1984 Hasbro Optimus Prime “Pepsi” promo version
The mail-order promotional toy has the famous Optimus Prime transforming from Pepsi tractor-trailer into a robot. The Generation 1 Autobot leader was sold for $16,685 in 2021.
1985 Nintendo Super Mario Bros.
A never-opened copy of the game Super Mario Bros. was sold to anonymous buyer for $2 million in 2021, making it the most expensive video game ever sold.
1985 Hasbro GI Joe USS Flagg Aircraft Carrier
The GI Joe USS Flagg Aircraft Carrier, sold for $15,570 in 2022, was inspired by the U.S.S. Nimitz.
When Hasbro officially released the toy in 1985, it retailed for $109.99. The aircraft carrier was considered the biggest playset ever marketed to boys as it measured 7 feet and 6 inches in length.
1985 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Nasty Nick
Nasty Nick was a trading card that was part of a line of trading cards called Garbage Pail Kids that was produced in 1985 by Topps, an American company that manufactures trading cards and other collectibles.
The cards parodied the family-friendly Cabbage Patch Kids, showcasing artwork of kids vomiting, gorging themselves on junk food, smoking and wielding weapons, among other destructive behaviors.
On the reverse of the card, there can be found a joke-style award certificate which encouraged children to skip school, stay up late to watch TV, and lie and drive erratically.
The Nasty Nick card was sold for $11,941 in 2021. The first cards in each subseries like Nasty Nick and Evil Eddie are very desirable.
My Little Pony
Launched in the 1980s, My Little Pony was a huge hit on the worldwide market. These vintage toys produced by the Hasbro toy company are collectible, and people are willing to pay a fair amount of money for them.
The rarest and most valuable ponies include the Rapunzel Mail Order Pony, which can sell for several thousand dollars, and the Baby Brother Sweet Celebration Prototype, which can easily fetch over a thousand dollars.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In the late 80s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle craze was in full swing. The comic books spawned a hit TV show, and along with it came a plethora of merchandise. The creators of the toys went through so many iterations of the same characters that there are many versions that are extremely rare and worth a lot of money.
A mint condition “Undercover” series Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, or Leonardo (1994) or a “Scratch the Cat” (1993) are likely to be worth several thousand dollars. As a result, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are some of the most sought-after toys on the market today.
What collector toys do you have? We'd love to know!