An Iconic Toy From The '80s Is Now Worth Hundreds Of Dollars

Transformers are robots in disguise — so goes the tagline from the popular franchise — but now they have much more hidden value to them: big bucks. The nostalgia for the retro feel and look of the 1980s is stronger than ever, thriving in areas like the collectibles marketplace as buyers throw down hefty sums to get their favorite toys from the bygone era. If you are cleaning out your basement or rummaging through a garage sale, make sure to keep an eye out for toys like the autobot Transformers because those collectibles can boost your net worth.

WealthFront reported that first generation toys, often referred to as G1, are playsets that sell for hundreds of dollars in online auctions and from sellers looking to cash in on childhood memories. Transformer toys that come in their original packaging, untouched by human hands, can fetch hundreds of dollars, if not tens of thousands. That's because rare and highly sought after toys from the '80s are worth much more today than they were upon their original release, like the Wheeljack in mint-condition and with an unopened, original box sold on Ebay for $375.00.

What makes these Transformers so valuable and how can you tell if you have more than a robot-vehicle-hybrid-creature in your possession?

How well-kept and intact your toy is will ultimately determine how much the Transformer is worth. Just like assessing the value of Cabbage Patch Kids dolls or pricing vintage PEZ dispensers, the condition of the vintage action figure factors heavily into how much money it ends up being on the collectors' market. Transformers are no exception, with multiple accessories, editions, and releases all adding to their overall value.

For G1 Transformer action figures, collectors are assessing if the toy comes sealed or open. If the box has been opened, does the set have all of its parts and therefore, able to be appraised as complete. Toys without packaging are deemed "loose" though if the set is complete with all accessories it can still be worth a very pretty penny. For example, a ​​Transformer G1 Optimus Prime figure can go for $134.95 if complete without a package, $322.61 if opened but still a complete set, and sealed mint-condition ones have been bought for almost $2,200. Another element that continues to drive up the price of these classic toys comes down to how hard they are to find-the rarer the Transformer, the more likely it will bring a big payday with it.

Jetfire, Grimlock, Starscream, and Optimus Prime might be some of the most notable names of characters in the Transformers series, with plenty of merchandise and action figures based on their likeness and storylines. These Transformers, however, are fairly easy to track down on the collectors market, with prices not going through the roof the same way that an iconic Barbie might go for thousands of dollars at auction.

According to The Gamer, other hard-to-find Transformers like the Goodbye Megatron Gift Set can go for $7,440 while the Piranacon Gift Set sold on Ebay for $8,199. Both were GI editions of the toys, with a complete set and box included. The Defensor Gift Set, originally released in Italy and detailed with Italian writing on the box, went home with a lucky collector for $13,797. Even with these prices sky high, they do not come close to Transformers like Optimus Prime (Chrome G4TV Prize) and Optimus Prime (Botcon Door Prize) figures which have been deemed as "priceless" due to their rarity status. That's saying something about the demand for these collectibles, since both of the priceless Optimus Prime figurines were released in conjunction with the 2007 Michael Bay film. The dollar amounts behind these toys demonstrates that by today's standards Transformer action figures have loads of value, along with staying power in the cultural zeitgeist and collectors shelves for years to come.