List of valuable Lego pieces and parts.

Comments

• Oldfan Member Posts: 704

  April 2015

  @Sethro 3 and others:  I would suspect that the older space sets have a few parts that are really high value (i.e. minifig parts, baseplates, etc.).  Also, people tend to buy the old gray colors in bulk, when they're available; you literally can't buy those colors new from the factory anymore, so if you want them you're competing in a tight secondary market that holds a fixed (non-increasing) quantity of inventory.

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• Istokg Member Posts: 2,362

  April 2015 edited April 2015

  Although in the last 20+ years LEGO elements (even rare ones) were likely produced worldwide... in the earlier days (when LEGO was licensed to other countries) this was not always the case.  In fact from 1949-85 there was quite a number of LEGO items that were "regional", that were not produced worldwide.
  
  In my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide, I have an entire chapter that is devoted to the geography of a lot of LEGO items.  Here's the subchapters to give you an idea.  And this is much more complex than one would have guessed.  This type of information is not well documented online.....
  
  

  65.0  EXCLUSIVE LEGO ELEMENTS BY REGION (1949-85).

  65.1  Denmark Only LEGO Elements.

  65.2  Norway Only LEGO Elements.

  65.3  Sweden Only LEGO Elements.

  65.4  Denmark/Norway/Sweden Only LEGO Elements.

  65.5  Continental European Only LEGO Elements.

  65.6  Specific Country Continental European Only LEGO Elements.

  65.7  Britain/Australia/Ireland Only LEGO Elements.

  65.8  Europe/Australia Only LEGO Elements.

  65.9  Europe/Australia/Canada Only LEGO Elements.

  65.10 USA/Canada Only LEGO Elements.

  65.11 USA Only LEGO Elements.

  65.12 Canada Only LEGO Elements.

  65.13 Other Country Exclusive LEGO Elements.  

  
  

  As an example.... the 1x6x5 large window was first introduced in Homemaker sets in 1978.....
  

  
  

  This window was first introduced in 1978 in Homemaker sets in old brown in all countries except the USA (in Homemaker sets 230, 231, 232).  It was however introduced in the 1980s worldwide in blue in a pair of space sets (with trans-yellow glass), as well as a USA only Exxon Service Station.  

  In 1980 and 1985 it was released in gray in a pair of (Denmark) Maersk Trucks (#1651, #1652).  And in 1982 it was released in yellow only in the USA in a very late USA only Homemaker set #5235 Schoolroom set.
  

  This window is most valuable in gray due to the exclusive nature of the Maersk trucks, but the USA yellow version is also rare, but doesn't command anywhere near the high prices of the Danish gray version.

  http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3761
  

  I have documented all the early LEGO parts in my collectors guide chapter by the subdivisions shown above.

  And some parts are worth hundreds of dollars because 1) they are rare, 2) they are exclusive, and 3) they were produced for a very limited time.

  For those of you who have my collectors guide... Chapter 65 is a very interesting read.

  My favorite USA only rarities..... :)

  
  

  The 078 50x50 stud (first ever) LEGO road plate of 1970-71....

  
  

  
  

  And the #045 Samsonite LEGO Clear Bricks Parts pack (1969-71), which is the only source of the 2x8 and 2x10 trans-clear bricks (one each) in that pack....

  
  

  
  

  
  

  My guide is still listed in the Brickset Marketplace as a "special"...  :)

  Large Window Brown.jpg 64.5K

  078 Baseplate Corner Holder.jpg 215K

  045 Clear Bricks Parts pack.jpg 186K

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• Istokg Member Posts: 2,362

  April 2015 edited April 2015

  Oppps.... where are my manners.... forgot about all you Brits!!  :)
  
  The crown jewel of British LEGO.... worth several "Mr. Gold"... (ah now I have your attention)..... :smiley: 
  
  .... is a #671 Vauxhall Victor Estate 1:87 metal wheel car of 1963-66.
  
  Here's how it looks like.....
  
  
  
  It is common in white, rare in red.... and very very rare in black!
  
  One sold in black in the Netherlands on Ebay last year for.....
  
  http://www.ebay.nl/itm/330880263036?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&autorefresh=true
  
   :o   :o
  
  These 1:87 cars were sold in all countries in these plastic garages with a paper band around them that are called "banderole's".  TLG made about 10 different cars with these banderoles around them.
  
  
  
  
  However, none of the #671 cars are known to exist with the banderoles, not even the common white Vauxhall Victor Estates.
  
  So a black Vauxhall with the garage with an intact banderole.... you're probably talking at least £3,000 !!!!
  
  Better check out a few flea markets or car boot sales, all you Brits!!  :) 
  
  Because there are deep pocketed LEGO 1:87 car/truck collectors just drooling over one of those.....
  

  #671 Vauxhall.jpg 16.3K

  1-87 Garages with Banderoles.jpg 285.3K

  

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• prevere Member Posts: 2,923

  April 2015

  Oldfan said:

  @Sethro 3 and others:  I would suspect that the older space sets have a few parts that are really high value (i.e. minifig parts, baseplates, etc.).  Also, people tend to buy the old gray colors in bulk, when they're available; you literally can't buy those colors new from the factory anymore, so if you want them you're competing in a tight secondary market that holds a fixed (non-increasing) quantity of inventory.

  I rebuild a lot of vintage sets. Classic and certain space series have quite a few rare parts. Especially decorated parts with the moon logo; trans-yellow quarter dome for the Blacktron I base; and the common "space stand" used in many of the sets, is $2+ if you're lucky.
  
  The variations in the helmets are fascinating. Dimples, no dimples.
  

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• Istokg Member Posts: 2,362

  June 2015

  KiwiLegoMeister said:

  Wouldn't mind getting a shite-load of the old green granule trees and bushes. They always looked far more realistic that the soft green moulded trees. Still got two granule bushes unbroken, but all others have departed to Lego heaven.
  

  I must have missed your comments about those... I too love the 1970-74 granulated bushes and trees.  They look much realer than the fruit and pine trees of today (although the taller custom made trees from individual branches are awesome).
  
  But for smaller shrubbery or trees, those granulated do look so real, also make great Topiary.
  
  When TLG came out with them, they did so in large and small granule versions....
  
  The large granule trees and bushes were produced from 1970-72, and the small granule trees and bushes were produced from 1973-74.
  
  The 1970-72 and 1973-74 Fruit Trees....
  
  
  
  
  The 1970-72 and 1973-74 Pine Trees....
  
  
  
  
  The 1970-72 3 trunk large granule bush, the 1972-73 3 trunk small granule bush, and the late 1973-74 2 trunk small granule bush.   These last ones are the rarest of the series due to the short production time.
  
  
  
  In my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide - Chapter 45 - LEGO Trees/Bushes, I also show how TLG evolved from using the flat trees and bushes, and prototyping them with granules, until they eventually got the right result with these new trees/bushes.  I was fortunate in getting some images of prototypes of this evolution.
  
  Also... these trees/bushes were arguably the most attractive of all LEGO plants.  Reason they were shortlive (discontinued in 1974)?  TLG found that children were chewing the granules off the trees and bushes.... a very easy thing to do (not that I've tried it!).
  
  Ironically sets that had these trees/bushes continued to be produced with the same box image of the granulated tree on the box.  Only inside the box one would find the new conical pine tree instead (the rounded fruit tree didn't arrive on the scene until the late 1970s).
  
  So if for example, you have the 356/540 Swiss Villa set, versions of that set before 1975 would have the granulated fruit tree, and sets starting in 1975 would have the pine tree... even though the box top always showed the granulated tree.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Granulated Fruit Trees.jpg 232.9K

  Granulated Pine Trees.jpg 207.3K

  Granulated Bushes.jpg 48.5K

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• Bobflip Member Posts: 715

  June 2015

  Oh wow, I like those trees!
  
  How did they make them? It looks almost like they cast the trunks and then dipped them in a bowl of warm granules.

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• Istokg Member Posts: 2,362

  June 2015

  I guess that sounds about right....  here is a picture of a prototype (from my prototype chapter of my collectors guide) of just a trunk (a red test strike).... they somehow added hot granules to them and apparently they stuck to the trees/bushes..... making for a very satisfactory result!!   :)
  
  
  

  Copy of Granular LEGO Tree.jpg 42.8K

  

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• Bobflip Member Posts: 715

  June 2015

  Nice!

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• Gurooo Member Posts: 268

  June 2015

  I found one of those granulated bushes in a used lot this weekend :)
  And also parts of an #8466 Technic off-roader. There are quite a few parts there that go for about $4 used on bl. And the wheels sell for $25-30 a piece, it seems! There were no wheels in the box I got, though.
  
  

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