The toys of 50 years ago may have lacked the high- electronics and flashy displays of later generations, but they were just plain fun.
And now you might find that those old playthings are 1970s toys worth money.If you were a child of the ’70s, dreaming up entire worlds for your analog play, imagine now that your favorite toy may be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.
The toy collectible market hit $16.68 billion in 2024 and is jected to climb to $40.3 billion by 2032.If you’re hoping to grab your of that growing market, be aware of the 1970s toys worth money.Quick Look: 1970s Toys Worth MoneyStar Wars action figuresHot Wheels Red Line modelsEvel Knievel Stunt Cycle Walk ly BarbieStretch ArmstongDungeons & Dragons setRubik’s CubeLord of the Rings action figuresSimonAtari 2600Table of ContentsQuick Look: 1970s Toys Worth Money10 Top 1970s Toys Worth Money1.
Star Wars Action FiguresSee All 14 Items10 Top 1970s Toys Worth MoneyIf you’ve been touched by a bit of nostalgia, ’70s toys that brought endless hours of joy in your childhood might bring more than just fond memories now.
Here’s a list of the top 1970s toys worth money. 1. Star Wars Action FiguresFans’ love for everything Star Wars started as soon as the movie was released in 1977.
Kenner’s action figures from the earliest days of the franchise are worth thousands of dollars. A trio of Tusken Raiders from 1977 lists on eBay for $34,000.
Collectors routinely seek out figures from 1978 and 1979, the first time they were officially licensed. A rare, rocket-firing Boba Fett totype from 1979 sold for $525,000 at auction in 2024.
The same year, a 1978 Luke Skywalker sold for $25,000.2.
Hot Wheels Red Line ModelsIntroduced by Mattel in 1968 to compete with Matchbox cars, Hot Wheels were a hit from the start and gained even more traction in the 1970s with the Red Line models.
Named for the red line around the tires, they made the miniature toy autos a cultural phenomenon by the time the line in 1977. Sets of 10 Red Line cars in good condition can go for $500 on eBay.
A 1974 Hot Wheels Blue Rodger Dodger is valued at $38,311, and the value of a 1970 Hot Wheels Mighty Maverick with “Mad Maverick” engraved on the base is considered immeasurable. 3.
Evel Knievel Stunt CycleDriven forward by the real-life stunts of Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel, the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle jumped off of shelves in 1973, the second year of five that Ideal Toy Company duced the Knievel toy line.
The Stunt Cycle set includes the action figure, a removable helmet, a motorcycle and a ramp. It can sell for more than $100 to the daredevil’s worldwide fan base.4.
Walk ly BarbieMattell’s Barbie has touched every generation of children since she debuted at a toy fair in New York in 1959.
In 1972, Sears carried an exclusive Walk ly Barbie that is highly sought after by collectors of the high-fashion doll. If you kept the original packaging, it might be worth $900 or more.5.
Stretch ArmstrongBefore nearly every toy required a battery or electricity, there was Stretch Armstrong: 15 inches of gel-filled latex you could pull and twist to four or five feet before it snapped back to size.
Launched in 1976 by Kenner, the doll presented a sculpted, muscular body that demonstrated the flexibility a bodybuilder can only dream .
Once conceived as “Tension Man,” Stretch was renamed in honor of astronaut Neil Armstrong. Rare models in original packaging have sold for $4,500. Others in excellent condition can fetch $2,000. 6.
Dungeons & Dragons SetWhen it was created by Tactical Studies Rule in 1974, Dungeons & Dragons shrugged off a limited duction budget of $2,000 to set the standard for all future role-playing games.
Since then, D&D has become a cultural and global phenomenon that’s been translated into several languages and has impacted film, music and media.
TSR’s first-edition set in the original wood grain box can sell for more than $20,000. Other sets, even worn ones, can fetch $800. 7.
Rubik’s CubeAlthough the puzzle didn’t become an international sensation until 1980, Rubik’s Cube first hit the scene in 1974, when Ernő Rubik developed it to teach 3D design to his architecture students.
It was released in Hungary in 1977 as the “Magic Cube,” but Ideal Toy Company later took it worldwide. Early Rubik’s Cubes in mint condition can draw more than $100.8.
Lord of the Rings Action FiguresYou might earn or pay precious amounts for Gandalf the Grey, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee or Gollum among others.
The action figures, based on an earlier, animated “Lord of the Rings” movie and released by Knickerbocker in November 1978, are rare 1970s toys.
The 3-inch to 7.5-inch figures were sold for just four weeks amid heavy panning of the film. Frodo’s horse can go for more than $1,200. 9.
SimonLaunched by Milton Bradley in 1978, Simon was a game that challenged the player to remember a sequence of flashing, colored lights and electronic sounds.
Despite its nology and futuristic look, Simon stayed true to the ’70s in its simplicity. Unopened games can sell for more than $120.10.
Atari 2600The Atari 2600 was one of the first consoles to move games out of the arcade and into your living room.
In September 1977, Atari Corporation launched the Atari Computer System (Atari VCS) with the game Combat. It came with two joysticks and two paddle controllers.
A boxed unit in excellent condition is valued at more than $900.Travel Back in Time With 1970s Toys Worth MoneyYour old toys from the ’70s may hold great memories.
If you still have some of them, they may also hold great value.
Consider rummaging through your closet to earn quick cash or going online to invest in a part of your past.Frequently Asked Questions QWhat toys are worth money from the ’70s?AStar Wars figures released in 1977 and those released between 1978 and 1979, the first to be officially licensed by the franchise, can fetch thousands of dollars.
Other toys worth money include Hot Wheels, especially the Red Line series, Lord of the Rings action figures, the Fisher-Price Kermit the Frog doll and the Six Million Dollar Man, a 12-inch tall action figure from Kenner.
QWhat were the classic toys in the 1970s?AIn the 1970s, toy manufacturers pumped out toys introduced in previous decades along with new releases, keeping kids occupied with G.I.
Joe, Barbie, LEGO, the Easy-Bake Oven, Hot Wheels, Stretch Armstrong, Tonka Trucks, Lite-Brite and Fisher-Price toddler toys.
Other important toys from the 1970s include Star Wars action figures, Atari 2600, Simon, Rubik’s Cube, and Weebles figures.
QWhere to sell 1970s toys?A You may be a child of the ’70s, but you don’t need to buy a classified ad in the paper or wait for a garage sale to sell your toys.
You can put your collectible toys online at eBay, Etsy or Facebook Marketplace.
Or you can sell them to online dealers, such as Back to the Past Collectibles, Brian’s Toys, ToysWanted or Wheeljack’s Lab.
You can also sell them through consignment with auction houses, such as Gray’s Auctioneers, Heritage Auctions or Hake’s Auctions.
Sarah EdwardsSarah Edwards is a finance writer passionate helping people learn more what’s needed to achieve their financial goals.
She has nearly a decade of writing experience focused on budgeting, investment strategies, retirement and industry trends. Her work has been published on NerdWallet and FinImpact.