Archive for category: Hot Wheels

How do I tell if my old childhood collection of Hot Wheels from the sixties and seventies are worth anything? So you’ve come across your best childhood memories in the attic, basement, closet, storage, etc. called HOT WHEELS. You open the original and very colorful case(s) and all the smells and visuals bring back all those great and fun filled memories that you hold so near and dear to your heart from your childhood. You assume that they must have some value after all these years, but how much value and how do I tell if any or all of my old Hot Wheels are worth anything?

The first and most important thing to note is not only the overall condition of the cars, but all the individual condition of each and every vehicle. Condition plays the greatest part in value of the old Hot Wheels for most cars, if not all. Casting and Color come in a close second and third place in regards to valuing your old Hot Wheels. Some castings, like the Olds 442, were produced in much smaller numbers than most of the original Hot Wheels line from 1968 – 1971 and is considered the most desirable of the original Hot Wheels (Redlines). What about the color of each of the cars? There are some more desirable and rare colors than others. Examples of some of the rarest and most desirable colors, taking into account each individual casting are as follows; Hot Pink, Salmon Pink, Lite Blue, Antifreeze, Purple, and Orange. There are also some cars that are called “Over Chrome” cars where their final coat of spectra flame paint was applied over a chrome finish on the car. Examples of “Over Chrome” cars are what is known as the SPOILERS; Heavy Chevy, King Kuda, Boss Hoss. The “Over Chrome” cars are very rare and demand a huge price. Very few are known to still exist in their original packaging known in the hobby as a BLISTER PACK and demand an even higher number depending on the condition/casting/color of the car and condition of the BLISTER PACK.

So let’s recap. Value is determined by 1. Condition 2. Casting 3. Color

How do I rank my individual cars condition? Condition is ranked on a scale of 1 – 10 with 10 being the BEST condition car or in other words, one that just came off the factory line, or what we like to call either “Factory Fresh” or “Blister Pack Fresh.”

Color is exactly what it is, Color. The rarest and most desirable colors in the hobby for the most part across the board are 1. Hot Pink 2. Salmon Pink 3. Lite Blue 4. Antifreeze 5. Purple 6. Orange

Keep in mind that even some of the common colors like Blue are considered very rare in certain castings as common, as for example, as the POWER PAD and SHORT ORDER.

Here at REDLINE ARCHEOLOGY, we will appraise your collection, at NO COST and NO OBLIGATION, and make the highest offer in the hobby for your cars, if they are from the years we are looking for 1967 – 1977.

With over 30 years of diggin’ up original one owner Hot Wheels collections, REDLINE ARCHEOLOGY is the only place to have your old Hot Wheels appraised by one of the most successful collectors in the hobby, Bob Young. Bob has recently authored a book titled “REDLINE ARCHEOLOGY: A History of Diggin’ Up Original Hot Wheels Collections” now available on AMAZON and Barnes & Noble. Call us anytime at 856.912.2463 or complete our contact form.