H&H Classics founder Simon Hope has sold off his amazing collection of Matchbox toy cars for an astonishing $392,785. The collection, that started when he was a kid and grew over the years as he got older, consisted of over 3,000 examples of the iconic miniature cars. The auction was held in three sections by Vectis, a British toy auction specialist.

Started in 1953 by the British toy company Lesney Toys, the diminutive cars came in boxes that resembled the boxes that matches came in. Over the years Matchbox cars moved from the box to blister packs of other toy cars and eventually was acquired by Mattel who makes the similar Hot Wheels.

Simon Hope didn't set out to create a six figure toy collection. The cars from his childhood had been put back in their boxes after being played with in order to protect his mother's furniture. Later in life he discovered the collector community but still only bought the cars that interested him instead of chasing rare cars.

The prices of the Matchbox collectibles have been following nostalgia trends more than age or rarity. At one point the cars from the 50s were more expensive but their prices have dropped in favor of cars from the 60s and 70s. The highest price of any of the cars was an ERF Dropside Pickup that went for $9,170.

Hot cars.com