Ten Most Expensive Remco Toys and Other Collectibles

Multiple toy companies created beloved toy lines that remained beloved by collectors for decades. One of these companies was Remco Industries, Inc., which was founded in 1949. While the company never stood at the peak of the toy industry, it produced dozens of toy lines that implemented the advancing technology of the time. This love of technology could even be seen in the company’s name, which was used by combining the Rem from “remote” and the Co from “control” into one word.

From their New Jersey headquarters, Remco produced both licensed and original toy lines. Some of their most famous toys were for franchises like Lost in Space, Batman, Star Trek, and more. For some of their toys, they recycled designs that they had introduced in earlier decades. They also came into conflict with Mattel in the 1980s after their contemporary toys were released with extremely similar builds and styles.

While the company faded away in the 1990s, its impact on the toy industry is still fondly remembered. Even the toys that are considered “knockoffs” are beloved by fans. As many of their toys have become rarer, their collectability and value increased in the second-hand market. Thus, many of Remco’s action figures and other toys sell for extremely high prices.

More than just their toys hold value with collectors. Remco employed many artists and sculptors who helped them develop their toy lines. Thus, the art and work of their development team also tugs at the hearts of collectors. When these elements show up on auction sites, they often gain traction and sell for high prices.

Presenting the Ten Most Expensive Remco Toys that Have Sold on Online Auction Sites

Understanding the vising value of Remco’s toy lines, we sought out the ten most expensive toys and collectibles that have sold from online auction sites. To compile this list, we looked over archives of these listings. However, we did not include any listings for multiple toys or collections. We also bypassed any instances that showed the same product selling at a lower price. This allows us only to highlight the highest value that each product has achieved.

10. Remco AWA All-Star Wrestlers Mat Mania Ric Flair

Wrestling associations had existed for decades well before the bombastic WWF stormed the scene. With roots dating back to 1960, the American Wrestling Association, or AWA, ran out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group split apart from the NWA to host their own championship matches. While they had their matches hosted on television for years, they ramped up production as competitors changed the landscape in the 1980s. It also expanded its reach to more and more states over the years.

Ric Flair had a short career with the AWA, having joined the organization in 1972 and left in 1974. Having trained under Verne Gagne, he was prepared to make his professional debut in a match at Ric Lake, Wisconsin. This match saw him wrestle George “Scrap Iron” Gadaski to a draw after a 10-minute-long match. His time at the AWA also saw him take on wrestlers like Andre the Giant and Wahoo McDaniel.

Despite having moved on to the NWA in the 1980s, Remco decided to include Ric Flair as one of the All-Star Wrestlers in their AWA toy line. The first time he was seen in the line was in 1985, included in a two-pack with Larry Zbyszko. However, his action figure was reissued for the Mat Mania subline in 1986. As one of the final toys released for the line, collectors began to seek it out as one of the rarer figures from the line.

One of the Mat Mania Ric Flair action figures went up for sale on eBay, where it sold for $2,700.00 on April 22, 2017. Both the card and the blister were in excellent condition. Thus, the toy easily gained its high sales price.

9. Remco Land of the Giants Space Ship Control Panel

Following the trend for fanciful science fiction dramas, Land of the Giants debuted on ABC’s television network in 1968. The series portrayed the far-distant future year of 1983 and featured the Spindrift, a suborbital transport ship. In a freak accident during a flight between Los Angeles and London, the ship was sent to a strange world filled with beings 12 times larger than those found on Earth. The crew and passengers of the ship quickly decided to refer to these creatures as giants.

The series lasted for two seasons, with a total of 51 episodes. While the humans attempted to return to Earth during the entire run, they never succeeded. They also often found themselves at odds with the native giants of the land.

Following the airing of The Land of the Giants, Remco picked up the license to create the Space Ship Control Panel toy for the series. This toy reused a design that Remco had first introduced for the Firebird 99 dashboard from the 1950s. Thus, even though the control panel was meant to control a spaceship, it closely resembled a car’s dashboard.

This battery-operated toy featured electronic directional space signals and a working countdown/blast-off indicator. It also included a working space horn, similar to a car horn. Consumers received a Space License with the toy. This license was a paper that detailed traveling rules. Furthermore, there was an on-off ignition switch with a key and a compartment with a galaxy map.

One of these toys was made available through Van Easton Galleries. There, it sold for $3,327.50 on January 31, 2021. Notably, this toy had a few issues, like the directional signals not working because of a possibly burnt light.

8. Remco Creature from the Black Lagoon 9” Action Figure (1979/1980)

Movie-going audiences were introduced to the Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954. This black-and-white film took them on an adventure through the Amazon. There, the members of the geology expedition sought out a link between the creatures of the sea and land animals. They wound up locating a unique amphibious humanoid that became known as the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

After attacking the creature in a panic, the crew found themselves dealing with the creature’s wrath. Moreover, this creature became enraptured by Kay, a female member of the expedition. This fascination led to the creature capturing her. Even though the creature killed many expedition members, he was eventually brought down in a rain of bullets as they saved Kay from his grasp.

The legacy of The Creature from the Black Lagoon led to Remco including the creature in their Official Universal Monsters toy line. This line was filled with articulated 9” action figures that came in windowed boxes. It also came with a patch and a ring.

One of these toys was made available on eBay. While it came in a box, the listing stated that it was not the original. It also included the original patch and ring but lacked the instruction sheet. This toy sold for $5,425.00 on June 19, 2017.

7. Original Packaging Art from Remco 9” The Mummy

Universal Studios first brought to life the tales of the living mummy in the black-and-white film from 1932. While modern audiences may remember both the 1999 remake and the 2012 reboot films, the original had a strong legacy that lasted for decades. Thus, Remco included the Mummy in the 1980 official Universal Monsters action figure line.

The true identity of the Mummy was Imhotep, a high priest from ancient Egypt. An archaeological expedition had the misfortune of coming across his mummified remains. Unlike the typical mummified corpse, Imhotep’s viscera and other elements were not removed. Combined with signs of struggle, the team determined that he had been buried alive. Worse yet, an incantation from the Scroll of Thoth brought the mummy back to the realm of the living.

The revived Imhotep managed to disguise himself as an Egyptian historian named Ardeth Bey. Furthermore, he found a woman that closely resembled the princess Ankh-es-en-amun, Helen Grosvenor. Thus, he enacted a plan to kidnap Helen and turn her into an immortal mummy like himself. Unfortunately, he wound up losing his immortality and perished himself.

As Remco included The Mummy in their Universal Monsters toy line, they hired Chronister to create the art for the box. This art featured Boris Karloff as the famous creature, Imhotep from the film. Chronister created an oil painting on a 17 1/2” x 20 5/8” stretched canvas. Meanwhile, his signature could be located on the lower right section of the painting.

Years later, this original art was made available for purchase on an online auction site. The seller had obtained the painting from a source at Remco. It sold for $6,490.00 on March 12, 2020.

6. Original Packaging Art from Remco 9” Phantom of the Opera

Before the modern-day Broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera gained fame as an iconic monster in Universal Studio’s filmography. The classic horror novel gained public attention after the release of the black-and-white silent film in 1925. Its popularity led to several remakes, including a technicolor remake in 1943.

The Phantom of the Opera told the story of a tormented, malformed man who hid away in the passageways of the Paris Opera House. After years of residing in the opera house, rumors began to swell about a phantom that haunted the building. To facilitate performances, the previous owners had paid off the Phantom to leave them alone. However, a new set of managers refused to pay the man.

Beyond the change in management, the Phantom had become smitten with the singing of Christine Daae. So, he set out to make her his, even if she had eyes on another, Raoul. The conflict at the opera house became steadily more murderous as the situation worsened. In the end, an angry mob took out the Phantom as Raoul took Christine to safety.

The Phantom of the Opera was chosen as one of the creatures included in Remco’s Universal Monsters toy line. To help sell the 9” toy, Uldis Klavins created a colorful painting depicting the Phantom. This acrylic painting was created on a 19 7/8” x 24” stretched canvas and featured Klavin’s signature on the lower right section. After sourcing it from a contact at Remco, it was sold for $7,788.00 on February 25, 2021, at an online auction site.

5. Original Packaging Art from Remco 9” Dracula

One of the most infamous classic horror monsters was the fearsome vampire, Dracula. This character has been depicted in media multiple times, with a large range of powers. Even in his debut novel, the man had supernatural abilities that outclassed any other vampire. However, one of his most famous depictions was the 1931 film starring Bela Lugosi as the blood-sucking count.

Count Dracula originated from Transylvania, where he was the lord and master of a castle. Despite living for centuries in the country, he had his eyes on a new hunting ground, England. Thus, he called in a solicitor, Renfield, to help him lease a property, Carfax Abbey in England.

Upon arriving in England, Dracula began to seduce two women, Lucy and Mina, drinking their blood during the night. While he killed Lucy, Mina proved to be a more difficult catch. Furthermore, a vampire hunter, Van Helsing, arrived to help Mina’s lover, Harker, hunt down the vampire and stake him.

The fame of Dracula ensured that he would be included in Remco’s Official Universal Monsters toy line. To help sell the 9” action figure, the company commissioned Chronister to make a painting of the character. His original oil painting was created on a stretched canvas measuring 17 1/2” x 20 5/8”. It featured a version of Dracula portrayed by Robert Quarry in the 1970s. Meanwhile, Chronister’s signature could be located at the lower right of the painting.

This painting was placed up on an online auction site, where it sold for $8,968.00 on February 25, 2021. The listing noted that this item was relisted since the original buyer had defaulted. It also stated that the painting had some moisture damage and came in a wooden frame.

4. Original Packaging Art from Remco 9” Frankenstein Monster

There are few monsters more tragic than Frankenstein’s monster, an amalgamation of corpses brought to life through twisted science. While the novel had been around since 1818, the monster gained new popularity after it appeared in movie theaters. Thus, Universal Studio’s take on the creature has become the most iconic take.

Universal adapted the tale to the silver screen in 1931’s Frankenstein. Set in the Bavarian Alps, Henry Frankenstein set out to break the laws of nature by creating life. To fuel his experiment, he gathered bodies from recently deceased individuals, including hanged criminals. Unfortunately, his assistant damaged the final crucial component, the brain, before handing it over to Frankenstein. Still, despite this setback, he was able to create a new life during a fateful thunderstorm.

Despite its frightful appearance, Frankenstein’s monster was a tender soul with an almost childlike innocence. Still, the creation had a vicious streak capable of causing serious harm when pushed. Thus, Frankenstein felt like he had to terminate the experiment. The situation only became worse when the monster got out and attempted to befriend a young girl. In the end, an angry mob hunted down the monster and burned it to death.

As Remco prepared the Universal Monsters toy line in 1980, they decided to include the iconic Frankenstein’s Monster. As most of the public called the creature “Frankenstein,” they decided to highlight the name and leave the word “Monster” in small print underneath. They also enlisted Chronister to create the artwork for the box art.

Chronister created a 17 1/2″ x 20 5/8” stretched canvas oil painting that featured Boris Karloff as the monster. The original art also featured his signature at the bottom right of the image. This piece was made available at an online auction site after it was obtained through a source at Remco. The painting came in a wooden frame. Even though it had a few scuffs, the painting sold for $12,008.80 on February 25, 2021. This was noted as the second time that the piece was put up for auction since the first buyer had defaulted.

3. Original Packaging Art from Remco 9” The Creature from the Black Lagoon

As Remco prepared to release the 9” action figure of the Creature of the Black Lagoon, they commissioned Uldis Klavins to create the box art. This toy was slotted to be included in the company’s Official Universal Monsters action figure toy line and was released around 1981. To create the artwork for the box, Klavins referenced Universal’s classic film featuring the unique amphibian monster.

Klavin’s acrylic painting measured 19 7/8” x 24” and featured his signature at the lower right. As Uldis Klavins had worked as a packaging artist for both Mego and Marx, his work has been seen on multiple toys. This helped attract attention to the painting.

Klavin’s painting appeared on an online auction site, where it was made available to the buying public. Even though it had some defects, like splotches of white paint, it was in excellent condition. It also came from a cosigner with direct ties to Remco. The painting sold for $13,565.20 on March 12, 2020.

2. Remco’s The Green Hornet Black Beauty Dashboard

First introduced in 1936, The Green Hornet tackled the criminal element in radio dramas, television series, and a feature film. The character was created by George W. Tender and Frank Striker for radio broadcasts, but he soon transitioned to other media. One of his most notable adaptations was the 1960s television show that featured Bruce Lee as a costar.

In his day-to-day life, Britt Reid worked at The Daily Sentinel as a publisher. However, he would don a green costume, including a fedora, mask, and overcoat, to become the crime-fighting Green Hornet at night. Accompanying him on his crime-fighting adventures was his sidekick, Kato. The pair would travel through the city inside a custom car with advanced technology named The Black Beauty.

To profit from the 1966 television series airing on ABC, Remco licensed the Green Hornet and created the Black Beauty Dashboard in 1966. This toy shared many similarities with prior vehicle dashboards that Remco had created for years. So, it included many of the options expected from Remco’s battery-operated dashboards.

For instance, the toy featured motorized windshield wipers, a working horn, and a workable gearshift. It also had electric directional signals, turning radio knobs, a cigarette lighter, a glove compartment, and an ignition with a key. This metal key included a green plastic keychain that was in the shape of the Black Beauty. Other features included battery and fuel gauges on the dash as well as a clear windshield with a rear-view mirror. Meanwhile, the packaging featured images of Van Williams as the Gren Hornet and Bruce Lee as Kato.

One of these toys appeared on an online auction site, where it sold for $14,055.40 on November 12, 2015. This copy had visible wear on the box. The seller also noted that there was insect damage.

1. Original Packaging Art from Remco 9” The Wolfman Action Figure

Tales of lycanthropy and werewolves have existed for ages, with some of the earliest dating back to Gilgamesh. As wolves were some of the most frightening creatures to contend with in the past, they became the basis of many monsters. Moreover, many species of wolves easily dwarf other creatures. Thus, it was easy to imagine a wolf that was the size of a man if not larger.

Universal Studios cemented the image of the werewolf in popular culture with the 1941 movie, The Wolfman. The film followed Larry Talbot, who had returned to Llanwelly, Wales to bury his brother. There, he learned about the tales of werewolves before a wolf bit him in a vicious attack. He also became the suspect of a murder investigation after the attack where he fended off the wolf with a cane.

As he learned that he was bitten by a werewolf, he received a charm that would have warded off the transformation. His benefactor also informed him that only silver materials could kill a werewolf. Unfortunately, he chose not to believe the story and handed off the talisman. This led to him transforming into a bloodthirsty beast. He was eventually killed by his father, who used a silver cane against him.

Remco included the Wolfman in the 1980 Official Universal Monsters 9” action figures toy line. To prepare this toy for the market, they commissioned Chronister to create the artwork for the windowed box. Thus, he created an oil painting on a 17 1/2” x 20 5/8” stretched canvas. He then signed the painting in the lower right area.

This painting became available on an online auction site, where it sold for $15,998.50 on February 25, 2021. This painting originated from a source at Remco and came with a wooden frame.

Made in Collaboration with:

Chris Ingledue 

Contact: email

Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!

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