The Most Valuable Hot Wheels Cars Race Laps Around The Track
As children, there were a few things that were certain: Saturday morning cartoons, Lego, sugary breakfast cereals, and Hot Wheels. The toy cars that Matchbox couldn't hold a candle to debuted in 1968 and are still massively popular today. In the 50 plus years the toys have been around, several have become collectors' items and skyrocketed in value. If you were lucky enough to grow up owning one of these models and kept it in good condition, you could be sitting on a gold mine!
Note - Not all pictures match the model as listed but are accurate for the year released.
Rear-Loading Pink Beach Bomb From 1969 - $150,000
Considered the king of all things Hot Wheels, the rear-loading pink Beach Bomb model from 1969 is worth a reported $150,000! This car was never sold to consumers and was built as a prototype.
Why did it never reach the production line? It was too narrow and too top-heavy. Mattel redesigned it have side-mounted surfboards and a full-length sunroof. Just two pink prototypes were produced, which is why they are so valuable.
Mad Maverick From 1969 - $15,000
Any Hot Wheels aficionado knows what the Mighty Maverick car is. What they might not know is that this toy was originally called the Mad Maverick. Mattel was forced to change the name after a copyright issue with a rival toy manufacturer came up.
The name became Mighty Maverick very quickly, making any original "Mad Maverick" copies valuable. One in mint condition could be worth up to $15,000. To find out if you're lucky enough to own one, check the nameplate on the bottom of your car.
Brown Custom Charger From 1969 - $13,000
For this Hot Wheels' model to be worth up to $13,000 it needs to be brown with a white interior. The Custom Charger was one of the more commonly produced models from 1968 until 1971 - just not in brown.
Because the brown version of the Custom Charger is so rare, most collectors believe it was a prototype. There are only a handful known to exist. Are you lucky enough own one? It might the right time to cash in!
Purple Oldsmobile From 1971 - $12,000
The first ten years of Hot Wheels production vehicles are known as "redline" cars. This term comes from the red line that was put on Hot Wheels tires until 1978. A purple Oldsmobile 442 from 1971 is considered one of the rarest redline Hot Wheels and is worth around $12,000.
Like the Custom Charger, for this toy to be worth collecting, it needs to be purple. This legendary four-wheeler was made exclusively at Mattel's Hong Kong facility.
Ed Shaver Blue AMX From 1969 - $10,000
This model from the United Kingdom was made after striking a sponsorship deal with race car driver Ed Shaver. The Blue AMX from 1969 is worth $10,000. Aside from the graphics on the car to differentiate it, it is just a standard AMX.
In other words, you need the Ed Shaver decals to ensure that you have one of the world's most valuable Hot Wheels cars. Otherwise, you just have a car that looks nice in your collection but isn't worth a whole lot.
Brown '31 Woody From 1969 - $8,000
Including prototypes, it is estimated by collectors that less than 12 '31 Woodys painted brown exist in the world. That makes this car extremely rare and extremely valuable. Are you lucky enough to have one in your collection?
If you do think you have one, be careful to make sure it's not painted orange. Over the years, many of the '31 Woody's that are orange have darkened and now appear to be closer to brown.
Python Body With Cheetah Base From 1969 - $6,000
While it was being designed and created, the Hot Wheels Python was named the Hot Wheels Cheetah. The car was inspired by Kustom Kulture engineer Bill Cushenbery's Dream Rod and was renamed before being sent to market.
Still, there were a handful of Pythons sold that contained the original Cheetah base nameplate. If you own one of these special Hot Wheels cars, you could be sitting on $6,000 to help take that vacation you've been saving up years for!
Spectralflame Bye Focal In Purple From 1971 - $6,000
Hot Wheels made sure to make this iconic collectible hard to identify. Mattel used several Bye Focal shades including blue, magenta, and purple for the Spectralflame in 1971. The one you need to find is purple -- if you can even tell the colors apart.
Making this item even harder to find is a "crumbling" condition common to the model. For whatever reason, the Spectralflame was more likely to develop cracks and begin to crumble than other Hot Wheels. In perfect condition, a purple model Spectralflame is worth $6,000.
Red Ferrari With White Interior From 1970 - $5,000
What makes this red Ferrari 312P so unique is its white interior. The toy was mass-produced in the '70s almost exclusively with a black interior (pictured). While it might not seem like it would make a big difference, a light interior red Ferrari 312P is worth $5,000.
The car was manufactured by Mattel in both the United States and Hong Kong and is one of the most recognizable Hot Wheels of the era. The question for any owner is, which color is your interior?
Pink Beatnik Bandit From 1968 - $5,000
The Beatnik Bandit from 1968 is one of the Hot Wheels Sweet Sixteen set. Those cars make up the original launch models for the Mattel brand, and the Beatnik Bandit is the most valuable of the bunch.
To cash in on the car, you need to own it in pink. This was the rarest color it was adorned with of the 18 options the toymaker chose from. It was based on a design by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.
Red Oldsmobile With Black Interior From 1971 - $4,000
While not as valuable as its purple Olds 442 model, a red Olds 442 Hot Wheel from 1971 is just as rare. If that car comes with a black interior, it could net you upwards of $4,000.
The reason this car is so valuable is because of how few were actually made. It is one of the hardest redline Hot Wheels to find, leading collectors to believe that the red/black Olds 442 was only a prototype and never brought to market.
Green Open Fire - $4,000
Based on what is now considered one of the worst automobiles of all-time, the green Open Fire (green version not pictured) was essentially a stretched AMC Gremlin. Released with six wheels and an engine popping out of the hood, this now-classic Hot Wheel is worth $4,000.
During the '70s, the Gremlin was credited with helping start a push towards smaller, more economical cars. Today, it is remembered as part of the decade that introduced, "pet rocks, shag carpets, platform shoes and the AMC Gremlin."
Red Baron With White Interior From 1969 - $3,500
You might be surprised to see the 1969 Red Baron pop up on this list. The car is one of the most recognizable and most popular Hot Wheels' models of all time. The difference here comes from the interior.
A majority of Red Barons that were sold had black interiors, while only a few very early production models had white interiors. Like so many other toy cars on this list, check the interior of yours to see what kind of gold mine you might be sitting on!
Blue Rodger Dodger From 1974 - $3,000
When Hot Wheels released the Blue Rodger Dodger in 1974, they did so without a lot of fanfare. The car was produced in limited quantities, making it valuable based on the volume available.
The good news: as long as you have one of these cars and it's in good condition, it could be worth $3,000. The color matters, but not as much as you might think. Just make sure you have an original Rodger Dodger. Mattel released a retooled version in 2000, and another in 2015.
White Z-Whiz From 1977 - $3,000
The Z-Whiz was introduced by Hot Wheels to the United States in 1977. It was based on the Datsun Z and was the first Japanese import turned into a toy car for the brand. The white version of the Z-Whiz, in good condition, is worth $3,000.
The Z-Whiz was discontinued by Hot Wheels in 1984. During its seven-year run, it was most commonly sold in green. Early models came in silver. As we said, white was the truly special shade you wanted, though.
White Custom Camaro From 1968 - $3,000
The 1968 Custom Camaro is a special car in Hot Wheels history. According to collectors, it was the first car to make the transition from concept to production. Created with a white enamel finish, Mattel planned to change the car's colors before shipping it to stores.
Still, a handful of white prototypes made it onto shelves. By our logic, that means the white Custom Camaro from 1968 was the first "collectible" car for the toy car maker!
Over Chrome Camaro From 1968 - $25,000
The lime color for the Over Chrome Camaro from 1968 is called "antifreeze." The antifreeze-over-chrome application of color was rare and mostly used for advertising purposes. This car was not available in stores and only seen in commercials at the time.
Because of how the lime coating is applied, the car was of higher quality than sales models and could not be bought. There are 20 known Hot Wheels with this finish, and this Camaro here is the most valuable.
Brown Custom Camaro From 1968 - $3,000
Another Custom Camaro from 1968, the brown/white exterior/interior combination is also incredibly rare and valuable. Just like the white enamel Custom Camaro, the brown version was never supposed to be sold to consumers. The story goes it was given to stores as a display model.
Because of this, anyone lucky to have one could look to trade it in for upwards of $3,000 depending on the condition. Just make sure you check the interior first, because it needs to have a white one to be worth the ticket price!
Magenta Rodger Dodger With White Interior From 1974 - $2,500
The second Rodger Dodger on our list comes in magenta and could be worth up to $2,500! Like it's blue sibling, this car is considered special among collectors. Just make sure you have a genuine original and not one of the retooled versions!
The Rodger Dodger was based on the 1973 Dodge Charger SE and designed by Larry Wood. The SE, of course, didn't have a giant engine sticking through the hood. That would have made it impossible to look over while driving!
Pink Superfine Turbine From 1974 - $2,500
Another classic design by Larry Wood, the Superfine Turbine was a brand new casting by Hot Wheels in 1973. These cars, especially the pink version, are hard to find. They were only produced by the toymaker for one year.
Hot Wheels did retool and re-issue the Superfine Turbine in 2010 as part of its HWC Neo Classics series. If you are lucky enough to have a pink Superfine Turbine in your collection, it could be worth $2,500.
Diamond Encrusted Hot Wheel From 2008 - $140,000
The most outrageous Hot Wheels car to date is this diamond-encrusted edition that was created to commemorate the brand's 40 year history. Celebrity jeweler Jason Arasheben was recruited to design the car, layering it in 18-carat white gold.
The magnificent vehicle was presented by recording artist Nick Lachay at the American International Toy Fair. It then was auctioned off for the benefit of Big Brothers Big Sisters charity. The car also comes with a case that holds 40 white diamonds in honor of the 40 year anniversary.
Strawberry Over Chrome Mustang From 1968 - $40,000
The Strawberry Over Chrome edition of this 1968 Hot Wheels Mustang is particularly valuable since it was never sold, as it was intended solely for advertising. Two models were made, yet it somehow ended up in a mobile home.
Upon the homeowner's death, the car was sold for the pretty price you see above. The Over Chrome Cars are considered particularly special, as they flew off shelves when first introduced. However, the Strawberry version is one you'd have a hard time getting your hands on.
Poison Pinto From 1976 - $150
While this Hot Wheels isn't as outrageously priced as some of the others on this list, it's still fairly valuable considering most toy cars aren't in the hundred dollar range. The original version was released from 1976 to 1985.
A retooled version was released in the 2000s, but nothing can beat the vintage look and feel of the original. The car came out in a few different colors, including teal, dark blue, red, and chrome.
Funny Car Collector No. 271 From 1995 - $2,800
This little guy sold online before for around $7,000, but it carries a general auction price-point of $2,800. What's so special about this one you might ask? Well, they made it in 1995, but didn't make very many.
There are only 12 Hot Wheels Funny Car Collector No. 271 in existence. Only half of the dozen have a Hot Wheels verification, so that makes them even more valuable. If you want one, good luck finding it!
Python With Cheetah Base From 1968 - $5,200
The price-point for this precious classic is around $5,200. That's a high price to pay for this thing, but its worth it for many reasons, just hang tight and we'll elaborate.
They initially designed the 1968 Hot Wheels Python based on a vehicle for Car Craft Magazine named "Dream Rod." That later evolved to "Tiger Shark." The first make of this Hot Wheel has the word CHEETAH printed on the base, and they're outstandingly tough to come by. Not many are verified by Hot Wheels.
Custom Volkswagen Beetle Without Sunroof From 1968 - $1,600
Who doesn't appreciate a good old fashioned Beetle? Well, don't answer that because we can think of a few, but that doesn't stop this Hot Wheel from being one of the most valuable out there.
The first batch of these Hot Wheels came from Hong Kong. They didn't come ready with a blue-tinted sunroof, but instead, they were smooth. Manufacturers recreated the no-sunroof style in 1974, but the first release of these cars are the ones worth the bucks.
Ed Shaver Custom From 1970 - $4,000
We've discussed one Ed Shaver from 1969, which is probably the most rare version of the Shaver series, but there are others worth a lot as well from that series.
You can trade many of these cars for hundreds of dollars, but its only a few type that can secure the large profit. Appraiser Mike Zarnock says they're available via cereal mail-in, and if you had one of those, then you had the golden ticket.
The Mystery Machine - $80
It's hard not to recognize the Mystery Machine that Scooby and the gang would ride around in solving cases. It was Fred's van, and their primary source of getting around.
Hot Wheels released this model in 2012, but the 2017 one is the one you want as it will give you the highest profit return. There is also one that has the Scooby-Doo Zoinks punch. This is something that would be better suited for nostalgic purposes.
Hot Wheels Spider-Man Van From 1979 - $50
When it comes to Spider-Man, its hard to see the value in the web-slinging hero. That's why Hot Wheels manufactured this van in his honor. Labeled the Spiderman Shredster, it might not fetch you a lot of money, but it's great memorabilia.
Who knows, you might have one lying around in your basement of attic, so that should be something to check. If you do, you can get as much as $50 or as little as $5.
Frito Lay Delivery Van From 1984 - $149
Since it was only a one-year contract with Frito-Lay, Hot Wheels only made a handful of these vans that you can call The Delivery Van. They came out in 1984 and you could only obtain them in certain packs.
Unfortunately, after the contract ended, Hot Wheels changed the name to Combat Medic in 1986 before switching to simply Delivery Truck in 1989. The coolest part about this original van is that the back opened up.
Back To The Future DeLorean From 2011 - $76
Probably the greatest movie car ever to hit the big screen can be yours in Hot Wheels form if you really wanted it. The first came out in 2011, but since then, there have been many different variations of it.
The very first models had DMC on the front with OUTATIME written on the back of it. There are so many versions of it that each one costs a different price than others, ranging from $5 to a couple hundred dollars.
Hot Wheels Ecto-1A From 2010 - $$$
While Ghostbusters premiered in 1984, Hot Wheels didn't hop on the train until 2010 when they released the first model. With there being three different types of models that people usually want, the Hot Wheels Ecto-1A.
One can sell one of those models for up to thousands of dollars or as little as a couple of hundred. The second most popular one is the Hot Wheels Ecto-1 Ghostbusters Cartoon Car which came out in 2015.
K.I.T.T. From 2012 - $$$
This vehicle is from the popular TV series Knight Rider. K.I.T.T. stands for Knight Industries Two Thousand and it's a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am with artificial intelligence. The first version of this car released in 2012, designed by Brendon Vetuskey.
There are different scales of this car made ranging from 1/43 to 1/18 and each of them carry different qualities. The 1/18 one is the version you want to own if you're looking to make some money because it packs the coolest tricks.
#001 Batmobile From 2004 - $$$
When it comes to Batman, his cars are usually a hit in the Hot Wheels world. The sleek features his vehicles usually have make them all the more exciting for collectors around the globe.
There are two that are really rare and they are the Scale Limited Edition from Comic-Con and the Hot Wheels 2004 #001 Batmobile. While you can only fetch at most a couple hundred for these, they're worth keeping in your collection.
GMC Motorhome From 1977 - $355
As part of the Flying Colors series, Hot Wheels released the GMC Motorhome designed by Bob Rosas and Larry Wood in 1977. Rosas had to contact GMC to get permission to build it and they agreed only if they could get 30 gold versions in return.
The gold versions are worth around a couple thousand but they all went to sales representatives. Of course, they're extremely rare, so you're better off finding the original on eBay.
'38 Ford C.O.E. Truck From 1998 - ~$70
While it might have a considerably low price today, the Larry Wood autographed truck should rise in price in the future. The original version of this model came out in 1998 and ran until 2009.
It came with a flatbed, airsteam trailers, airstream flatbed, and box versions. In total, there are about a dozen different types of this Hot Wheel. Larry Wood might've had a few disappointments, but for the most part, his work is stellar.
Larry Wood World Tour Purple VW Bug Beetle Limited From 1989 - $$$
Here we have yet another Larry Wood beauty. The World Tour Purple Volkswagen Bug Beetle Limited is a masterpiece. If it were in a showroom, it would be one of the few to stand out when you entered the room.
Wood crafted up this beauty in 1989 as it resembles the Hong Kong cast. This is the one car you don't ever want to take out the package. Wood signed it himself and it celebrates 35 years of excellence.
1967 Corvette Pro Street From 2002 - $$$
You know a car is special when the model gets seen a maximum of four times before getting discontinued. That was the case for this rare 1967 Corvette Pro Street that debuted in 2002.
If you take one look at this Hot Wheel don't like it, then we're sorry because its hard to resist the supercharger, oversized rear wheels, and the flames. As an added bonus, the hood opens up to allow the user to see power.
The Demon From 1970 - $$$
This Hot Wheel carries the name of The Demon and first came out in 1970. They based it on a customized 1932 Ford from Dave Stuckey and it fetches a considerable price.
You can get one for several hundred dollars. The interior is usually black, but there is also a model that's magenta with a white inside if you're looking to get fancy. That latter one is extremely rare. The Demon name lasted for a while, but they eventually changed it to Prowler.
Spiderman Shredster From 1979 - $$$
There's another Spiderman Hot Wheel we needed to add to this list. The Spiderman Shredster from The Heroes line is a special product as well. They only made it from 1979 to 1984.
You guessed it, Larry Wood designed this one and it's worth more than the Spidey-Van we listed earlier. The inside didn't receive any pant, but the windows came red. There's also a type that has orange windows instead. Overall, you can only get it in black.
