Toy Car Auction

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