Wilbur Shaw Indy 500 Toy Car

We had a great weekend appraising antiques at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio and this is one of the items that was brought in for us to see. This 1940's vintage toy car would sell for around $100.00.

When it was first brought in I had to admit to its owner that I had never had a similar one. My first estimate on the toy was that it would sell for between 100 and 200 dollars. My estimate was on a best guess and was based partially on the fact that the toy had some problems. The toy appeared to be missing its original tires and the paint that was embedded in the script writing on the side of the car was very faded. After doing some research on ebay for similar items I found out that the cars originally had rubber tires on them and the script writing and car seat were painted red. The ebay description for the toy stated that the seller had sold of this type of car in the past and that they were not sure if they were originally sold as a toy or if they were sold at the race as a souvenir.

These toys complete and with original paint will sell upwards of $300.00. Condition will always be a factor in determining final value. On most items you should discount the value by 75% for damage (more if damaged extensively). Always buy conservatively whenever you are dealing with items that are missing parts or have noticeable damage.