the surge of Reagan-era playthings on this list, it is comforting to see that even board games and fashion dolls can still fetch quite a considerable price.
