Sales at British Toy Auctions prove to be a great success

Sales at British Toy Auctions have proved to be a great success, underlining the popularity of collectable toys with only three of the available lots failing to sell. Auctioneer Michael Bain commented: “The collectable toy market continues to outperform traditional antique and collectable sales for popularity and we are seeing great interest and record numbers of bidders on an upward trend each sale”. Something that we know at Collectors Club of Great Britain all too well.

There was particular attention paid to the various diecast models that were available, from the vintage pieces through to the more modern items, with Spot-On commercial vehicles proving to be particularly popular again. One unboxed Bedford Articulated Tanker “Shell/BP Petroleum Products” fetched £216 including premium. This was quickly eclipsed by another unboxed Spot-On petrol tanker, this time an AEC Major Mammoth 8 “Shell Petroleum Products BP” bringing a ‘mammoth’ £450, quite a result with the model having some play wear.

The more unusual foreign diecast manufacturers also continue to bring great results with one lot of seven boxed vehicles by Guisval achieving £170, while five models of American classic cars by Gamda Koor Sabra (a rarely seen Israeli manufacturer, in 1/43 scale) including a Plymouth Barracuda, Camaro SS and a Cadillac Convertible brought £260. The models were in very good to near mint condition and the packaging had some nice touches with a sliding ‘garage door’ at one end of the box and ‘collector coins’ with some models.

However, it wasn’t all about the vintage diecast with a limited-edition Ferrari Gift Set by Exoto, comprising two 1/18 scale precision diecast models, Lauda 312T and Villeneuve 312T4, mint in original box with outer packaging going to the determined final bidder for £550.

Away from the diecast the auction also included numerous lots of vintage Action Man figures and vehicles. One lot comprising vintage uniforms and accessories by Palitoy achieved a more than creditable £190. However, the star lot from the Action Man collection was “six unboxed and naked vintage Action Man figures by Palitoy” bringing £245 leading auctioneer Michael Bain to add jokingly that “nudity always sells”.