Nostalgic 80s and 90s Christmas toys now worth a small fortune including Gameboy and Tamagotchis
Find out how much you could pocket if you have on lurking in a cupboard
IF your favourite childhood toys are stashed in your attic you could be sitting on a small gold mine.
Classic toys from the 1980s and 1990s are hugely popular with nostalgic collectors looking for a piece of their childhood.
From Cabbage Patch Kids to Gameboys and Tickle Me Elmo toys a number of bestselling gifts have increased dramatically in value since their heyday.
Among those attracting the largest sums are boxed Megatron Transformer toys from the 1980s and carded and unopen Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles action figures from the 1990s.
If your toy collection dates back slightly earlier you might be in even more luck.
Carl Stacey, of Stacey’s and Valuers, said: “We hold regular toy sales where we sell a variety of toys. The most sought after toys at the moment are 1970s/80s toys including Star Wars, He-Man and Action Man.”
Naturally an item’s value will take into account its rarity, and condition.
But, some experience sudden surges in popularity including Cadbury’s 1p vending machines, first released in the 1960s.
It’s always worth remembering, you’re never guaranteed to be quids in, ultimately your old items are worth what someone is willing to pay on the day you sell.
But, if you do have an attic full of old toys here are the bestsellers from the 1980s and 1990s you should keep an eye out for:
1980: Mr Frosty
- Could fetch: £80 – £120
Mr Frosty launched in the 1980s and remained popular throughout that decade and the 1990s.
The snowman toy allowed youngsters to make crunchy ice snacks and lollies, adding fruit juice flavours.
The toys have been re-released over the years but Mr Stacey said an original in good condition could fetch £80 to £120.
Obviously the amount the toy will fetch will depend on its condition and the average sale price on eBay is £15.35.
1981: Lego train set
- Could fetch £100 – £150
Lego has long been a favourite for collectors and these 1980s Lego train sets can fetch between £100 and £150 according to Mr Stacey.
The electric train sets had a 12v motor and would travel around the track included.
eBay said the average selling price for sets is £48.97, but some particularly rare Lego train sets go for up to £3,700.
1982: Cabbage Patch Kid
- Could fetch: £30 – £50
Cabbage Patch Kids were launched in the 1980s and quickly gained popularity.
The toys’ legend is that a young boy named Xavier Roberts was led into a magical land where little children grew in a cabbage patch.
The story goes that he then agreed to help find homes for the children.
Original toys can go for between £30 and £50, according to Mr Stacey, with the average selling price on eBay £26.46.
1983 Care Bear soft toy
- Could fetch £30 – £50
Care Bears were created by Elena Kucharik for American greeting cards in 1981.
The teddy bears were launched two years later when the characters appeared in two animated television specials.
There were originally 10 Care Bears, but more have been added since.
Mr Stacey said they could fetch between £30 and £50 at auction.
The average selling price on eBay is £17.60, with some rare models going for as much as £1,558.
1984: Transformers Megatron
- Could fetch: £300 – £400
Transformer toys, which accompanied the comics and television series, were a huge hit in the 1980s.
Action figures can still be worth a fair bit, particularly if you have a boxed Megatron.
Mr Stacey said one could make between £300 and £400 at auction.
The average selling price on eBay of all Transformers toys in any condition is considerably lower, at around £35.30.
1985: Teddy Ruxpin
- Could fetch: £100 – £150
Teddy Ruxpin was a moving, talking bear that was hugely popular with children in the 1980s.
The bear’s mouth and eyes would move while it told stories, which were played from a cassette tape stored in its back.
Mr Stacey said the original bears could go for between £100 and £150, while their average selling price on eBay is £42.86.
1986: Lazer Tag
- Could fetch: £30 – £50
These lazer tag kits allowed kits to battle it out through the festive season in 1986.
As well as the original kits with jacket and guns, helmets were sold complete with additional sensors.
While not one of the most lucrative toys on our list, sets can fetch between £30 and £50 at auction according to Mr Stacey.
On eBay the sets have an average selling price of £33.82.
1987: Sylvanian Families
- Could fetch: £30 – £50
Children have been collecting Sylvanian Families sets for generations and some from the 1980s can fetch sizeable sums at auction.
Mr Stacey said one of the most popular is a boxed log cabin, sold in the 1980s.
This could fetch between £30 and £50 at auction.
A huge variety of Sylavian Families items are sold on eBay and fetch an average sum of £31.
1988: Ghostbusters Proton Pack
- Could fetch: £60 – £80
The original Ghostbusters film was a huge hit in 1984.
A number of toys followed, with the Proton Pack among the most popular with youngsters.
Mr Stacey said the toys could fetch between £60 and £80 at auction, while on eBay they have an average selling price of £48.41.
1989: Gameboy
- Could fetch: £100 – £120
Nintendo’s handheld Game Boy was a huge hit with gamers when it was released in the 1980s.
The original consoles were sold for almost £100 in the late 1980s with the first games including Super Mario.
Mr Stacey said the consoles will now fetch between £100 and £120 at auction, while their average selling price on eBay is £48.19.
That said, eBay said some limited edition models can go for as much as £3,325.
1990: Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles action figures
- Could fetch: £200 – £250
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles launched in a comic book in the 1980s with a TV series following later.
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, who fought evil in New York City, quickly gained popularity and the action figures are some of the best selling of all time.
Mr Stacey said unopened, carded toys could fetch as much as £200 to £250 at auction.
On eBay their average selling price is £28.87.
1991: Super Soaker 50
- Could fetch: £50 to £70
For years if the sun came out, so did the super soakers.
The pressurised water guns were invented by an engineer and released in the early 1990s, with hundreds of millions having been sold since.
Mr Stacey said the original Super Soaker 50 can fetch between £50 and £70.
Their average selling price on eBay is £11.98.
1992: Thunderbirds’ Tracy Island
- Could fetch: £30-£50
The famous Tracy Island play set was released by Matchbox in 1992, coinciding with the return of the puppet heroes to television screens.
The toy was hugely popular, with retailers running out of stock ahead of Christmas.
Mr Stacey said the sets can fetch between £30 and £50 at auction and have an average selling price of £33.63 on eBay.
1993: Barbie dolls
- Could fetch: £40 – £60
Barbie dolls launched in 1959 have been a favourite with youngsters since.
Thousands of barbie dolls have been launched since, with different outfits and professions – including some celebrity releases.
Some rare dolls can fetch large sums at auction.
Mr Stacey said the 35-year anniversary doll can fetch between £40 and £60.
The average selling price of Barbie dolls on eBay is £23.63, but rare models have fetched as much as £23,983.
1994: Power Rangers Action Figures
- Could fetch: £50 – £70
The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers toys were launched in the early 1990s, to coincide with the hit TV show.
Demand was so high that stores struggled to keep up.
Mr Stacey said that carded and unopened figurines could fetch between £50 and £70 at auction, and are likely to increase in value in the future.
Their average selling price on eBay is £29.93, but some rare models go for up to £2,890.
1995: Beanie Babies
- Could fetch around £9
Beanie Babies were created by American businessman Ty Warner, in 1993.
The toys became hugely popular with youngsters and have been cited as the first ever internet sensation toy.
More than 800 different Beanie Babies designs have been released since their launch.
Mr Stacey said the toys don’t fetch high sums due to how many were produced and collected at the time.
However they sell for an average price of £9.42 on eBay.
1996: Tickle Me Elmo
- Could fetch: £20 – £30
Popular Sesame Street character Elmo became a toy sensation in 1996.
The Tickle-Me Elmo toys were in huge demand, so much so that stores reported violence as stocks ran low.
The toys are still sold, but Mr Stacey said originals can fetch between £20 and £30 at auction.
The average selling price on eBay is £14.41.
1997: Tamagotchi
- Could fetch: £30 – £50
Tamagotchis were first released in Japan in 1996 and became one of the biggest selling toys of the late 1990s.
The handheld devices challenged children to take care of virtual pets, feeding, exercising and clearing up after them.
Mr Stacey said original Tamagotchi toys can fetch between £30 and £50 at auction, although he expects their value to increase over the years.
The average selling price of the toys is £20.
1998: Furby
- Could fetch: £50-£70
Furbys were released in 1998 and more than 40million were sold in the first three years.
The toys resembled a hamster or owl-like creatures and responded to touch, light and sound by blinking, wriggling, dancing and speaking.
Mr Stacey said the original toys can fetch between £50 and £70 at auction, but they have an average selling price of just £12.61 on eBay.
1999: Scalextric
- Could fetch: £30 – £50
Scalextric was launched in 1957 and was hugely popular in the 1990s.
A variety of sets were launched featuring different track designs and recognisable cars from the world of racing.
Mr Stacey said that the cars are now more sought after than the tracks, particularly those released on a limited run.
But, the AFX vertigo track, which saw cars perform a loop the loop, can reach between £30 and £50 at auction.
Their average selling price on eBay is £43.65.
What to watch out for when buying toys online
HERE are the British Toy and Hobby Association's top tips for buying toys online:
- Shop early. Don’t leave purchases to the last minute rush which might leave you fewer options of where to buy from.
- Check out third-party sellers. Look for sellers you recognise and trust. Be cautious of retailers you don’t know and do your research checking reviews and where they’re based.
- Go for branded toys. Try and choose a branded toy as then you can compare it to the manufacturer’s own website to check it’s legit.
- Be careful of going for the cheapest price. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- Check if there are any age restrictions. Make sure you give suitable toys to children based on their age.
- Check reviews carefully. Some reviews are fake so look carefully at the comments.
- Stay with children at first. When your child opens a toy for the first time, stay with them and check for faults, detachable small parts, access to stuffing and loose or accessible batteries or magnets.
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