How the 1980s Defined Modern Toy Collecting

The 1980s were iconic in many ways. Not only did voluminous hair, neon colors, leaps in technology, and music make this decade so iconic, but the 1980s were also an incredible golden age for toys. Even today, decades later, people of all ages, all around the world, recognize these characters from the toys that released in the 80s. Most of the toys that released in the 1980s included brand new unique factors and designs that shaped the decade as well as the decades to come. Transforming toys, technological toys, fun action figures, and intricate vehicles all make up the decade for the toy industry. Also, many toy companies used strategies that grew their popularity significantly. These factors, along with others, help prove how the 1980s defined modern toy collecting. Follow along in our blog with us as we dive into these factors as well as many others.

Join Us in Seeing How the 1980s Defined Modern Toy Collecting

Dive into the 1980s with us to see all of the factors that went into making these toys so incredible as well as how it all impacted the toy collecting market today. We will mention the childhood nostalgia, the thriving vintage toy market, as well as the quality and condition of the toys adding to the value of the items. Along with this, we will also mention the importance of the media tie-ins of the decade, popularity of the franchises, and the cultural impact all of these awesome toys left on society.

Childhood Nostalgia

No doubt, nostalgia plays such a big role into modern toy collecting. Since the kids in the 1980s who played with these toys are now adults, the vintage toy market gears towards them. Many of these people remember fond memories of playing with their favorite action figures from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or G.I. Joe. They remember how much they loved those toys and wish to own them again. Also, since these toys stood the test of time with their materials, many people wish to collect them trusting that they will continue to last. These toys often came with deep storylines that made fans love them even more. From this, those people today that collect their loved childhood toys again notice that collecting them feels like preserving a piece of history- or to them, a piece of their past. This nostalgia plays such a big impact that, without it, the vintage toy market would definitely not be the same.

The Thriving Vintage Toy Market

When looking at how the 1980s defined modern toy collecting, we need to look at the toy market today. With these 1980s toys, the vintage toy market continues to thrive. Since the nostalgia of the toys remains so high from so many people loving them, the demand for these toys in the vintage toy market also remains high. Many of these items remained in good condition over the years and, because of this, people keep buying and selling toys. Also, since toy companies keep releasing items resembling those of the 80s and more television shows or films release for these same characters, the demand for the original toys continues to grow.

Many vintage toys also rose in value over the years due to the rarity of the item, the condition and quality, as well as demand. Some of these toys you may remember playing with as a kid rose in value to even thousands of dollars if they remain in good condition. Because of this, many toys can also be an investment. The vintage toy market continues to thrive because people continue to invest in those high priced items to add to their toy collections.

Quality and Condition

The 1980s also defined modern toy collecting with the quality of their products. Today, many more regulations take place for the kind of materials to use for making toys, with the goal of making them safer for children. Along with this, the cost plays a big factor into the materials used. Because of this, many toy companies today got rid of many metal and wood materials to make their toys and switched to plastic only. This makes the toys often not as durable than those that released in decades past. Also, since the vintage toy market continues to thrive today, we know that those toys from the 80s and other decades stand the test of time. Though some break from wear, heat, sunlight, and improper cleaning, many of them also remain in good condition and will continue to for years to come. Although many toy companies today also do use good and sturdy materials, they still often do not equate to the materials in past decades.

The vintage toy market still thrives today because of this factor of quality and condition of the toys. When a toy begins to wear, break, or miss pieces, the item becomes much less desirable. It loses value once it shows yellowing on the bubble packaging or when the paint begins to chip. They lose value when pieces go missing or even when the tape comes off the box packaging. The best valued items remain in good, or even perfect condition. However, due to nostalgia and other factors, even those items that show a little wear still often sell through the vintage toy market. These 80s toys remain that loved and clearly define modern toy collecting.

Media Tie-Ins

The 1980s also showed incredible popularity with the "cartoon connection" trend. Many toys that released during the 1980s also tied into their own television series or movie which featured the same characters, only further promoting their items. This not only helped promote the movies and the toys but it also gave the characters more depth to their personality and storyline. Fans saw their loved action figures battling enemies on the screen and watched other television shows that made them want to own those toys as well. Along with the television series and movies, many other media tie-ins occurred in the 80s for these toy lines. Comic books released, video games showcased their loved characters, and crossovers between media tie-ins added to the in-depth storylines of favorite characters.

This strategy to promote toy lines and give great entertainment connected to them also defined how companies strategize today. Along with this, companies continue to release new modern versions of these toys as well as modern versions of the cartoons and films that tied with the originals. Because of this, new young fans even search for these original toys as well as original fans from the 80s. This also keeps the loved franchise alive and well, and keeps the same fans interested while also gaining new fans. The demand for these vintage toys may go up for specific items when a new media tie-in releases since people get reminded of how much they loved their original toys.

Franchise Popularity

Have you ever wondered why so many people recognize these names of toys and characters today even though they released decades ago? Yes, more items continue to release which plays a big factor into it all. But also, these 1980s toys sparked so much popularity among their releases that they became iconic characters that almost everyone knows of even to this day. Also, companies have continued to release items since they hit initial popularity and still grow in popularity. For instance, Star Wars products hit great popularity in the 80s and, since then, many more Star Wars toys released as well as more films. For many of these franchises, there is still more to come for these awesome characters.

A main reason these franchises hit popularity stems from their fascinating themes and unique transforming features. Along with this, their deep character storylines come from what released with the figures, vehicles, or playsets on the packaging as well as often the entire character's part in a television series, movie, video game, or comic book. This greatly grew the popularity of the toys since people often grew so attached to knowing more about the characters and diving deeper into the franchise as a whole.

Cultural Impact

Last up on our blog, we will mention how the 1980s defined modern toy collecting, through the incredible cultural impact. One important thing to note from the 1980s includes the "toy craze" marketing strategy from many toy companies. For instance, the Cabbage Patch Kids toys marketed their items through rarity, personalization, and the concept of "adoption". These features created a massive demand and impacted the culture for toy marketing in the 80s as well as today. We see a similar "toy craze" phenomenon happening today in the vintage toy market where people search far and wide for their specific toy to add to their collection. This is a big factor into toy collecting, too, the thrill of the hunt.

Along with the "toy craze", many other cultural impacts influence modern toy collecting such as the resurgence of many 1980s toys and themes returning in popularity. This includes themes such as the Stranger Things television show and merchandise. It also includes pop culture comebacks such as Transformers, He-Man, TMNT, and many others that either continued into modern day or recently made a comeback. With the popularity of these 1980s themes and toys remaining, the demand for these items rises, defining modern toy collecting.

Final Thoughts

The 1980s clearly defined modern toy collecting in many ways. From the innovative toy designs to the quality to the media tie-ins, these toys continue to spark nostalgia for so many people. They continue to sell and purchases continue to grow as people search for items to add to collections. These franchises even grow in fanbases as these toys circle around and more release. No doubt, this golden age for toys made an incredible impact on what we know of today as the vintage toy market and toy collecting.

Do You Have Old or Used Toys?

Don’t let your collection sit in storage gathering dust—turn it into cash! At Wheeljack’s Lab, we specialize in evaluating and buying vintage and used toys, from single standouts to entire collections.

Our friendly, expert team has decades of hands-on experience in collectible toys, so you can expect honest evaluations and a smooth process from start to finish. Ready to sell? Call us at 888-946-2895 and let’s get started.

About the Owner, Chris Ingledue

Chris is the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab Pop Culture and Toy Shop. His vision has always been to reconnect collectors with the toys and pop culture that shaped their childhoods—sparking memories, nostalgia, and imagination along the way.

Each day in the “Lab” feels like Christmas year-round. From scouring the internet for the next great treasure—much like flipping through the Sears Catalog of years past—to eagerly awaiting the postman’s arrival like Santa himself, Chris lives and breathes the thrill of the hunt. Helping collectors around the world experience their own version of Christmas is what makes being a vintage toy buyer an absolute joy.