The 1970s were full of toys, comics, records, and memorabilia that seemed like everyday items at the time but are now worth a small fortune. Back then, you probably played with them, wore them out, or tossed them in a box somewhere, never imagining they’d one day be worth more than your first car. Today, collectors are shelling out jaw-dropping amounts of money for these once-common treasures, and if you had the foresight to keep them in mint condition, you might be sitting on a goldmine. Let’s take a look at 12 outrageously expensive collectibles from the ’70s that you wish you’d kept.
1. 1978 Kenner Star Wars Action Figures
When Star Wars hit theaters in 1977, Kenner scrambled to produce action figures, and by 1978, kids everywhere were playing with Luke, Han, and Darth Vader. But those tiny plastic figures, which originally sold for about $2, are now worth a fortune—especially if they’re still in their original packaging.
A 1978 vinyl-caped Jawa, one of the rarest figures, has sold for over $25,000. Even standard figures from the original Star Wars line can fetch thousands if they’re sealed. If you had a Millennium Falcon playset or a mint-condition Boba Fett figure (especially the prototype with the rocket-firing backpack), you could be sitting on a serious jackpot.
2. 1977 Apple-1 Computer
Back in 1977, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built the Apple-1 computer in a garage and sold them for about $666.66. At the time, it was a cutting-edge piece of technology, but compared to today’s sleek devices, it looks like a wooden box with a keyboard attached.
Because only 200 were made, and fewer than 80 are known to exist today, an original Apple-1 can sell for over $400,000 at auction. Some fully functional models have even gone for $800,000. If you somehow had one sitting in your attic, you’d be holding onto a piece of computing history worth a small fortune.
3. 1971 Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” Watch
If you happened to buy a Rolex Daytona in the early ’70s—especially the version nicknamed the “Paul Newman” Daytona—you made one of the best investments of all time. These watches originally sold for a few hundred dollars, but they were relatively unpopular at first.
Fast-forward to today, and collectors are paying insane prices for them. A Paul Newman Daytona can fetch $250,000 to $500,000, and one that actually belonged to Paul Newman himself sold for a record-breaking $17.8 million in 2017. If you ever had one sitting in your drawer, you might want to check again!
4. 1978 Mattel Shogun Warriors
Shogun Warriors were massive, 2-foot-tall Japanese robot toys released by Mattel in the late ’70s. They were cool, colorful, and armed with spring-loaded missiles—which, as you might guess, were later banned for being a choking hazard.
Because of their short-lived production and breakable plastic parts, finding a mint-condition Shogun Warrior today is rare. Some, like the original Godzilla figure or the Great Mazinga robot, can sell for $2,000 to $5,000 if they’re still in the box. Even used ones with all their parts can fetch a few hundred dollars.
5. 1977 Kenner Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong was a toy that seemed indestructible at the time—you could pull, twist, and stretch him to crazy lengths. But over time, most of them either burst open, leaked their corn syrup filling, or got too stiff to stretch.
Because of how fragile they actually were, finding an original Stretch Armstrong in good condition is rare. A sealed one can go for $4,000 to $10,000, with some near-mint versions selling for even more. If you managed to keep one without it turning into a sticky mess, you’ve got a valuable piece of toy history.
6. 1970s Vinyl Records (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, etc.)
Sure, you can stream music anytime now, but original pressings of certain ’70s albums are worth a fortune. If you have a first-edition pressing of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin IV, or The Beatles’ White Album, you might be holding onto something valuable.
Rare variations, like a sealed copy of The Dark Side of the Moon with posters and stickers, can sell for $1,000 or more. And if you happen to have the ultra-rare first pressing of The Beatles’ Yesterday and Today with the infamous “Butcher Cover,” you’re looking at $50,000 to $100,000 in value.
7. 1974 Mego Star Trek Action Figures
Before Star Wars toys dominated the market, Mego was the king of action figures, and their Star Trek line was a big deal in the early ’70s. These 8-inch figures of Kirk, Spock, and the crew were popular, but they weren’t always treated well—many got lost, broken, or worn out from play.
Now, a complete set in the box can be worth $5,000 to $10,000. Even loose figures can sell for a few hundred dollars each. The rarest one? The Star Trek Aliens line, which included obscure characters like the Andorian and the Mugato.
8. 1976 Kenner Six Million Dollar Man Action Figure
Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man, was one of the coolest action figures of the decade. He had a bionic eye you could look through, a removable bionic arm, and a button that made his arm “lift” objects.
If you still have one in the box, collectors are willing to pay $1,000 to $2,500 for it. Even loose figures with all the parts can sell for several hundred dollars.
9. 1977 First Edition Star Wars Comics
When Marvel released the first Star Wars comics in 1977, they weren’t exactly considered must-have collectibles. But now, those early issues are some of the most valuable comic books from the decade.
A near-mint copy of Star Wars #1 can sell for $5,000 to $10,000, and if you have a rare 35-cent variant edition, it could be worth $20,000 or more.
10. 1978 Atari 2600 Games (Air Raid, Red Sea Crossing, etc.)
The Atari 2600 was one of the first home gaming systems, and while most of its games were mass-produced, a few are now worth thousands. The rarest? Air Raid, a strange, blue-cartridge game that can sell for $30,000 to $40,000. Another ultra-rare game, Red Sea Crossing, has sold for over $10,000.
11. 1970 Hot Wheels “Redline” Cars
The earliest Hot Wheels cars, known as “Redlines” due to the red stripe on their wheels, are now among the most collectible toy cars in history.
If you have a 1970 Hot Wheels Volkswagen Beach Bomb (the one with the surfboards sticking out the back), it could be worth $100,000 or more.
12. 1975 Pet Rock (Sealed in Box)
Believe it or not, a first-edition Pet Rock in its original packaging can sell for $500 to $1,000 today. Yes, a literal rock. Who knew?
The 1970s were filled with toys, gadgets, and collectibles that seemed ordinary at the time but are now worth a fortune. If you kept any of these treasures in good condition, you might be sitting on some serious cash. What ’70s collectible do you wish you had held onto? Let’s talk about the ones that got away!
