How to Collect Matchbox Vehicles

Matchbox cars have been popular toy since they were first created in 1947.  Today, they are also a great collector's item.  This is especially true for baby boomers that can recall playing with them when they were children.  With this in mind, there are some important tips to keep in mind if you would like to begin collecting Matchbox cars.

• Learn about the history of Matchbox cars, which were first manufactured in England in 1953 by Lesney Products.  In 1982 Universal Toys bought them out before selling out to Tyco in 1991.


• New cars are introduced each year until the number reaches 75 total models for that specific car.  This does not happen in one year but it does happen throughout the lifetime of each car that is made by Matchbox.  Some of these cars were released in order to replace older models.


• Make sure that you are familiar with what determines whether or not a car is a collectible.  For instance, the earliest Matchbox cars carry a banner that says “A Moko Lesney” on their box because Moko originally distributed them.  Then in 1959 the banner began reading “A Lesney product.”


• Get to know some of the details that differentiate these cars.  For instance, the first 75 cars that Matchbox made are divided into three types of cars that each has different wheels.  The first cars had metal wheels but in the 1960s the plastic gray and black wheels first appeared.  Then in 1969 the super fast wheels that are still used today first appeared.


• You will need to decide what type of Matchbox cars you really want to collect because it is impossible to collect them all.  Make sure that you know why you want to collect these cars.


• Today Matchbox not only makes die-cast cars but they also make play sets, dolls, plastic kits, robots and accessories (i.e. gas stations). 


• If you want to be considered a serious collector, then you will also want to collect catalogs, display units, carrying cases, collector buttons and boxes.


• Learn about the financial side of collecting too.  Some Matchbox pieces are worth hundreds more than their original price today.  Of course, prices will vary greatly depending upon the condition it is in and how rare it is.