The 1970s produced some of the most iconic and now highly collectible toys. Whether you’re a serious collector or someone feeling nostalgic, many of these playthings can fetch impressive sums today. Below are notable ’70s-era items that sold for top prices on eBay in 2023. The list preserves original image tags and captions where present.
Stretch Monster Custom Figure
eBay
Value: $500
Many of Kenner’s stretch toys were played with extensively and discarded, so finding one unused and still in its original box is rare. This particular Stretch Monster remained unstretched and boxed, making it a valuable and desirable piece for collectors.
Mean Maverick
eBay
Value: $710
Designed by renowned modeler Tom Daniel, the Mean Maverick is a highly detailed Ford Maverick model roughly 15 inches long. The kit included nearly 150 decorative parts such as fuel lines, ignition wires, racing stripes, and dragster insignia. An unbuilt kit in its original packaging is especially prized by collectors and can command high prices.
Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
eBay
Value: $965.50
Evel Knievel dominated 1970s pop culture, inspiring a range of branded toys. This wind-up stunt motorcycle featured a hand-cranked mechanism and included an attached Evel figure. Toys tied to his daring persona remain popular with collectors, especially in good condition.
Wonder Woman Action Figure
eBay
Value: $999.99
This Wonder Woman action figure reflects the likeness of Lynda Carter from the 1970s television series. Collectors prize versions that remain boxed with complete costumes. Earlier editions—before Carter’s photo appeared on later packaging—tend to be more valuable.
Water Wiggle
eBay
Value: $1,025
The Water Wiggle attached to a garden hose and sported a long, flexible tube with a sprinkler head that writhed unpredictably when water flowed through it. A simple summer favorite then, it has become an unexpectedly sought-after collectible for enthusiasts of nostalgic lawn and pool toys.
Dick Grayson, Robin’s Alter Ego
eBay
Value: $1,099.99
This 1974 Mego Dick Grayson (Robin) figure is among the rarest versions. Many parts are articulated, and it comes with a removable cloth outfit. While modern reproductions exist at low cost, original boxed examples remain highly collectible and valuable.
Shogun Warriors Godzilla
eBay
Value: $1,101.50
Mattel’s Shogun Warriors Godzilla was part of a line of large Japanese monster toys. Standing about two feet tall, this plastic figure featured movable parts and missile-launching capability. Complete examples, especially in original packaging, are prized by collectors of vintage pop-culture memorabilia.
The Bionic Woman Fembot
eBay
Value: $1,250
Fembot toys tied to The Bionic Woman emulated the show’s android antagonists with lifelike styling and poseable joints. Some versions included accessories like extra limbs or weapons. Unopened or well-preserved boxed examples significantly increase a toy’s market value.
Blythe Doll
eBay
Value: Approx. $1,820.25
Kenner’s Blythe doll, introduced around 1972, reflected the era’s “big eye” art trend made popular by Margaret Keane. Blythe’s eye-color-changing mechanism—activated by a pull string—was unique. Because the original production run lasted only about a year, authentic vintage Blythe dolls are rare and highly sought after.
Lord of the Rings Action Figures
eBay
Value: $2,146
Merchandise tied to Ralph Bakshi’s animated Lord of the Rings existed but was poorly marketed and produced in limited quantities. Knickerbocker Toy Company made several figures before the company closed in 1982, which makes surviving boxed examples particularly rare and collectible.
Evel Knievel Stunt & Crash Car
eBay
Value: $2,499.99
This miniature stunt-and-crash car, modeled after a custom vehicle by George Barris, featured a wind-up mechanism that allowed it to jump ramps or crash dramatically on command. Well-preserved boxed versions of such stunt toys attract enthusiasts of vintage stunt and action memorabilia.
Six Million Dollar Man Venus Space Probe
eBay
Value: $3,051
Based on episodes titled “Death Probe” and “Return of Death Probe,” this Six Million Dollar Man playset included multiple movable features: a spring-loaded missile launcher, exploding panels, and front pincers operated by a rear lever. The toy’s complex design and tie-in to the television series make it a favorite among vintage TV memorabilia collectors.
Star Wars Early Bird Certificate
eBay
Value: $3,150
When Star Wars exploded onto the scene in May 1977, Kenner wasn’t ready to ship action figures in time for the holiday season. The company issued the Early Bird Certificate, a voucher collectors and children could redeem for figures when they became available. Original Space Club cards and vouchers, particularly paired with the figures shown on them, are highly collectible and increase an item’s value substantially.
Hot Wheels Redline Cars
eBay
Value: $5,200
Hot Wheels “Redline” models, produced between 1968 and 1977, are identified by the red stripe on their tires. These cars are sought-after by collectors across many models; factory-sealed examples in blister packs command premium prices, as demonstrated by record sales in 2023.
Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual 1st Edition
eBay
Value: $26,678
First-edition Dungeons & Dragons books are highly prized, but this particular Monster Manual is exceptionally valuable because it came from Gary Gygax’s estate. Gygax co-created D&D and received this copy as a comp during his tenure as president of Tactical Studies Rules (TSR); his signature further increased its worth. Signed and provenance-backed copies of early role-playing game books consistently fetch premium prices at auction.
These examples highlight how condition, original packaging, rarity, and provenance drive collecting markets for 1970s toys. If you discover similar items in attics or storage boxes, it may be worth having them appraised or researched to determine their true market value.