HAVE you got the toy cars you played with as a child lying dusty in your loft?

On the 50th anniversary of Hot Wheels and the 65th anniversary of Matchbox, a leading toy car expert says some models could be worth thousands. 

Top 10 most-expensive models

The rear-loading Volkswagen Microbus Beach Bomb was an unreleased prototype but its extreme rarity meant a photo has not been secured.

The most recent valuation stands at £80,000 to £120,000.

Rear-loading was unique to this Beach Bomb, which is what makes it so rare.

This model was never released because its high centre of gravity made it prone to falling off the track.

(1969) Rear-loading Volkswagen Microbus Beach Bomb (pink): £80,000 to £120,000

(1961) Magirus-Deutz Truck, Matchbox (tan/orange): £8,513

(1966) Opel Diplomat, Matchbox (sea foam green): £4,812

(1965) Dodge Wreck Truck, Matchbox (green/yellow): £4,257

(1971) Olds 442, Hot Wheels (purple): £3,372

(1969) Custom AMX, Hot Wheels (blue): £3,138

(1971) Bye Focal, Hot Wheels (purple): £2,772

(1968) Mercury Cougar, Matchbox (cream): £2,739

(1968) Mercury Station Wagon, Matchbox (Yellow): £2,665

(1971) Evil Weevil, Hot Wheels (purple): £2,098

Top 10 models by appreciation

These are the models that have increased in price the most since they were released.

The Beach Bomb isn't included as it wasn't released to the public.

(1961) Magirus-Deutz Truck, Matchbox (tan/orange): 71,684%

(1966) Opel Diplomat, Matchbox (sea foam green): 48,487%

(1965) Dodge Wreck Truck, Matchbox (green/yellow): 41,285%

(1971) Olds 442, Hot Wheels (purple): 35,554%

(1968) Mercury Cougar, Hot Wheels (blue): 29,618%

(1971) Bye Focal, Hot Wheels (purple): 29,219%

(1968) Mercury Station Wagon, Matchbox (yellow): 28,818%

(1969) Custom AMX, Hot Wheels (blue): 28,416%

(1981) Ferrari 308, Matchbox (red): 28,365%

(1971) Evil Weevil, Hot Wheels (purple): 22,115%

You can see pictures of all the cars by clicking here. 

Q&A with the expert

Neal Giordano is the  founder of the North Carolina Hot Wheels Association and has been valuing diecast toy cars for more than 20 years.

He's written two books on the subject and his price guides are used worldwide by collectors. 

Does colour affect price? 

Most certainly. For example, pink Redline Hot Wheels are often considered a "premium" collectible colour, simply due to the fact that it wasn't the most popular colour among boys, and was issued in less numbers than standard colours.

Many might've been painted over or destroyed during hard play. 

That being said, not all pink models are entirely valuable.

Much depends on the model itself. Also, there are some colours that were simply rarer than others in certain models. Lastly, during the late-70's, Mattel issued "alternate" colours that were much harder to find, thus, increasing value.

What are the rarest models for Hot Wheels and Matchbox? 

One of the rarest (and most valuable) Hot Wheels models would be the rear-loading Beach Bomb (the pink version is the most valuable, but there are other colours that sell for very high prices). 

This was a prototype that had to be modified in width in order for it to function with the launchers. A good number of them are now in the public sector, but they were never released commercially. You'd have to have deep pockets or a connection to land one today. The rarest Matchbox was likely the Magiruz-Deutz Crane in tan.

Is it worth selling now or holding onto them? 

It's best to observe the market, as prices/values tend to rise and fall. It seems the values are highest around the end of the year, when the holidays are upon us. Things tend to settle down in the early months of the new year.

How much does unboxing diminish value? 

Hardcore collectors put a premium on antique models that are still in their packaging, especially if the packaging is in excellent condition. It's difficult to ascertain how much opening or not opening may diminish value, as some models would fetch far more than others.

That being said, a Hot Wheels Redline Olds 442 would garner a major premium if it was being sold in a good package, since it's a very popular model, whereas a Beatnik Bandit still in the package wouldn't be valued at nearly as much.

What makes these toy cars so collectible? 

A lot of collectors have fond memories of playing with Hot Wheels and Matchbox as kids, and to pick up collecting them again as an adult can often bring back feelings of nostalgia. Many of us don't have our original diecast cars, so we strive to find them again after years have passed.