You might not have an ancient magazine or a ten thousand-dollar boogie board lying around, but you almost certainly have an old car. You might even be able to find some gems, such as hood ornaments, car vases, and other parts with decorative value, which collectors treasure. Whether re-purposing for future industrial design or just for car history, certain pieces can be worth a nice bit of cash as long as they’re in decent condition.
The most expensive hood ornament in the world, a diamond-encrusted Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy, was estimated to be worth $200,000.
1990s CDs
While we now have an entire generation that has never inserted a CD into a player, there are still plenty out there for those who want to rock. While these pieces may seem outdated now, you might not want to toss them out before checking the prices. They haven't reached vinyl levels, but a few famous discs command lofty prices.
For example, Michael Jackson's signature series disc from 1993 has gone for around $1,400, and Coldplay's first public release, the Safety EP from 1998, has gone between $1,000 and $1,500.Take a look through your collection for some albums that might be gold.
Garbage Pail Kids Cards
Back in the ‘80s, Garbage Pail cards may not have been popular amongst parents, but we all loved them as kids. Although these cards are not available on the market anymore, they are worth more than you might think today if you try to look for them online or at vintage stores. Some of these cards can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars — depending on the kind of card and the condition, of course.
One card from this stack was recently sold for $300 and an entire 1985 Garbage Pail Kids Series of cards went for $4,000 on websites like eBay and Amazon. Insane!
Pogs
It seems as if the last time we heard the words 'pogs' and 'slammers' was at least two decades ago. And that's probably true as they were most popular in the '80s. But before you get into a why-am-I-so-old cry, try to think if you have any of the original ones lying around.
In 2016, a six-piece set of holographic Jurassic Park pogs, including a slammer, was sold for (you'll need to sit down for this) one million dollars. A full set could still be worth a couple of thousands without a hologram and a slammer.
Dollhouses
At almost 6 feet wide, this circa 1924 Tudor was the biggest ever built by the venerable British toymaker Lines Bros. Expertly designed by carpenters and engineers, this grand dollhouse features shrunken versions of then-contemporary flowery wallpaper, stucco walls, and mullioned glass windowpanes.
Similar, smaller dollhouses by Lines Bros. and other makers are worth much less but still appealing to collectors.