Found a family member's old Hot Wheels? Start here.
Maybe they were in a closet, the attic, or a shoebox under the bed. Before you clean them, split them up or sell them, take five minutes with this.
I started collecting Redlines with my dad. Since he passed I carry his memory with me with every collection I buy. I buy from individual sellers, estates and collectors, and I keep it simple and respectful.
Brandon Nielsen
Five steps. No rush.
- 1
Leave them just as they are
You don't need to clean anything. Dust is fine. Scrubbing or polishing can wear off old paint and the red stripe on the tires.
- 2
Keep everything together
Don't split the cars up or sell a few at a garage sale before you know what you have. Rare cars hide in ordinary-looking piles.
- 3
Check a few for the red stripe
A thin red stripe on the tire means it's a Redline, made from 1968 to 1977. Flip one over: the base shows a year and USA or Hong Kong. China means a later remake.
See the three checks - 4
Take one photo of everything
Lay the cars out on a table and take one photo of the whole group, plus close-ups of the best ones and anything still sealed in its package.
Photo tips - 5
Text it to me
I'll get back to you, usually within the hour. If you sell to me, you're paid before you ship. Your payment includes postage and insurance. Drop the box at the post office. If it gets lost, you keep the money.
Too many cars to sort? Just call me.
Long-time collectors often kept newer cars right alongside the old ones. You don't have to sort through them or figure out whether there are any Redlines in there.
Text me a few photos or give me a call and we'll talk it through. Sometimes I'll buy the whole collection, newer cars too, to make it easier on you, or I can point you to a friend who may buy the rest.
What I buy
Loose Redlines, sealed blister packs, sealed track sets, Rrrumblers, Chopcycles and Johnny Lightning, through 1976.
I don't buy NASCAR, Treasure Hunts, blackwalls (plain black tires, 1977 and later), and anything from the 1980s or newer.
Thinking of selling them yourself? Compare it with eBay
One photo is enough to start.
There's no minimum and no pressure. Small collections still get a value from me and advice on the best way to sell them.
Questions families ask
Look at the tires. A thin red stripe means it's a Redline, from the early years, and I buy those whether they were played with or kept clean.
Plain black tires mean a later car. Anything from the 1980s or newer, NASCAR and Treasure Hunts aren't what I buy.
Not sure what you have? Text me one photo of everything laid out and I'll take a look, or run the three quick checks first.
I buy vintage toys from 1968 through 1976:
- Loose Redline Hot Wheels, played-with or clean.
- Sealed blister packs.
- Sealed track sets.
- Rrrumblers and Chopcycles.
- Johnny Lightning cars.
Some 1977 cars still came with red stripes, and I buy those. Their bases are dated 1976 or earlier.
I don't buy NASCAR, Treasure Hunts, cases, blackwalls (plain black tires, 1977 and later), or anything from the 1980s or newer.
There's no minimum. Small groups sometimes hide a rare car, so send photos of whatever you have.
If a collection is too small for me to buy, you still get a value and advice on how to sell it.
Most sellers (about 95%) are paid up front by PayPal or Venmo, before they ship anything. You see the money first.
If you'd rather be paid another way, I pay the same day your cars are delivered.
For collections of $10,000 and up, I come to you and pay cash or by wire transfer on the spot, whichever you prefer.