You may think the hours you spent in the 90s playing with your Furby, American Girl Dolls, and Hot Wheels were priceless. You would be wrong. In fact, these toys from decades past can turn quite the profit these days if their owners are willing to part with them. But just how much of a profit?
We took a look at some of the most popular toys from the 1930s to the early 2000s and found out how much they originally sold for, how much they sell for now (if they’re still being produced), and how much the original versions of these toys are selling for in today’s resale market.
Methodology
We started by compiling a list of some of the most popular toys to hit the shelves between the 1930s and the early 2000s. From there, we found the original cost of these retro toys, the current cost of these toys (if they’re still being produced), and the price you could likely sell these retro toys for today using the online selling platform Mavin. We also looked to see how much inflation has affected the price of these toys using the inflation formula of (current price – past price)/past price, and we even referenced Google Trends data over the last 12 months to determine the most popular retro toy in each U.S. state!
History of Retro Toys & What They’re Worth Now
It might be worth finally cleaning out that old closet if it means finding a retro toy like an original Magic 8 Ball, Mr. Potato Head, or Rubik’s Cube!
If you’re wondering why that is, these popular toys are just a few examples of toys that are still being produced today, but originally came out decades ago (and these older versions are now worth a lot more than what they originally sold for).
Take Mr. Potato Head for example. When the Mr. Potato Head doll was first released In the 1950s, it sold for under $1. Now, an original Mr. Potato Head is worth close to $25, or about 25 times its original retail value. If you weren’t a kid all the way back in the 50s though, there’s also the Rubik’s Cube. One of the most popular puzzles ever sold, the original Rubik’s Cube hit the shelves of U.S. stores in the 1980s and cost $1.99, but a Rubik’s Cube from the 80s today can be sold for over $26, or 13 times the original retail price.
Top 5 Retro Toys with the Highest Inflation Rates
The iconic board game Monopoly has been affected the most by inflation, but that’s because it’s actually the oldest toy on our list, and has therefore had the most time to be affected by inflation. Originally released in the 1930s, Monopoly is the best-selling board game of all time that doesn’t date back hundreds (or even thousands) of years, yet in the 30s you could purchase a copy for just $2.00 (nowadays it’ll cost you about $20).
Most Popular Retro Toy in Every U.S. State
Interestingly enough, the popularity of the various retro toys we looked at actually varies across state lines, so while Silly Putty is the most popular in Wyoming for example, the people of Arkansas prefer the original PlayStation. But overall, the majority of states like Hot Wheels and Barbies over every other retro toy, as Barbie dolls are the most popular retro toy in 13 states and Hot Wheels are the most popular retro toy in nine. There wasn’t much love for the Rubik’s Cube or Razor Scooter, however, as they’re the only retro toys that aren’t the most popular in at least one state.
Closing Thoughts
If this article has brought back memories of the happiness your favorite toys brought you when you were young, you might be able to revisit that joy with a classic jigsaw puzzle. Or maybe you have a kid or two now and you want them to grow attached to their own toys like you did. If that’s the case, we have just the thing for kids of all ages too. Check out our puzzles and toys here at Spilsbury to find something fun for all ages!