I don’t typically partake in auctions. Several of my friends have gone down that route, though. I guess you need a certain kind of budget to afford it. Everything’s easier on the 1:64th-scale though. I’m currently bidding on several cool Hot Wheels and Matchbox products.
A fellow collector I’ve interviewed a while ago is letting go of thousands of tiny cars, and the best ones are being sold auction-style. It’s a slow bidding process for the first few days, and it only gets intense in the last 30 minutes. That could be a part of people’s strategy to keep the price down and score a certain model before others do. It’s a different story with a live auction, though, at least from the videos I’ve seen.
You either make a move or get left behind. I occasionally enjoy seeing what cars are available at Barret-Jackson auctions, seeing how the market has evolved over the years. Seeing as window-shopping is free, most of the vehicles I’ve looked for are worth at least several million dollars. You can find more affordable options at these events, though.
And sometimes, the money you spend will help support a good cause. I wrote about a 1:1 Matchbox-themed Jeep Gladiator that RealTruck built a few years ago. It looked just like the Mattel Creations model that was available for $25 on the diecast manufacturer’s website. At the 2024 auction in Scottsdale, the real RealTruck Jeep sold for a whopping $250,000.
One hundred percent of the hammer price plus an additional $75,000 in donations went to a non-profit organization called Building Homes for Heroes. Since that recipe was successful, why change it, right? Doetsch Off-Road built a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Custom SUV (gosh that’s a long name) for the 2025 SEMA Show.
Of course, it has a Matchbox counterpart that looks just like it, and it once again features a selection of RealTruck accessories. One of my buddies who owns a Jeep like this would certainly love that Superlift 4-inch lift kit for his Wrangler, especially since he mostly drives it in the wilderness.
Anyway, I don’t remember seeing this Matchbox collectible in stores anywhere, but I still have a Tuscadero Pink ’18 Jeep JL 4dr that I unboxed last year and I’m quite happy with. I included some photos of the previous models for reference.
I imagine anyone who’s a hardcore Matchbox enthusiast and can afford to spare some serious cash could participate at the Barret-Jackson auction in Scottsdale on January 22nd, 2026. Estimates have it that the Jeep will go under the hammer at 7:30 PM MST, with 100% of the money going to the Gas Monkey Foundation. Is it safe to assume that it will sell for over $250,000 this time?
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