Looking to make some extra cash this Christmas? You may not have to go far - if you have vintage toys in your attic, such as a Star Wars Lego set, they could fetch you thousands.
Toys from the 80s, 90s or even 00s are enjoying something of a revival with demand soaring in recent months, according to the insurer Homeprotect.
If you’re hoping to make some quick cash ahead of the festive period, your old toy collection could contain some hidden treasures.
By the time a child reaches the age of 13, they’ve typically owned around 493 toys, according to research by the online retailer Plastic Box Shop.
While some of these toys may have been thrown away, others may still be tucked away in a dusty attic or neatly boxed up in the garage, waiting to be passed down to the next generation or sold for a profit.
We look at which popular 80s, 90s and 00s toys have sold for the most on eBay this year.
Most valuable vintage toys
The most profitable sales this year include Lego Star Wars Cloud City (sold for £2,050), My Little Pony G1 Orange Cotton Candy Flat Foot Unmarked Hoof (£1,022) and Barbie Meadow Mares Horse (£928).
It’s good news for Lego fans, with eight Lego toys appearing in the top 10 most valuable list. This includes five items from the Lego Star Wars collection, each selling for between £660 and £2,050.
My Little Pony and Barbie took the sixth and seventh spots on the list. Whoever sold their G1 My Little Pony Orange Cotton Candy Flat Foot Unmarked Hoof got a great result, as despite not having the box, the rare item had 25 bids before it eventually sold for £1,022.28, according to Homeprotect.
Meanwhile, in seventh place, the “Barbie Meadow mares horse – Rare Original Unopened Box” went for £928.
Barbie has long been a popular kid’s toy, but last year’s film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling created a Barbie boom, with the Mattel toys surging in popularity.
Other profitable Barbie products worth selling include any limited collector’s edition dolls from the fashion model collection and collaborations with top fashion houses. Three different fashion Barbie recently sold for between £200 and £300, while Christian Dior and Juicy Couture limited edition dolls went for £175.
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Most valuable retro toys sold in 2024
Brand
Item
Price
Condition
Lego
Lego Star Wars Cloud City (10123)
£2,050
Pre Owned, Opened Box Included
Lego
Skull’s Eye Schooner Priate Ship (6286)
£1,700
Brand New, Boxed
Lego
Lego Star Wars Ultimate Collectors Millennium Falcon (10179)
£1,120
Brand New, Boxed
Lego
Lego Star Wars Death Star II (10143)
£1,040
Pre Owned, Opened Box Included
My Little Pony
G1 Orange Cotton Candy Flat Foot Unmarked Hoof
£1,022.28
Pre-Owned, No Box
Barbie
Barbie Meadow mares horse – Rare Original Unopened Box
£928
Pre-Owned, Boxed
Lego
Lego Castle Crusader’s Cart (1680)
£795
Pre Owned, Opened Box Included
Lego
Lego Star Wars Imperial Shuttle (10212)
£751
Brand New, Boxed
Lego
Lego Star Wars Death Star (10188)
£712
Brand New, Boxed
Lego
Lego Star Wars Ultimate Collectors Vader's TIE Advanced (10175)
£660
Brand New, Boxed but Opened
Source: Homeprotect
David Joyson, chief customer officer at Homeprotect, comments: “Iconic sets like ‘Lego Star Wars Cloud City’ and others have proven highly sought after by collectors. My Little Pony and Barbie also hold significant worth, with rare items seeing strong demand, particularly following Barbie’s recent resurgence in popularity due to the live-action film.
“If you’ve got old toys lying around, it might be worth checking their value - you could be sitting on a goldmine!”
Other toy brands worth checking
While Lego, My Little Pony, and Barbie dominated the top spots, there are plenty of other toys from the 80s, 90s, and 00s that could be worth a second look if you happen to have them stashed away. These include:
Ty Beanie Babies: A ‘Billionaire 14, MWCT’ Beanie Baby sold for £475
Beyblade: The ‘Original Takara HMS Dranzer DS Purple’ fetched £148
Bratz: A ‘2005 Bratz Felicia Campfire Collector’s Doll with 2 Outfits and Poster’ sold for £540
Furby: The ‘Era 1 Jester Special Edition’ Furby went for £200
Hot Wheels: A ‘Redline Sweet 16 Custom Mustang HK Green’ sold for £220
Playmobil: A ‘RC Goods Train Set’ was snapped up for £180
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Ruth is an award-winning financial journalist with more than 15 years' experience of working on national newspapers, websites and specialist magazines.
She is passionate about helping people feel more confident about their finances. She was previously editor of Times Money Mentor, and prior to that was deputy Money editor at The Sunday Times.
A multi-award winning journalist, Ruth started her career on a pensions magazine at the FT Group, and has also worked at Money Observer and Money Advice Service.
Outside of work, she is a mum to two young children, while also serving as a magistrate and an NHS volunteer.
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