| f the largest collections of toy vehicles in the world | | | | not make for happy children! |
| went under the hammer recently for a massive | | | | This is because the golden rule is that toys destined |
| £100,000. | | | | for eventual sale should never be played with; they |
| The lifelong collection of model cars enthusiast Horace | | | | should be in perfect condition – and that means |
| Dunkley was sold at a special event at the beginning | | | | still with the original packaging. If the car is battered or |
| of April by toy auction specialists Vectis, in | | | | chipped, it could be reduced in value by 90 per cent, |
| Stockton-on-Tees. The 65-year-old Mr Dunkley, from | | | | whereas the value of the item could rise by 100 per |
| Stamford in Lincolnshire, had decided to sell more than | | | | cent if it is still in the original box. |
| 2,000 cars from his treasured hoard in order to help | | | | Anyone looking for bargains at car boot sales or on |
| pay for his retirement. | | | | eBay should be very careful when examining claims |
| The auction was a great success, with many toy cars | | | | that items are one of a kind or “limited |
| selling for more than the price of their real life | | | | edition.” There are a large number of fakes on |
| equivalents. One 1976 Matchbox white 1930 Model "J" | | | | the market, and the services of an expert may be |
| Duesenberg car sold for £4,935, while the | | | | necessary to sort the wheat from the chaff. By the |
| genuine model would only have set the buyer back | | | | same token, there is little profit in just buying up every |
| £3,750. | | | | model car that you see. It is much better to focus on |
| Mr Dunkley began collecting toy cars in the mid-1970s | | | | certain types of vehicle, or certain brands. Collectors |
| and soon developed into a full-blown obsession. | | | | usually want to complete a “set”, such |
| However, the sums obtained at the auction showed | | | | as buses, coaches, trucks bearing advertising or |
| what a good investment they had turned out to be, as | | | | military vehicles. |
| well as a great hobby. | | | | Because of the sheer range of Dinky and Matchbox |
| There has been a surge of interest in model vehicles in | | | | models out there, it is also well worth investing in one |
| recent years, with toy cars made by Matchbox, Dinky | | | | of the respected guidebooks out there, such as Mike |
| and Tonka often selling for five-figure sums. In March | | | | and Sue Richardson’s Dinky Toys and |
| 2008, a pre-war "type 22" W E Boyce Dinky delivery | | | | Modelled Miniatures, or Warman's Matchbox Field |
| van scooped the record for the highest-selling toy of | | | | Guide: Values and Identification by Tom Larson. Such |
| its kind when it was sold at auction for an amazing | | | | guides can also be of invaluable assistance when it |
| £19,975. | | | | comes to valuing one’s own collection – |
| For anyone hoping to make their fortune from their | | | | as can the toy companies themselves, all of which |
| own toy collection, however, there are some important | | | | offer some kind of identification service. |
| rules to follow – and the most important rule will | | | | |