A couple days ago, Jesse called me just as I was getting to Barn Finds HQ. He asked if I had a jacket with me. It’s still a little chilly here in the mornings, so obviously I had a jacket, but why was he calling to ask that? He told me he would be there in 5 minutes and to be outside waiting for him. I was a bit confused on what was going on, but I figured I’d just go along with it. As soon as he pulled up, I jumped in and asked what was happening. He told me to just wait and see. We drove a few blocks down the street and turned into a property with a sign for an estate auction and that’s when I spotted a sign for Hot Wheels. And that’s when things started to get crazy!
Under two large tents were tables full of Hot Wheels! I spotted a large auction poster that claimed there were 20,000 cars. We quickly pulled into a parking spot, jumped out, and immediately signed up to bid! After making our way to the tent, it started to sink in just what we were looking at. This was the single largest collection of Hot Wheels either of us had ever seen. It certainly didn’t look like 20k cars, but close. After doing some quick math we decided that the auction house was a little off on their number. There were half that many cars, but 10k is still a lot of Hot Wheels!
We had arrived a few minutes before the auction was set to start, but there really weren’t many people there. A couple people showed interest in the Hot Wheels, but most people were focused on the roofing equipment and work trucks. As we were looking over everything, I looked at Jesse and asked, “are you thinking what I’m thinking?” He just smiled and nodded. Could we actually buy this entire collection of Hot Wheels? And what the heck would we do with them all? We decided we could worry about that last question later, first we needed to talk to the auctioneer about how they were going to auction off this collection.
Once we found the auctioneer, he explained that they would open bidding for specific items, then for the tubs full of cars and then finally for each table. It sounded confusing and time consuming, so Jesse threw out the idea of auctioning off the entire lot. The auctioneer liked that idea, but said he had to get the family’s approval. He told us the cars were scheduled last, so we would have to wait for them to auction everything else off. So we stood there wondering what would happen and if we would be going home with 10k Hot Wheels.
Thankfully, they moved with the majority of the items quickly, but not quick enough. The weather had been rather cloudy, but just minutes before they were scheduled to start auctioning the collectibles, it began to rain. While the tent did a decent job covering majority of the collection, there were 3 tables that didn’t fit under the tents and the auction company was so preoccupied with covering the tools and guns that they didn’t give any thought to the thousands of Hot Wheels sitting out in the rain. The worst part was that some of the more sought after cars were on the uncovered tables. More bidders had shown up by this point of time as well, so things weren’t looking so great for us. We moved to one corner of the tent with fewer people to talk about what we were going to do and we decided that with much of the good stuff ruined, we had better not go for the whole thing. As soon as we turned back around the auctioneer was asking for bids, but the family wanted $15k for the collection! Obviously, there weren’t any bites, so that took care of our big dreams.
We ended up bidding on a few plastic bins full of cars that were stashed under the tables. No one had picked through them yet and prices were staying quite low, so we thought why not! We ended up winning 5 boxes with a total of 670 cars. We figured, if nothing else, it would be fun to decorate the office with them. So, we grabbed our boxes, paid the auction house and loaded them up. As soon as we got back to the office, we started looking through them and discovered that we actually got some really cool stuff!
I know these aren’t barn finds per say, although the previous owner did have them stashed in one of his barns, but it was such a fun experience we just had to share! So if you ever see an estate auction with thousands of Hot Wheels, you really should stop by and see if you can add a few of these micro sized finds to your collection. Now we just have to figure out what to do with all these Hot Wheels!
Aline em up and take pictures, maybe we can all buy some for our collections. Or, better yet, give em to kids that otherwise might not have any at all. You could keep any “barn” related ones.
My kids pick on me cause I still collect Hor Wheel cars. Little turds don’t realize it’s their inheritance that I’m spending.
Go man, go!
What they will be worth….. will be their inheritance !
They will have the last laugh :)
I have an (undisclosed amount) of Hot Wheels dating back to their introduction in 1968, still in cards, in pristine condition and “insured”. I’m betting the value will help my grandchildren through college. And that doesn’t include the Matchbox, Aurora Cigar Box vehicles and other brands. On to 1/25th scale kits, SMP,JoHan,AMT, etc. dating back to the early 60’s, still in the boxes with the cellophane wrap and some with the 50 and 75 cent price tags, not to mention the manufacturer promo vehicles collection. My father, brothers and i didn’t just buy one, we bought one in each color, and one to take out of the card or box. The rest were carefully stored and I have 80 % of them. They have the other 20 %.
And trains, Lionel, brass 1/64th etc….That’s a whole ‘nother story !
Please take a look at the early HOT WHEELS (up to 11972), with focus on the “Demon”, “Sand Crab”, and the legendary “Jack Rabbit Special”. What can I say? I was one of the millions of kids who grew up watching Mattell’s marketing cartoon.
Just sold dads old trains, no real market as everyone is going with all the new trains with all the electronic bells and whistles and sound effects.
It took 6 MO to find someone to even pay for what we had, and we had some rare trains.
In reference to the selling of trains, you have to understand that everything has value to someone. The sale of the item depends on if the seller can put the item under the buyers nose. Years ago I had a classic car dealership and a long list of clients that had particular tastes. When a certain car presented itself to me I already knew who I was going to sell it to. If I were selling toy trains I wouldn’t necessarily post it on CL or Ebay, I would search out train clubs and other related websites to find my market. Then do the research as to what they are actually worth. In the end you work for your bread but its a honest meal.
I still have my “Jack Rabbit Special”. I had to check and see..
The Jack Rabbit Special was my favorite Hot Wheel. I haven’t seen one in decades.
Yep…same here…
Brian, I am surprised to hear that about the trains, I am rather skeptical about that. at our car and Motorcycle museum we have multiple train clubs associated with our facility. The facility is called Antique Powerland and 12 museums and a LOT of clubs, but not only do we have full size railroad equipment and track but we have willow creek which is toy trains and scale models, There are several others in the area and a very active toy train community. Toys arent my thing so, to be fair, I dont follow prices but I do know where to go and who to contact and I dont see any abatement in vintage trains and the toy collecting. A few years ago they started a large collectibles show that travels the west coast and it sets up a couple times a year here in Portland. I know people who work at the venue and I checked it once. Seemed like business was booming. I know some people who troll ebay and CL for them too. I know they would hotly debate that so its the same argument at its core that vintage cars & motorcycles are losing interest and kids dont care anymore. But thats not my experience at all. So, my BIL works for a well known auction, estates and collectibles store and I will ask him for his take as well as a few others but I would be very surprised that the vintage toy train market has collapsed. YMMV.
As to the debate about whether toy trains, or collecting toys in general is relevant This article addresses that. We have a lot of events in Oregon and Washington for collectors but since toys arent my thing I dont follow it closely.
But I used to work for a Govt agency that manages a number of venues and seemed like there was a lot of events being booked in our facilities so a quick search brought up a number of sites for upcoming events, This article from 2015 seems to address the topic.
“Are Model Trains still relevant?”
———————————————
See: http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/01/are_model_trains_still_relevan.html
Snip” You’ll have to forgive me, model railroad enthusiasts, but in our booming digital age there seems to be little incentive for kids to pick up a hobby that dates back to the Victorian era. That would seem to put it in danger of quickly fading out, becoming a novel relic of the past. Right?”
“The most recent data I could find was from 2011, when the Hobby Manufacturers Association reported a decent increase in model railroad sales from 2007 to 2010 – those were the years of the Great Recession mind you – and further estimated the size of the overall model hobby industry at an impressive $1.379 billion.”
“It’s all good and well, but on the ground, back at the Great Train Show in Portland, few seem to care about 21st century advancements.”
Still have some of my red wheels from the 60s when I was young. I love hot wheels. Great story and would of been fun to have been there.
The last “Redlines” were 1977.
Actually unless I’m mistaken the last RedLines, as in Original Hot Wheels RedLines, ended in 1972. After that they went to BlackWalls and etc…
If you ever decide to let them go, please let me know!
Not everyone can say they bought 670 cars in a couple of hours!
I have at least 3,000 in my collection and almost 100 1/24 scale vehicles too. I would love to have been there and bought a few hundred more! I would be homeless though as my wife would throw me out!
I just have to ask – Were they taking VISA cards?
Now THAT could be dangerous!
Yes, they did and yes, it was dangerous!
“Could we actually buy this entire collection of Hot Wheels? And what the heck would we do with them all? We decided we could worry about that last question later.”
Deciding what to do with something after the purchase is the true definition of a car enthusiast.
I am in the process of using hot wheels cars for cabinet door and drawer pulls/handles for the cabinets in my garage. If you carefully drill out the rivets, you can pull the body off the “frame” bottom. Then drill a hole in the center of the bottom, insert a bolt long enough to pass thru the drawer front or cabinet door and super glue the car back together. Washers on both sides of the door or drawer front may be needed and the using a nut to secure the bolt and you’ve got a cool decoration for the garage or man cave. I just started and only have one done so far. Used a little too much super glue though so it clouded up some of the plastic but my patience and care will improve as I move along…
Highest and best use………..
When I used to customize Hot Wheels cars I would drill out the rivets and re-rivet them with short 1/16
aluminum rivets..fast and strong. Might work better for pulls.
Gorilla glue has a type of super glue that is OK for use on clear plastics without fogging it up.
That must of been a cool day for ya. I’ve been liquidating my collection of late. I just collect to much and need to cut back. For some reason nobody want the black box cars.
I want black box cars all I can find
I love my hot wheels! I cant wait until next week. Pittsburgh baby!
Laugh out loud I do have about a thousand to fifteen hundred cars sitting in my closet that I got after a divorce I’m just waiting for collectors to start collecting again they’re from the late nineties to the early 2000 maybe 2004
Collecting again? Trust me(no offense meant by this), they are still collecting..It’s just not as “publicized” as it used to be.
A friend of mine was at a Wal-Mart one day, took a car off the peg, and before he knew what happened, some lady grabbed it out of his hand, said “That’s mine thank you” and ran off..
And that’s a low key story.. I’ve heard flat out horror stories.. including old ladies getting knocked over by some jerk…
Hot Wheels collecting is alive and well!
While not strictly a “barn find,” still a fun article.
BORING……….I don’t do model airplanes either……since I bought my first real one at 19, by 14 I was doing real cars….no time, money or need for toys.
They don’t provide the same depth a real car does, but they do satisfy the hunt without costing as much or taking up so much room.
My wife always says “I’d rather he collect $1 Hot Wheels, than the real thing that costs thousands”.
In this case it ended up to be thousands….
Dave, I’m agreeing with you more and more. ( unlike early on) You know, I went into a model shop a few years ago, thinking maybe I’d start model building again, and I still might, but I looked at all these models and thought, I had the real thing, and that somehow took the zing out of it, not to mention, I can eat for a week on what some cost now.
And I don’t like disagreeing with Jesse ( always gets some sort of rebuttal, which is fine, still better than a thumb ) but I think, the space( and money) this collection takes up, could easily support a classic car.
If you study it is not difficult to buy real things for the kind of money they are asking for this set. Since the first of the year I bought a Good running 1982 Maserati Quatroporte for 1700.00, a 40X50 aircraft hanger (and garage) for 1600.00, a great little Grumman Traveler (airplane) with low time for 10,000, a great running diesel Massy Ferguson 40B loader (tractor) for 900.00…..I never have understood why people put all the time and money into things that are not real. The most fun thing I bought was an original Oliver Cromwell era sword from the English civil war (where one of my grandfathers was a captain under him) for 1000.00, not a lot more than the cost of a reproduction. Any one of these assets could be sold for a profit but they were all bought for my use. Someday my step kids will decide what they want and what will be sold but the values and utility will always increase unlike a 4.00 toy that you try to sell for 1.00 or wind up in a rummage sale.
You use the sword Dave?
Haven’t had a chance yet……..it probably spilled some catholic blood……probably will remain retired like it has been for 400 years or so but it is still capable.
If you are collecting original Red Line Hot Wheels, believe me, you could buy an old classic car with that money. I’m horrified by the cost of some of the more desirable Hot Wheels. I stopped after getting about 50-60, too much money tied into old toys.
The original redline cars are worth something, but the rest are just Beanie Babies for car guys.
That’s true and funny!
I once bought a guys 600 Hot Wheels collection for $100..this was just a couple months ago actually. All were open so now I use them on my 1:64 scale 1/4 mile track. You can see the cars on action at Hot Wheels Calgary on YouTube and Facebook…
Good find guys! Show pictures when you have them up.
I never had one Hot Wheel car. Built tons of car models as a kid, and moved on to motorized cars, HO slot cars. Much more like the real thing. Pawn Stars is one of my favorite shows, ( does “Johnny” know about this?) and when I see these people with entire rooms full of Transformers or Star Trek action figures, I can’t help but think how much money was pissed away on this stuff. I guess if you don’t have a lot of money, one tends to notice where and how people spend their money. I know, collecting things is fun, I love a good flea market, but rooms full of stuff, some with 10 of a certain kind, is silly to me. They must not have any kids. ( many, I see, sell these collections when they find out they are having a kid) IDK, I’d save up for a real car, than 700 toy ones. Again, it’s not the hobby of collecting a few of these, but to have so many, has got to be some kind of illness, Americanosis,,,more must be better.
Sounds like an awesome Hot Wheels haul. Still have my Hot Wheels redlines going back to their introduction. Are there any other BFs’ members that got the single loop stunt set with two red ramps on that first Christmas morning? Still love to set that up from time to time. My prized Hot Wheels is the ’70 Olds 442 with excellent original paint, tampos, redlines, rear wing and perfect rivet points. Second would be either of my early Redline Camaros.
As a kid I had boxes of Dinky toys, Corgi toys, Hot Wheels, road race sets – the works. They all ended up being donated to church fairs and bazaars.
Now I have real cars!
Hi Mike, same here. When cleaning out my folks house, my HO road race set was gone. Seems mom “GAVE” it to someone years ago. I did take a few Tonka trucks to a toy collector ( got $50 bucks a piece for them) and he had a small vintage figure 8 Aurora HO road race set, in the box, he wanted $150 dollars for it.
That’s a great collection shown there. It does look like these people may have started collecting around the 1990’s, buying whatever was on the pegs and looking for a big future payout.
I have been collecting since 1973, and currently have over 14,000, all different brands, over 95% bging 1/64 scale. Hot Wheels and Matchbox make up the majority. My oldest model is a Matchbox Land Rover from 1955 in mint condition.
I have the first set of Matchbox made from my dad
Thankfully, some kids never grow up !
The family was probably thinking $1 each, so…
Yes they were. With many of the cards out in the rain and even more in plastic bins, they only realized about half of that though.
Many collectors of anything, along with their heirs, often don’t understand the dynamics of selling off collections. I attend estate picker auctions every Wednesday and know most of the “Pickers” in the Mid-Atlantic area. They all know the prices fall drastically as the number of items rises, due to the huge amount of labor & time it takes to prepare a large collection In a collection of 10,000 toys of any kind, the bulk purchase of ALL the toys typically runs anywhere from 10% to 15% of the actual retail value.
These are the reasons why the big auction companies don’t want huge collections unless the heirs or original owners are willing to accept far less than the “insurance value” piece-by-piece. The big auction companies want to reduce a collection of this size to tubs of a few hundred each, or it takes too much time.
The same applies to large amounts of automobile parts, even NOS collections or old store stock. The price drops even lower if there is no inventory list available.
About 10 years ago a friend had a large 30+ year collection of factory spare parts for an “Orphan car company”. The full individual retail price was likely over $250,000. But everyone knows not all the parts will ever sell, and it will be years before even 50% of the parts sell. He finally sold it to a serious buyer for under $20,000. Cost to the buyer in moving the parts was even more expensive.
Beginning five years ago, I began “thinning” out my collection of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars by giving the Halloween Trick or Treaters a car and a small piece of candy. The second year I did not give out the cars and not one but two little kids came up to me and said, “Weren’t you the guy who gave out the cars last year?” I said I was and it broke my heart to see the disappointment on their faces. That is when I began a tradition in our small community. So, for the years subsequent, I go out and buy 100-125 Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars (we get that many Trick-or-Treaters) for the kids during Halloween.
One time a little girl gave me an odd look like she’d rather have another piece of candy. I asked her if she had a brother to which she replied, “Yes”. I told her she could probably trade that little car to her brother for anything in his Halloween candy bag. Her eyes then lit up with excitement!
Ever since, the kids’ parents refer to me as “The Jay Leno of (name of our town)”. I love the compliment but more importantly, I’m trying to perpetuate the love for automobiles in this small way.
I too started giving hot wheels as part of the Halloween give away but I found that in that city the little girls where more excited getting the cars than the boys.
Also around 125 -150 each year.
Good call Cobra Steve and John! Who knows how many gearheads started out playing with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, went to putting Revell models together, then on to the real thing! Worked for me :)
I’ll take a fox body mustang if you have one.
I would be interested in any classic Mustangs if you were to sell them.
This is still a sore subject for me. Back in 73 my parents split up. I left La La land with my mom and headed to her uncles in Norcal in the middle of the night. No time to take any toys. All my hot wheels and my Sears Screamer One bicycle stayed behind. My 6 years older sister stayed behind. I was 12. A few weeks later a moving truck shows up. To save space my sister sold all my toys and bicycle. The only Hot wheel I had left was one that was tucked in my jacket on the midnight trip. I still have it today. Its the Boss Hoss silver special that I special ordered through the mail. It came with a iron on hotwheels patch that I had my mom iron onto my lucky shirt. I have the shirt too although a bit small. Even though I don’t have them anymore if I see those early cars I know them by name. They were my favorite toys and since my mom was broke after the divorce I never got any more. Today I collect the real deal cars but I do have a stash of toy cars in storage. Quite a few actually. Its better than a drinking or drug habit and hurts no one.
Good find on the Hotwheels! Dont laugh at this guys as I learned that the toy market can be incredibly lucrative and there is some maniacally rabid fans
for this stuff. I have a friend who managed Texaco gas stations and he used to buy up all their collectible toys every year and they did better than any 401K or IRA account
I know of. He finally sold off his collection on eBay a couple years back and made BANK!!$$$$$$$$$$
So here is 3 random tangents of the full extent of my Hotwheel knowledge. We used to laugh at a couple local guys who were big collectors of both new
and vintage Hotwheels and Matchbox. 2 guys I liked and 1 I despise. They had arrangements with local retailers on specific dates when new stock came in and
they were allowed in the stores before open to the public. As the new stock came out of freight, they bought up all the new releases. We all got a laugh until we learned how much this stuff goes for.
So, some years back Bob was telling me about a local guy I despise il just refer to as (DD) . This guy is almost universally disliked locally but he deals in bicycles, vintage motorcyclees, toy trains, Hot wheels and other toys. He lurks on many forums online as well. So these 2 were driving one day and DD began wigging out, PULL OVER PULL OVER!
It was a garage sale. Bob told me it was a single mom trying to raise a little scratch selling off mostly junk. But there was some Hotwheels stuff. Now DD is know for what he calls “Grinding down” He is merciless, And so abrasive and unpleasant most people just give in to make him go away or shut up. So he went to work on this poor woman, And when getting back into Bobs truck was giddy with glee. He takes a perverse pleasure on getting over on someone. (Once described as a Sociopath with Narcissistic traits) Bob asked and DD bragged about how much all the Hotwheels stuff was worth. Bob told me he got out, walked over and handed the woman what he had left in his wallet. DD asked why and Bob told me
“So I can sleep tonight, that poor lady is just getting by and you are so happy you just screwed her over!”
So knowing the above, I always keep an eye out myself, wont go to much trouble as toys are not my thing, but one day ran across a garage sale myself and gave the toy stuff a try. I paid $20 for a shoe box with a bunch of Hotwheels and Matchbox cars in it and other stuff. I looked on FeeBay and this was 10 years or so back but most sold for between $5.00 to over a $100 per toy, and best money was stuff in original packages. The stuff I got was all very well “Previously enjoyed” and well worn. Bur I listed a bunch of them for $9.99 a piece. Some sold for that and I was pleased when I racked up $20-40 each on some. But a few were getting insane page counts and I got a LOT of emails asking me to end the auctions early or Buy It Now (BIN). Well I love hearing that, and HELL NO! I want a bidding war!
So, some of these were based on George Barris and Von Dutch cars.. The top one was apparently super rare. Called the “Super Fine Turbine”. One car sold for $128. another $150 something, and the Super Fine Turbine sold for $347 dollars. I couldnt believe it! I was doing a happy dance up and down the hall in our house. My wife was saying “What the hell is wrong with you??” When I explained Mrs Doug joined in and did a happy dance too!
(Much more attractive than me.I have a biker patch on my jacket that says “Overly Caucasion Do NOT place on dance floor).
I had a guy like DD come over a while back when I was selling some old, project pinball machines. I showed him what I had in the garage and all he did was criticize and tear the pins to pieces. He asked if I had more and I said that I had more in the basement but I wasn’t going to show them to him because he wouldn’t like them anyway. He made me an offer on one pin that he just spent 20 minutes criticizing. I think his goal was to get a better price but it got to the point where I didn’t want to sell him anything anyway.
Roseland(Pete) Hmmm, Pasadena and Portland BOTH call them selves city of Roses. And PDX often is called Roseland. So would you be from Portland Oregon?? If so, that IS probably the same DD,, i wont mention his full name,,…….
but the 2 Ds refers to his nickname related to a petroleum product. It sure sounds like him. At our vintage motorcycle club the topic of DD came up and one of the guys owned a well known Bicycle store as well. Complained that this guy would always come in and tried to dominate your time and resources but never spent any money. Worse, He got ruder and very abrasive if you excused yourself to deal with a paying customer. Comparing notes with friends in other areas, I think every place and hobby has a few guys like DD,, We all probably know one. But If you are in Portland I am betting you met the same guy I am talking about. Does he look like a late 60s or early 70s Sonny Bono (as in Sonny and Cher) only a really big guy with a gravelly voice? Walrus mustache?
Doug, I’m from Chicago.
My Redlines and some 60’s vintage Mighty Tonka Trucks were lost when Mom’s house burned. I have collected maybe 400 HW’s since the late 80’s and would like to hang them on my office wall.Anyone have ideas re how to hang the cards? Maybe a cost effective homemade rack ?
Here’s one way:
https://wingatehughes.com/bruce-pascals-hot-wheels-haven-2/
Look for store fixture and industrial suppliers, you can buy racks with hooks that are perfect for retail or display exactly what you are looking for. We have several stores in our area but a number of shops that RESELL used store fixtures and restaurant equipment ( I bought a bunch of stainless fry baskets for washing parts in solvent as well as beadblasting bolts and hardware) Other option is pegboard. Shop around and its not expensive. Harbour freight has cheapest deals on hooks but many online sellers, once you decide layout use a hot glue gun to set the hooks.
I set up work stations in several workshops doing this, The owner at one shop wanted the main work station as a show piece for customers coming in. We spent hours on design and layout before he settled on final layout of all the tools.
I also have channel Iron,, It has holes in it. Many industrial uses including modular rack shelving where the shelves snap into place, But at my wifes machine shop they use this angle iron or channel iron to hang tooling or equipment from. I bought some, Painted it with Commercial Body paint a dark red and use it to hang motorcycle body work in my workshop. I am also remodeling 2 40 foot shipping containers right now with checkerboard floor, LED lighting, commercial shelving, Racks and hooks. Along one wall in the containers there are hooks (Both sides in containers) for securing loads. I ran some steel cable from the utility company thru these hooks along the wall and hanging Motorcycle frames from the cable. I used U Bolts to secure the cable but its 40 feet of cable and you just lift off the frame you want but it gets things up out of the way.
One other suggestion, IKEA… Ikea has AWESOME gadgets and ideas for organizing. I have bought all kinds of stuff there. Silverware trays?? Awesome for sorting bolts and hardware for a restoration. Nice little stainless strainers? Cant go wrong in the shop. Plastic stackable tubs? On and on. Big stores have setup small living spaces with their products to show ideas on organizing and “living in 600 sq ft” Not just for tiny houses but you can get some GREAT ideas at places like that.
Shop industrial surplus, Look for auctions and estate sales.,. Be prepared to repurpose or refinish materials. Theres a recycling store nearby,, Called Rebuilders and the demo industrial and old homes and also accept new materials. I hit that store all the time. Just picked up 30 nice parts bin organizers for 4/$1.00 and shelving brackets $0.10 cents each that retail for $4.00 each at Home depot. They have a whole corner in the warehouse for used and unused closet organizers and those work well in workshops or retail displays. Have some fun with it!!!!!!
THANKS Doug! I’ll start hunting this weekend !
Ive got tons of them,totes full from the mid 90’s till now .I’ve got red lines some were mine when I was a kid some Ive bought over the years I’ve got Johnny Lightnings too.Lately I’ve been looking for all the Matchbox cars that I had when I was a kid,I only buy the nice ones with a few or No scratches.I don’t and won’t pay a lot of money for them.To me its the thrill of the chase,and the chance to do a little bit of haggling.For a while I was even into the 1/18 scale cars.But where do you put them all?Then there is all the Harly Davidson diecast.I can’t stop,although I have slowed down quite a bit.Now I only buy the ones that I really like.This Sunday the flea market opens up at Seekonk Speedway if its nice out me and my 2 boys are going .Maybe I’ll find that ever elusive Sugar Truck I’ve been searching for,In pristine shape if I’m lucky.If not I guess I’ll just keep looking.I’m pretty sure that I’ll find somthing that I just gotta have I always do.
I’m not a collector of Hot Wheels or other models but I think the responses to this listing are THE most interesting ones I’ve ever read on Barn Finds (or even on the other “B” site). The posting by “Healeymonster” almost brought a wee tear to my eye — and I’m serious.
Thanks Barn Finds and Josh!
I remember when the local Wally world opened, I went over at about midnight and spent $100 for 200 new Hotwheels. We used to lineup at the doors at opening time to get the latest ones.
Brian hope you didn’t let those trains go without having them appraised by more than one person or company to help you determine a ballpark price. There like anything collectible or in demand, most price guides are based on a average between the most valuable to one that might go in the trash. There’s shady people out there that will fleece you if given the chance, the sad thing is that’s a very small number but it affects the rest of us. Being that old I’m sure you had some that were worth something.