Strict financial professionals might not include vintage toy investments in their definition of the “fun money” investors set aside to scratch a speculative itch. All puns aside, though, your old playthings may carry a lot more worth than just sentimental value. Scarcity, demand and nostalgia can make them good alternative investments.
If you have a passion for your childhood games, figurines or dolls, you could recognize their value. Here’s a list of 10 toy investments to consider.
Quick Look: Best Vintage Toy Investments
- 1985 Super Mario Bros. video game
- Rocket Firing Boba Fett prototype
- Barbie by Stefano Canturi
- 1934 Lionel Standard Gauge Train Set With 400E Locomotive
- G.I. Joe Prototype (1963)
- Steiff Louis Vuitton Bear
- Mickey Mouse Motorcycle (1930)
- 1969 Hot Wheels Pink Rear-Loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb
- G1 Optimus Prime (1984)
- 2007 Lego Star Wars Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon Set
10 Best Vintage Toy Investments
Vintage toys that are rare, hold cultural significance and remain in good condition have joined art, rare books, coins, wines and other collectibles in investors’ portfolios. Here are 10 of the best vintage toy investments.
1. Super Mario Bros. Video Game
A never-opened copy of the Super Mario Bros. video game, produced in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), sold for $2 million on the collectibles website Rally in 2021.
2. Rocket Firing Boba Fett Prototype
This Boba Fett action figure from 1979 sets the bar for collectible toys from the Star Wars franchise. In May 2024, Heritage Auctions sold the rocket-firing prototype of the bounty hunter for $525,000 — more than double the previous record of $204,435 for a Boba Fett prototype.
3. Barbie by Stefano Canturi
Mattel might be one of the best toy company investments you can consider, and the Barbie by Stefano Canturi from 2010 might be its top toy to target for investment. Featuring a one-carat pink diamond necklace, the doll sold at Christie’s for $302,500 and has been called “The World’s Most Expensive Barbie.”
4. Lionel Standard Gauge Train Set With 400E Locomotive
A longtime favorite at Christmas, the Lionel train set tugs on the nostalgia string that draws so many to invest in vintage toys. A 1934 version went for $250,000 in 2016 at a sale by the Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists. Lionel has made model trains since 1900, and while the model train hobby has waned, collectors remain active through an online community.
5. G.I. Joe Prototype
G.I. Joe action figures hit the scene in 1964, venturing into the male market for dolls. The year before their release, toy company Hasbro created a 12-inch hand-painted and hand-sewn prototype of G.I. Joe. Donald Levine, a company executive and veteran of the Korean War, bought the concept doll from Stanley Weston, a licensing agent and military veteran. The prototype sold for $200,000 at Heritage Auctions in December 2003.
6. Steiff Louis Vuitton Bear
German toymaker Steiff began making teddy bears in 1902 and is one of two manufacturers credited with pioneering the beloved stuffed animal. Steiff bears can sell for hundreds of dollars, and those signed by famous individuals or tied to historical events can command a premium. The most valuable are produced through the company’s partnerships with luxury brands. In 2000, one Steiff Louis Vuitton Bear sold at Christie’s in Monaco for €213,720 (~$182,550), and another one has been valued at $2 million.
7. Mickey Mouse Motorcycle (1930)
Walt Disney launched his creation in 1928 and created this 1930 version of Mickey and Minnie riding a motorcycle for the United Kingdom market. The tin wind-up toy motorcycle was manufactured in Germany, and only 18 are known to exist. After World War II, Disney toned down the rodent look of the famous mice. The 1930 Mickey Mouse Motorcycle sold for $110,000 at Randy Inman Auctions in October 2000. Nine years later, it sold for $62,000 at Bertoia Auctions in New Jersey.
8. 1969 Hot Wheels Pink Rear-Loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb
No one knows what Hot Wheels enthusiast Bruce Pascal paid for the 1969 Pink Rear-Loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb that he bought in 2000. Pascal, who considers the toy van the centerpiece of his 4,000-vehicle Hot Wheels collection, would only say at the time that the van is worth $150,000. Hot Wheels market chatter says the toy VW bus is valued at $175,000. Only two are known to exist.
9. G1 Optimus Prime
Wildly popular before Michael Bay put “Transformers” on the big screen, Autobot leader Optimus Prime grew even larger after the movie. This 1984 action figure became the most produced toy of the series. Graded versions of Optimus Prime, which transforms into a red truck with a gray trailer, sold at auction for $40,000 and $30,000 in 2023 and $24,000 in 2022.
10. LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon Set
When it was released in 2007, LEGO’s 5,197-piece Millennium Falcon set went for $500. It features Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Chewbacca. A first edition sealed in an airtight case sold for $15,000 at an auction in Las Vegas in 2014. Sets can run from a few hundred dollars for used sets to between $3,000 and $6,000 for sealed sets, and they can even be found on Amazon.
Consider Making a Play With Vintage Toy Investments
If these were some of your favorite toys as a child, making a play on vintage toy investments may bring you the same joy from your early years — along with potentially good returns. Demand, scarcity and cultural significance can drive up the value of games, video games, figurines, toy vehicles and dolls over time. Leaning into nostalgia by investing in the toys you loved years ago could prove to be enjoyable and profitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Putting your money in vintage toys can be a good investment because the value of some toys rises over time. Limited-edition toys and those that have been discontinued are scarce, and their rarity, combined with demand, can drive up the value of the toys.
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The best toy to invest in might be an action figure that had a limited run, an old playset or an exclusive item tied to a popular franchise. Think Barbie, Star Wars, LEGO, Marvel and Pokémon.
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In 2021, a never-opened Super Mario Bros. video game cartridge from 1985 fetched $2 million at auction, overtaking the previous record of $1.56 million paid for a Super Mario 64 released in 1996. Other vintage toys selling for big bucks include Star Wars figurines, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels cars, G.I. Joe action figures, Lionel standard gauge train sets, LEGO blocks and Transformers.
