Some mint condition toys from the 1980s are incredibly rare and hard to find these days, so collectors are willing to pay a pretty penny to get their hands on them. From ty beanie babies and vintage McDonald’s Happy Meal toys to figurines and comics, there is a world of collectors out there willing to pay the price to grow their collections. We’ve collected a list of some of the most valuable vintage 1980s toys that could turn you an impressive profit instead of collecting dust in your garage.
1. 1980s G.I. Joe
Hasbro started making the popular G.I. Joe line in 1964 and the military combat figurines were an instant hit. They still grace toy shelves today. Some of the toys in this line have become incredibly valuable in the collector’s world.
Some of the most valuable toys from the 80s include the USS Flagg and the G.I. Joe Snake Eyes. The USS Flagg was launched in 1984 and has accrued tons of value throughout the years for its sheer size and number of parts. In the packaging, this set is valued at as much as $5,000. Even outside of the packaging, you can expect to earn as much as $3,000. That’s a far cry from the $100 that the toy originally cost.
Another popular model of the 1980s was the G.I. Joe Snake Eyes launched in 1982. At the time of its release, the figurine cost only $2.99 but one was recently sold at auction for a shocking $3,050. One of the more rare models even sold for $26,400 at auction in 2021.
2. 1980s Transformers Figurines
The Transformers movie became wildly popular in the early 2000s but before the movie series the toy line and cartoon series of the 1980s were massive hits. Many of the toys from the original line from the mid 1980s are incredibly valuable today. Chief among them is the Optimus Prime from 1984.
The G1 Optimus Prime collectable could transform into a red semi-truck with a gray trailer attached. Inside the trailer was the character’s laser rifle, fuel pump, and other accessories. In the package and in good condition, this vintage 1980s toy can fetch up to $40,000.
Fortress Maximus from 1987 is worth up to $30,000 and Jetfire from 1985 is valued at as much as $25,000. The renewed interest in Transformers with the movies in the 2000s increased the popularity and value of these toys, particularly the 1980s line.
3. 1980s Star Wars Figurines
The first Star Wars movie premiered in 1977 and was an instant hit. It remains one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. And the toy line of the 1980s was no different. Between 1977 and 1985, there are 102 figurines that make up this collection. On eBay, the entire collection is listed for as much as $38,500.
The most valuable of these 1980s retro toys are the most popular characters: Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett.
4. 1980s DC Toys
DC and Marvel both created retro toys and comics that were wildly popular in the ’80s. One of the toys that remains the most popular and coveted is the 1970s Mego Corp Batman figurine. Created in 1977, the toy remained popular throughout the ’70s and ’80s and still remains sought after today.
There have been countless iterations of the Batman figurine since the ’80s but the original remains extremely rare and thus very valuable to collectors. Depending on the condition and packaging, this toy alone can be worth between $300 and $500.
