There's probably a box somewhere in your parents' house, or a bin at an estate sale, full of the stuff you barely remember. Toys without boxes, jeans no one would wear, a dog-eared cardboard envelope from some mail-order promotion that made no sense even at the time. Some of that stuff is fine. Some of it is worth considerably more than you think.
The 1970s were a strange convergence: major franchises arriving for the first time, manufacturing decisions that got reversed within months, and an era of play so physical that anything intact today is genuinely rare. The market for this material is serious and well-documented, and prices have climbed consistently. What follows are 17 things that were common enough in 70s homes to be findable, but specific enough in condition or version to be worth real money right now.
1. Kenner Star Wars Vinyl Cape Jawa (1978)
Kenner released the Jawa figure in 1978 with a vinyl cape, then almost immediately switched to a cloth version, which became the standard. The vinyl version was pulled after such a short window that surviving examples are genuinely scarce. The cape has a distinct plasticky sheen compared to the fabric hood you'll find on the common version, and the texture matters: even minor stickiness or cracking drops the value significantly.
A loose Jawa with a clean, undamaged vinyl cape in good condition is worth between $2,000 and $3,000, conservatively, and recent sales have pushed well above that for particularly clean examples. Carded versions with intact packaging enter a different league entirely. The major complication is that replacement vinyl capes circulate widely, so any example should be examined closely for authenticity. Check the cape color and texture against documented reference photos before assuming you have the real thing. The cloth cape Jawa, the common one, is everywhere and worth maybe ten dollars.
2. Kenner Blue Snaggletooth, Cantina Adventure Set (Sears exclusive, 1978)
Kenner designed this figure from a waist-up black-and-white set photo, so he came out tall, silver-booted, and blue, which is not how Snaggletooth appeared in the film. By the time the corrected short red version was released, the blue figure existed only in the 1978 Sears-exclusive Cantina Adventure Set, which came with four figures and a cardboard backdrop of the Mos Eisley bar. The blue version was never sold individually.
A complete Blue Snaggletooth in excellent condition brings $750 to over $1,100, with particularly clean, unplayed examples pushing into the $1,500 to $2,500 range. The figure came with a small blaster rifle, which is often missing, so check for it. The corrected red Snaggletooth, sold on standard cards starting in 1979, is worth almost nothing in comparison. If you find what looks like Snaggletooth with silver boots and a blue suit, that's the one. Check whether the figure is the correct height for the error version, which stands about as tall as any standard figure rather than being noticeably short.
3. Kenner Star Wars Early Bird Certificate Package (1977)
Kenner had the Star Wars license but couldn't manufacture the figures in time for Christmas 1977. Their solution was the Early Bird, which was essentially a box containing a promise. Inside was a cardboard backdrop displaying the first 12 characters, a sticker sheet, a fan club membership card, and a mail-in certificate. Send it in and Kenner would ship you the first four figures, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, and Chewbacca, once they were ready in early 1978.
Most of these were used to get the figures, which is why complete, unmailed packages are genuinely rare. An open but complete package runs around $825 on average. Sealed, unsubmitted examples in near-mint boxes bring $3,000 to $8,000. The full component checklist matters: envelope, backdrop, sticker sheet, club card, and certificate all need to be present. The certificate is the piece most likely to be missing. This is also the foundational document of the entire Star Wars toy collecting hobby, which gives it unusual cultural weight beyond the object itself.
4. Kenner double-telescoping lightsaber figures (Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, 1977-78)
Kenner's first release of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Obi-Wan Kenobi came with a two-stage lightsaber: a thicker outer tube that extended from the arm, then a thinner inner tube that extended from that. The mechanism was fragile and expensive, so Kenner replaced it within a very short production window with the simpler single-piece saber most collectors know. Three characters only, and only from the initial run.
How you identify them: extend the lightsaber fully, then look for a second, thinner inner section that telescopes out from the end. A single-piece saber stops after one extension. The double-telescoping saber has two. Loose figures with the intact double-telescoping mechanism bring $500 to $800 and considerably more for especially clean examples. On original carded packaging, the numbers enter a different league entirely; graded carded examples have cleared $80,000 to over $130,000 at the high end. Reproduction double-telescoping sabers are sold for loose figures, so verification of the original mechanism matters. A genuine DT mechanism has a specific look and feel to the inner tip that reproduction parts don't match precisely.
5. Original Kenner Star Wars figures on first-issue 12-back cards (1978)
The first Kenner Star Wars figures sold on cards showing 12 available characters on the back, hence “12-back.” These weren't rare in 1978, when Kenner sold over 26 million figures in that year alone, but surviving examples still on their original card in any real condition are now. Most were opened. Most that weren't have yellowed, creased, or water-damaged cards. A clean, punched but intact 12-back card is a different object from the played-with figure itself.
Even standard characters command real prices on original 12-back packaging. Princess Leia on a 12-back card brings $1,500 to $1,700 in good condition. The earlier the card version, generally the higher the value, with the 12-back “A” being the first. Characters that came in the Early Bird mail-in set, Luke, Leia, R2-D2, and Chewbacca, command particular interest on their earliest cards. Any figure still in original packaging should be evaluated against the specific card variation before pricing it; later card backs show more characters and are worth less.
6. Original Dungeons & Dragons woodgrain box set (TSR, 1974-75)
The game that created an entire genre was first published in a brown woodgrain box in January 1974, assembled by hand in Gary Gygax's kitchen in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The first printing was roughly 1,000 copies. The woodgrain box went through multiple printings, with the genuine first printing distinguished by horizontal striations on the box surface and booklets that contain references to Hobbits and Ents, since the license hadn't been cleared yet.
First printing examples in good condition are worth $5,000 to over $22,000, with condition, completeness, and printing attribution driving the range significantly. Later woodgrain printings, while not achieving those heights, still bring $500 and up for a complete, clean set. “Complete” means all three booklets, the reference sheets, and the box and lid are present and legible. The Holmes Basic Set from 1977, the light blue box familiar to more players, sits in a different tier but can still bring $100 to $300 in excellent complete condition. What you want is the brown box with the woodgrain texture.
7. Mattel Shogun Warriors 24-inch Jumbo Machinder (complete, with box, 1977-80)
Mattel imported these large plastic Japanese robots, based on then-popular giant robot anime series, under the Shogun Warriors name. The 24-inch versions, called Jumbo Machinders in Japan, launched spring-loaded fists, fired missiles, and looked genuinely impressive on a shelf. Safety regulations eventually killed the line, since the spring-loaded projectiles were a choking hazard, giving every surviving complete example additional scarcity.
“Complete” means all the original accessories: missiles, fists, and any vehicle components for characters that had them. Missing even one projectile reduces the value substantially. Complete boxed examples with clean boxes bring $500 to over $1,000, with characters like Great Mazinga and Dragun commanding the higher end. Loose figures without accessories sell for much less, typically $50 to $200 depending on the character and condition. The 3.5-inch die-cast versions that Mattel also sold, the small desktop figures, are a separate market and significantly less valuable than the large plastic versions.
8. Ideal Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle (near-mint boxed, 1973-77)
Evel Knievel was inescapable in the early 1970s, and so was Ideal's stunt cycle, which used a friction-powered gyroscope energized by cranking a red launcher. The figure, the cycle, and the energizer had to survive intact, and most did not. Kids ran them into things. Gyros broke. Helmets disappeared. The energizer cracked. Finding a set with all original components is already difficult. Finding one with a clean, intact box is harder still.
An unopened 1975 set in near-mint box is worth around $950, and clean boxed examples consistently run in the $500 to $1,000 range. Heavy use without the box pushes the value down considerably; a worn, unboxed set in working condition might fetch $80 to $200. The box itself is heavily reproduced, which is an active problem in this market. Verify that the box material, printing, and wear patterns are consistent with age and use, rather than showing the characteristics of a recent reproduction. Replacement boxes are sold openly, so treating a boxed example as more valuable requires some authentication.
9. Schwinn Sting-Ray Krate (Orange Krate, Lemon Peeler, Apple Krate, 1968-73)
Schwinn released the Krate lineup in 1968 and it hit the market like a small explosion. The Orange Krate, Lemon Peeler, Apple Krate, Pea Picker, and Cotton Picker were five-speed banana-seat bikes with springer front forks, dragster-style rear tires, and a stick-shift gear lever bolted right to the frame between the seat and bars. These were the coolest things with two wheels that most kids had ever seen, and Schwinn made them only through 1973. The Gray Ghost arrived in 1971 and was the rarest from day one, because children in 1971 chose the bright colors.
Original Krates from the 1968-1973 Chicago production run bring $1,000 to over $3,000 in good original condition, with exceptionally clean examples reaching $4,300 and above. Schwinn reissued the Krate line multiple times, so verification matters: look for the serial number stamped on the bottom bracket shell, the “Schwinn Approved” script on the headset, and natural 50-year aging across all components rather than suspiciously perfect parts. Reproduction seats, forks, and sissy bars circulate in this market, so a bike that looks too good in isolated components warrants scrutiny. The Gray Ghost, in part because nobody wanted grey when orange and yellow were options, reliably commands the highest prices of the original run and is the one most likely to be underpriced when it turns up.
10. Stretch Armstrong (original Kenner, 1976-79, with intact latex)
Kenner introduced Stretch Armstrong in 1976 as a gel-filled latex figure that could be stretched to several feet and return to shape. The toy retailed for $11 and sold millions, which makes intact surviving examples paradoxically rare: kids stretched them until they tore, and the corn syrup filling leaked, crystallized, or separated. Any example without holes or leaks in the original latex is genuinely uncommon.
A mint example with original box and instruction booklet is worth around $700, and pristine examples with intact foam coffin and original box have reached $3,750 at the high end. A solid, hole-free figure without the box brings $400 to $600 depending on how well the latex has held its original color and texture. The related Stretch Monster, a green sea-creature version, and the Mego-made Stretch Hulk are both harder to find and command higher prices. Any figure with a hole, no matter how small, or any signs of leakage around the seams, is worth a fraction of an intact one.
11. Fisher-Price Little People Sesame Street playset #938 (1975, complete)
The first licensed Fisher-Price product for the Little People line was the Sesame Street apartment playset, released in 1975 to coincide with the show's peak popularity. It included the brownstone building with Big Bird's nest on the roof, Bert and Ernie's apartment, the Fix-It Shop on the ground floor, and a collection of figures and accessories. Every piece needs to be present, because the accessories are very specific and finding replacements is difficult.
A sealed, never-opened example is worth around $2,500, and a clean complete set with original box regularly brings $500 and up. Incomplete sets with missing figures or accessories drop into the $80 to $200 range. The key figures for the set are the recognizable characters: Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, and the core cast in their original wooden-peg or early plastic-body versions depending on production year. Later plastic versions from the mid-1970s onward are slightly less valuable than the earlier wooden figures. The box is essentially impossible to find intact, which makes sealed examples extraordinarily unusual.
12. Original 1970s Nike Waffle Trainer (Japan-made, 1974-79)
Bill Bowerman developed the waffle outsole in the early 1970s using his wife's breakfast iron, and the resulting tread pattern went into production as the Waffle Trainer. The early production runs, made in Japan and featuring the patent number on the outsole rather than today's Swoosh logo, are now collectors' items among sneaker enthusiasts and vintage athletic shoe collectors alike.
Genuine Japan-made examples from this era can be identified by “Made in Japan” on the inner tag, the patent number stamped into the outsole, and the overall lighter weight and different construction compared to later Taiwan-produced versions. Japan-made pairs in good wearable condition regularly bring $500 and above, and the original shoe box alone adds considerable value to any pair it accompanies. Nike has re-released the Waffle Trainer multiple times, so confirming the production country and outsole markings before valuing any pair is essential. Reissues from Taiwan or elsewhere are worth almost nothing compared to an original Japan-made pair.
13. Levi's Big E 501 jeans (pre-1971)
Samurai Picks Japan via eBay
Until 1971, Levi's used a capital “E” on the red tab sewn into the back right pocket. After that year, they switched to a lowercase “e.” That single letter is now the primary shorthand for dating a pair of vintage Levi's and separating the genuinely valuable from the merely old. The tab is not the only detail that matters, but it's the first place to look.
Pre-1971 501s with a Big E tab, even in well-worn condition, bring $500 and up. Clean examples in good shape command $1,000 to $2,000, and pairs with additional details like redline selvedge on the inside outseam, a leather patch on the waistband, and original button fly hardware hit higher. Deadstock examples, unworn with original tags, can reach $5,000 and above depending on size. Reproductions and reissues are the primary complication: Levi's own Vintage Clothing line uses Big E tabs and vintage-style construction, and Japanese reproductions from brands like Warehouse and Sugar Cane are high quality and not intended to deceive, but do get resold as authentic vintage. A care tag present in the garment is an immediate red flag, since those weren't added until the 1970s, after the Big E era ended.
14. Original 1970s rock concert t-shirt (authenticated)
Original tour shirts from the 1970s are the most actively faked category in vintage clothing, but the genuine article commands serious money. A 1973 Led Zeppelin shirt is worth around $2,000, and crew shirts from the 1979 Knebworth shows have sold for $10,000. The authentication process separates the real market from the reproduction one.
What to look for: single-stitch hem construction on the sleeves and bottom (double-stitch came in by the 1990s), screen-print that shows cracking and wear consistent with the age of the fabric rather than applied aging, cotton that has the heft and hand feel of 70s production rather than modern ringspun cotton, and a tag that pre-dates care instruction requirements. The tag is one of the most reliable dating tools: RN numbers on American garments can be cross-referenced against federal registration databases to confirm when a company registered. Tours with documented limited attendance, or shirts made specifically for crew and performers rather than for public sale, are the most valuable. A fan shirt from a stadium tour with a print run of 100,000 is worth far less than a production crew shirt from the same run.
15. Walk Lively Barbie (Mattel, 1971-72, mint in original box)
Walk Lively Barbie was introduced in 1971 with an internal mechanism that, when placed on her included stand, caused her to move her arms and turn her head as if walking. The mechanism required the original stand to function, which is among the most commonly missing pieces. Without the stand, the figure doesn't do what it was designed to do, and value drops significantly.
A complete Walk Lively Barbie in her original box with stand and all accessories, in excellent condition, brings $500 and above, with particularly clean sealed examples reaching $900 and up. The Walk Lively Miss America variant from 1972, which used the Barbie body with the Steffie face mold, reaches higher prices for unopened examples. Most Walk Lively Barbies found loose, without the stand, are worth $20 to $60. Condition of the mechanism matters: if the internal walking motion still works, the figure is worth more than a locked-up example. Hair in original set, face paint with no rubs or fading, and original clothing all factor into the range, with significant premiums for examples where the original outfit is pristine and complete with shoes and all accessories.
16. Seiko 6139 automatic chronograph (“the Pogue,” 1969-77)
Seiko built this automatic chronograph from 1969 through the mid-1970s and sold it in the US as a sports watch at a price point that made Swiss competition look absurd. It became famous again in the 1990s when collectors learned that astronaut William Pogue had worn one aboard Skylab in 1973, making it the first watch worn in space that wasn't purpose-built for a space program. The name stuck. The 6139-6005 is the specific dial configuration Pogue wore: blue dial, “pepsi” red-and-blue bezel, automatic movement. It's the one that commands the most attention, but the whole 6139 family is collectible.
The going rate for a clean, running 6139 in any of the main variants runs $530 to $1,800 depending on condition, dial originality, and whether the bracelet or original strap is present. A 6139-6005 with box and papers pushes toward $2,000. What to look for: the dial should show no refinishing (original dials have specific printing depth and texture); the hands should be unpolished and match the correct specification for the dial variant; the pushers and crown should be original Seiko parts rather than replacements. Serviced examples command a small premium because these movements are old enough to need attention. This is the kind of watch that spent 40 years in a dresser drawer, which is exactly why it surfaces at estate sales regularly and exactly why most people selling one don't know what they have.
17. Kenner Six Million Dollar Man action figure (1975-78, original boxed)
The Six Million Dollar Man was one of the most popular action figures of the 1970s. Steve Austin's 13-inch doll came with a bionic eye you could look through, a skin-roll feature on his arm that revealed circuitry beneath, and, in later versions, a bionic grip hand. The figure was played with hard and the accessories scattered, which is why a complete, original-boxed example in excellent condition is now genuinely hard to find.
Boxed Steve Austin figures in excellent condition are valued at over $900. The rarest and most valuable piece in the entire Kenner line is the Venus Space Probe, a spring-loaded alien-looking robot accessory based on the “Death Probe” episode. Complete Venus Space Probes with all original stickers and working features are among the scarcest Kenner toys from this era, and when they surface in excellent condition, they command significantly more than the Steve Austin figure itself. If you're going through a 70s toy collection and find an odd-looking wheeled robot with a rotating turret and spring-fired missile, look carefully before putting it in a donation box.
