My Most Memorable & Amazing Collections Unearthed: Part 1

I always seem to reflect back on certain collections that have really left an indelible mark on me over the past, almost three decades of searching for original Redline Era Hot Wheels collections that haven’t seen the light of day in over fifty years.  It’s funny how some collections, if it weren’t for my cataloging over the years, would be lost forever, but then there are other collections that you remember like it was yesterday.  I’ve decided to write about the TOP 5 collections I’ve had the honor and privilege of bringing to light and placing in the hands of many collectors over the years.  Chances are, that you have one, if not many cars, in your personal collection that I have personally unearthed over the years.  At last count, I have unearthed over 15,000 Original One Owner Redline Hot Wheels in the past 28 years.  In 2020, I am on pace to eclipse over 1000 Redline Hot Wheels brought to light.

So here we go with one of my most memorable finds since 1992.

The TUCSON ARIZONA COLLECTION

Ahh, I remember that day well…. It was on a Tuesday in May….. May 2, 2017 to be exact.  The call came in at approximately 3pm that glorious day.  The nice gentleman on the other end of the line introduced himself and went on to explain that he and his wife had recently picked up five cases of old Hot Wheels at a yard sale in Tucson, AZ.  He said that he had went to a couple local collectors who had only offered him $1000 for all five cases.  He said that he just felt that they were worth more in his mind.  Something didn’t feel right to him when one of the collectors became very angry when he would not accept the offer.  He stated that it raised a huge red flag for him.  He then said that he found me on the internet and loved the website www.RedlineArcheology.com and decided to call me.  Boy am I glad he did!

Our conversation went on for at least 30 minutes talking about everything from what he did for a living, to his grandchildren that lived close to where I was working at the time in Orange County California.  Towards the end of the conversation, we discussed how he came upon this amazing collection and how he and his wife acquired the old Redline Hot Wheels.  He explained that he and his wife were out doing their yard sales as they’ve always done on weekends for the past thirty plus years, and stumbled upon these five cases of Hot Wheels.  There was an elderly woman who was selling them for $10 per case.  The gentleman said that he only had forty dollars on them and offered her $8 per case.  The woman didn’t hesitate and took the money.  Unbelievable to say the least.  Well, this is where I got involved after he and his wife shopped the collection for a couple of weeks with zero luck.  That part, as a passionate collector, still boggles my mind.  How anyone that knows and understands the rarity and value of a collection like this, could let it slip through their fingers.  Lucky for me, I guess.

I asked the gentleman, as I always do, to either email or text message me pictures of each car from both sides, top, bottom, front and back.  I didn’t realize the amount of work that I just placed on him but he kindly obliged.  I always instruct people to make sure the pictures of the Hot Wheels are in focus, hi-resolution, and well lit.  His pictures were amazing.  Incredibly, the first picture that appeared in my email was a HOT PINK Classic Cord with seven more Cords to follow.  This was a sign of things to come.  REALLY GOOD THINGS TO COME.  I almost passed out, and this was only the first time getting lightheaded as I navigated the 1000 + pictures of 283 Redline Hot Wheels.  Yes, I just said 283 Redline Hot Wheels.  If you are as passionate as I am when it comes to these gems, you certainly have laid your head on a pillow at night and have dreamt of a collection just like this.  I can almost guarantee it.  Additionally, and most definitely, we, as collectors, dream of going back in time with lots of cash and buying case after case of Redline Hot Wheels from our favorite department store of the sixties.  Come on, admit it.

Needless to say, I was so excited to see all the pictures as they came through one email at a time.  It took the gentleman about 3 days to get all the pictures over to me.  It was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had as a collector in over 28 years.  I began the appraisal process and made sure I put in the time and effort to do it right like I always do.  I called the gentleman back a couple days later and made him the offer.  He said, and I quote, “If you are going to pay me that amount, I will drive the cars out to you in California.”  True story.  He had his family close by where my office was located in Irvine, CA.  I met him at a local Starbucks and met him and his wife.  My heart was beating out of my chest.  I asked them if they’d like anything to eat or drink and kindly obliged to their wishes.  Something amazing happened after we exchanged Benjamins and the five cases of some of the cleanest, rarest, and most amazing Redline Hot Wheels that I’ve seen in one place in my entire career of collecting up until that point.

As we said our goodbyes, I rounded up the five heavy cases of Hot Wheels and started walking to my car when I heard the gentleman yelling to me….”Hey, Bob, not sure if you want this little bag of trash or not, but it was in one of the cases when I bought them.”  I said sure, why not.  It was a plastic little baggie that looked like it had some wheels, axles, sticker sheets and parts of the interiors to some cars.  I didn’t give it another thought as I was on Cloud Nine the entire hour ride home to my house in San Diego.  I floated home.  When I got home, I immediately started to go through the collection and laid them all out by casting in the dozens trays from the stack cases.  I proceeded to take some pictures to catalog this amazing, once in a lifetime collection.  Once I finished taking all the pictures, I was sitting down at the counter in the kitchen where I had all 283 cars laid out.  The most amazing part of the collection was the tray of eight Classic Cords and four OLDS 442s.

I glanced to my right and I saw the little plastic baggie of “trash” and decided to go through it as I opened a bottle of red wine to celebrate this discovery.  Well, this was certainly not only the icing on the cake, but it was the whole bakery.   As I started going through the contents, I noticed sticker sheet after sticker sheet.  There were over one hundred “Flower” sticker Sheets, one hundred “Spoiler” sticker sheers, fifty “Grand Prix” sticker sheets, AND drumroll please….. twenty two OLDS 442 sticker sheets.

I was left speechless.  How in the world did this gentleman who had this collection, first of all amass the quality and amount of cars and secondly, where did all the sticker sheets come from.

After some research, it was discovered that the gentleman who owned the collection had passed away and was a former Mattel employee back in the sixties and seventies.  His wife was the one who sold the cars to the gentleman who sold them to me.  The rest, as they say, is REDLINE ARCHEOLOGY History…

I would be remiss if I didn’t share the highlights of this incredible collection with all of you, so here goes:

8 Classic Cord, 4 OLDS 442, 2 OHS Mustangs, Zamac Custom VW, 2 Pink Skyshow Fleetside, 3 Custom Camaro, 6 Custom Barracudas, 5 Custom Cougar, 3 Custom Corvette, 5 Custom Mustang, Four Custom Charger, 6 P917, Prototype C-111, 11 73’s including  a Snake and Mongoose.  ALL BP Fresh cars!

So, as you can see, the stuff is still out there waiting to be discovered.  A collection and more importantly, an experience I will never forget.

In an upcoming BLOG I will give everyone a Private Tour of my personal collection that has taken me 30 years to assemble.  Only the Best of the Best!  I hope you enjoyed this BLOG.  I encourage each of you to comment below and SHARE this website.  Let’s keep the hobby fun and interesting!  Happy collecting!!

Remember, it’s all about the “Hunt” and “Capture!”

If you have the old REDLINE Hot Wheels and are thinking of selling them, Look No Further!

You now ask yourself the age old question:  “How do I sell my old Hot Wheels?”

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 almost 30 years of diggin’ up original one owner childhood Hot Wheels collections from the sixties and seventies, 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”

Available on AMAZON, Barnes & Noble and now WALMART!

Call us anytime @ 856.912.2463 or visit us @ www.RedlineArcheology.com