Duane Beckett
Despite being a seasoned toy collector, the truth is that if something falls outside your area of interest, you won’t know all the nuances. Still, some things remain true. Rarity and condition drive value.
When it comes to TV shows that have long been forgotten, related merch, including toys, games, and more, can range from worthless to insanely valuable. Unless you investigate the values, you just won’t know.
That’s why we’ve taken a look at a few forgotten TV show collectibles that are driving prices that may surprise you today.
The Munsters Vintage Merch and Playsets
The Munsters ran in the 1960s, and its spooky sitcom style made it perfect for kid-friendly toys, figures, lunchboxes, and playsets. Many of these were luxury items at the time.
During that decade, most TV playsets sold for just a few dollars in toy aisles and department stores. Next Avenue reported that certain Munsters pieces can reach “multiple thousand dollars.” For example, a mint Wagon Train TV playset sold for $15,250.
That’s the kind of value collectors take note of. If on the lookout for old The Munsters merch and playsets, look for boxed sets with bold artwork, all figures, clean accessories, and no heavy fading, warping, or missing parts.
It’s unlikely you’ll find a perfect set of these forgotten TV show collectibles from the 60s, but if you do find anything, remember that condition does the heavy lifting here.
The Addams Family 1960s Board Games, Cards and Oddball Toys
We all know the recent iterations of The Addams Family, but it originally became a TV hit in 1964, and the merchandise it produced was a big deal at the time.
Kids could get a board game, Donruss trading cards, and strange little tie-ins like Thing banks.
The cards were true pocket-money collectibles, with 1964 Donruss packs sold for five cents at the time. The 1964 game sent players through different paths around the Addams house, which is exactly the kind of odd TV toy collectors love now.
eBay listings show 1964 board games costing around $150 to $225, while PSA shows a 1964 Donruss Gomez card in PSA 9 with a most recent price of $841.20. Collectors want complete games, clean boxes, and graded cards tied directly to the original TV run.
Knight Rider 1980s KITT Toys and Collectibles
Knight Rider hit NBC in 1982, and KITT quickly became the toy every car-obsessed kid wanted. Small die-cast cars and larger KITT toys were common in the 1980s, often selling for somewhere under $20, depending on size and maker.
Listings from eBay show vintage Knight Rider die-cast and boxed KITT pieces now listing from modest prices into the hundreds, including boxed Ertl-style examples around the $200 range.
That may not sound like a high-value item, but for a toy car that was no doubt once tossed across a bedroom floor, it’s enough to get kids of the 80s looking in their family attics. Collectors want clean decals, paint, wheels, and electronics.
The A-Team 1980s Action Figures
The A-Team aired from 1983 to 1987, and Galoob’s action figures gave kids Hannibal, Face, Murdock, B.A. Baracus, vehicles, and playsets.
Figures and smaller sets were mainstream toys, often landing in a $5 to $15 bracket. eBay listings show carded figures and boxed vehicles now listing in the hundreds, with one sealed 1983 figure set listed around $499 and some individual carded figures pushing near $300.
Collector Archive also lists 1983 A-Team pieces across loose, carded, and boxed categories. Collectors want unpunched packaging, clean bubbles, all accessories, and stickers.
ThunderCats 1980s TV Show Action Figures
ThunderCats were everywhere for a brief time in the 80s. I owned figures in the 80s and had to go back to collect them again as an adult. My set of figures costs north of $1000 across Panthro, Bengali, Lion-O, and the rest.
In the 80s, these toys were priced under $10; however, Esquire reports that vintage ThunderCats values have climbed. They state that a 1986 Bengali figure is listed for $870 and a 1985 Panthro figure that can go for almost $400.
Collectors want bright paint, tight joints, original weapons, and carded packaging without crushed corners. If you’re buying loose, remember that accessories are extremely important, and the price should reflect anything that’s missing. Don’t overspend on these forgotten TV show collectibles.