Vintage computers and games consoles worth a fortune today | lovemoney.com

Vintage tech worth serious money

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Old tech worth serious money

Got an old computer or games console from way back when gathering dust in your attic or basement? It could be worth a tidy sum whether it's been used like crazy, in decent condition with the box it came in or, best of all, pristine and factory-sealed. Click or scroll through to find out the prices collectors are willing to pay for vintage tech and get rummaging.

29 April 2020

Nintendo Donkey Kong Game & Watch: up to $250 (£200)

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Nintendo Donkey Kong Game & Watch: up to $250 (£200)

Almost everyone of a certain age owned one of these Nintendo Donkey Kong platform handhelds in the 1980s. The dinky dual-screen console retailed for around $80 (£65) in today's money. If you're lucky enough to have one stashed away that still works, you'll be pleased to learn it's worth up to $250 (£200).

29 April 2020

Amstrad CPC 464: up to $280 (£225)

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Amstrad CPC 464: up to $280 (£225)

More than two million units of this classic PC from UK firm Amstrad were sold in Europe during the 1980s. These days, the all-in-one home computer, which has nifty coloured special keys, sells for up to $280 (£225).

29 April 2020

Tandy TRS-80 Model II: up to $700 (£560)

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Tandy TRS-80 Model II: up to $700 (£560)

Sold exclusively at US RadioShack stores, the Tandy TRS-80 Model II was released in 1979 and marketed as "a business computer – not a hobby, 'home' or personal computer". It was priced from a hefty $3,450, around $12,000 (£9,650) in today's money. You won't get anywhere near that amount for it today, but a working model should net you up to $700 (£560).

29 April 2020

Nintendo Game Boy Color Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie!: up to $708 (£570)

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Nintendo Game Boy Color Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie!: up to $708 (£570)

Nintendo released 55 colour variations of its super-popular Game Boy Color handheld, which was a must for late 1990s and early 2000s kids. It cost $69.99, around $108 (£87) today. An Australian exclusive, the green and yellow Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie! is the most valuable these days. A boxed console in full working order recently fetched $708 (£570) on eBay.

29 April 2020

Coleco Industries ColecoVision: up to $740 (£595)

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Coleco Industries ColecoVision: up to $740 (£595)

Coleco Industries was the American company that manufactured Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, a major 1980s craze. It also made games consoles, including the ColecoVision, which was released in 1982 and sold over two million units. The original RRP was $175, which is $460 (£370) when adjusted for inflation. These days, boxed examples sell for up to $740 (£595) a pop.

29 April 2020

Commodore PET 2001: up to $800 (£643)

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Commodore PET 2001: up to $800 (£643)

US company Commodore's first mass-market PC, the PET 2001 hit stores in 1977. It originally cost $795, which is $3,315 (£2,665) in today's money, so didn't come cheap. The PC was widely criticised at the time for its tiny chiclet keyboard, which was difficult to use. Today, working models fetch up to $800 (£643).

29 April 2020

Nintendo Super Nintendo: up to $800 (£643)

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Nintendo Super Nintendo: up to $800 (£643)

The Super Nintendo console, aka the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), topped countless Christmas lists in the early 1990s. It retailed for $199, around $370 (£297) when adjusted for inflation. In total, a jaw-dropping 49.1 million units were sold worldwide. Today, a used version goes for about $200 (£160), but pristine boxed examples sell for up to $800 (£643).

29 April 2020

GCE Vectrex 101: up to $800 (£643)

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GCE Vectrex 101: up to $800 (£643)

A victim of the 1983 video game crash, the Vectrex 101 is a cult console that is shaped like a proper arcade machine. It was released in 1982 in the US and cost $199 initially, $520 (£418) in today's money. Though it wasn't around for long and didn't sell very well, the console was rated highly by gamers. A working model fetches up to $800 (£643) these days.

29 April 2020

Sinclair ZX Spectrum: up to $900 (£724)

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Sinclair ZX Spectrum: up to $900 (£724)

Launched in 1982, the ZX Spectrum was the UK's number one home PC during the early to mid part of the decade. A favourite among vintage PC collectors, pristine boxed examples sell for up to $900 (£724). If you have a used model squirrelled away, it could be worth up to $200 (£160).

29 April 2020

Nintendo Game Boy Micro Mother 3 Deluxe: up to $900 (£724)

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Nintendo Game Boy Micro Mother 3 Deluxe: up to $900 (£724)

Certain limited editions of Nintendo's Game Boy Micro, which was released relatively recently in 2005, are worth big bucks. The Mother 3 Deluxe edition was available only in Japan and retailed for $160, around $210 (£169) today. Collectors will pay up to $900 (£724) and sometimes even more to get their hands on one – a factory-sealed example is listed on eBay now for $2,500 (£2,010).

29 April 2020

IBM 5150: up to $1,000 (£805)

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IBM 5150: up to $1,000 (£805)

The IBM 5150, aka the IBM Personal Computer, is credited with popularising the term 'PC'. It was released in 1981 and sold in the hundreds of thousands despite the retail price, which was high at $1,565, or $4,360 (£3,505) in today's money. Though working models aren't in short supply, they fetch up to $1,000 (£805).

29 April 2020

Nintendo Game Boy Pocket Emerald Green: up to $1,000 (£805)

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Nintendo Game Boy Pocket Emerald Green: up to $1,000 (£805)

As is the case with other Game Boy handhelds, the Game Boy Pocket, which is smaller and lighter than the original, came in a number of colour variations. It was released in 1996. The rarest is the fabled emerald green, which is a Japan-only Toys “R” Us limited edition and glows in the dark. Mint condition models go for up to $1,000 (£805) these days. Pictured is a red version of the Game Boy Pocket.

29 April 2020

APF Imagination Machine: up to $1,100 (£885)

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APF Imagination Machine: up to $1,100 (£885)

The handiwork of New York company APF, which went bankrupt following the 1983 video game crash, this fabulously-named hybrid games console and PC was released in 1979 and retailed at $700, which is $2,440 (£1,962) in today's money. The price may seem steep for a gamer now, but was actually pretty competitive at the time. Collectors will pay up to $1,100 (£885) for a working model.

29 April 2020

Sega Mega Drive 2 FIFA 96 Australia/New Zealand: up to $1,200 (£965)

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Sega Mega Drive 2 FIFA 96 Australia/New Zealand: up to $1,200 (£965)

One of the most popular games consoles of all time, the Sega Mega Drive 2 (known as the Genesis in North America) came out in 1993 and retailed for $149.99, which is $260 (£210) today. It was a smaller, lighter version of the original console. Rare special editions are worth the most money these days. Boxed examples of the FIFA 96 Australia/New Zealand version for instance sell for up to $1,200 (£965).

Now discover the surprisingly valuable old stuff you might have at home

29 April 2020

Commodore 64: up to $1,200 (£965)

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Commodore 64: up to $1,200 (£965)

The best-selling single computer model of all time, the Commodore 64 debuted in 1982 and shifted 17 million units. The original RRP was $595, $1,560 (£1,255) in today's money. Although existing examples are ubiquitous, they still fetch several hundred dollars, and boxed mint condition models go for up to $1,200 (£965) on eBay and similar auction sites.

29 April 2020

Original Nintendo Game Boy: up to $1,800 (£1,447)

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Original Nintendo Game Boy: up to $1,800 (£1,447)

You may have fond memories playing on your Game Boy, but probably wish you'd left it unopened in the box now. When the game-changing handheld was released in 1989, it retailed at $89.95, which works out at $185 (£149) when adjusted for inflation, but a factory-sealed example is worth up to $1,800 (£1,447) these days. A used model, on the other hand, can fetch up to $300 (£240).

29 April 2020

IMSAI 8080: up to $2,000 (£1,608)

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IMSAI 8080: up to $2,000 (£1,608)

The first real clone computer, the IMSAI 8080 mimicked the iconic MITS Altair 8800. Released in 1975, it was priced at a budget-busting $600, which is $2,820 (£2,268) in today's money. A must for collectors, the machine had a starring role as a hacking device in the 1983 movie WarGames. If you have one in storage that works, it's likely to be worth up to $2,000 (£1,608).

29 April 2020

Atari 2600: up to $2,000 (£1,608)

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Atari 2600: up to $2,000 (£1,608)

The world's first mass-market games console, the Atari 2600, aka the Atari VCS, was launched in 1977 priced at $199, which is $800 (£643) in today's money. Though millions were sold, very few factory-sealed models remain, and these days collectors will pay up to $2,000 (£1,608) for one. Used models sell for up to $200 (£160).

29 April 2020

NEC Home Electronic/Hudson Soft TurboDuo: up to $2,100 (£1,689)

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NEC Home Electronic/Hudson Soft TurboDuo: up to $2,100 (£1,689)

This North American exclusive was released in 1992. Boasting a CD-ROM drive, it was considered rather expensive at the time, retailing initially for $299, the equivalent of $540 (£434) today. Eclipsed by the Sega Genesis, the TurboDuo was something of a flop, but the lack of sales actually boosts its value today, which is anything up to $2,100 (£1,689) for a pristine working model.

29 April 2020

Sony PlayStation Net Yaroze Black Console (DTL-H3001): up to $2,100 (£1,689)

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Sony PlayStation Net Yaroze Black Console (DTL-H3001): up to $2,100 (£1,689)

One of the first consumer console development kits, the PlayStation Net Yaroze was marketed at computer programming hobbyists. Sony released the kit, dubbed a “PlayStation on steroids”, in 1996 in Japan and 1997 in other countries, and it was priced at $750, which is $1,180 (£945) in today's money. Factory-sealed models fetch up to $2,100 (£1,689) these days.

29 April 2020

Sega Genesis Model 1: up to $2,100 (£1,669)

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Sega Genesis Model 1: up to $2,100 (£1,669)

Remember spending hours playing Sonic the Hedgehog? More than 30 million units of the Sega Genesis console, known as the Sega Mega Drive in Europe, were sold during the 1990s. The release price in 1989 was $189, which is $385 (£310) today. The original Sega Genesis 1 is rarer and a factory-sealed model in its box sold for $2,075 (£1,669) on eBay not long ago. Used working models however go for up to $300 (£240).

29 April 2020

Apple Macintosh 128K: up to $2,500 (£2,010)

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Apple Macintosh 128K: up to $2,500 (£2,010)

The original Apple Mac PC, the 128K was released in 1984 and introduced to the American public by a spectacular Ridley Scott-directed Super Bowl commercial, which has gone down in advertising history. The PC sold tens of thousands of units, despite the $2,495 price tag, which works out at $6,070 (£4,880) in today's money. A working model will net you up to $2,500 (£2,010) nowadays.

29 April 2020

Acorn System 1: up to $2,550 (£2,050)

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Acorn System 1: up to $2,550 (£2,050)

An early 8-bit computer aimed at hobbyists, the System 1 was manufactured by British firm Acorn. It was designed by Cambridge University undergraduate Sophie Wilson and Professor Steve Furber, and released in 1979. Working models of the vintage computer, which is revered by collectors, sell for up to $2,550 (£2,050) these days.

Read about the family heirlooms that proved to be worth a fortune

29 April 2020

Epoch TV-Vader: up to $3,000 (£2,412)

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Epoch TV-Vader: up to $3,000 (£2,412)

The precursor to the best-selling Epoch Cassette Vision, the TV-Vader was launched by Epoch in 1980. Available only in Japan, the console offers four games, all of which are based on Space Invaders. A cult item, working models with the original box can make up to $3,000 (£2,412) today.

29 April 2020

MITS Altair 8800: up to $3,000 (£2,412)

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MITS Altair 8800: up to $3,000 (£2,412)

The device that sparked the personal computer revolution, the MITS Altair 8800 is historically important and an essential for every avid collector. Released in 1974 via mail order, it sold in the thousands. Models in good working order go for up $3,000 (£2,412) nowadays.

29 April 2020

Sony PlayStation 2 European Automobile Color Collection: up to $4,800 (£3,860)

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Sony PlayStation 2 European Automobile Color Collection: up to $4,800 (£3,860)

This limited-edition Sony PlayStation 2 console was restricted to just 2,000 models per colour. As a result, pristine boxed examples sell for a small fortune. In fact, collectors will pay up to a very respectable $4,800 (£3,860) to get hold of one of the brightly-hued consoles, which retailed for a fraction of that price.

29 April 2020

Sega Dreamcast Divers 2000 CX-1: up to $5,510 (£4,430)

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Sega Dreamcast Divers 2000 CX-1: up to $5,510 (£4,430)

Highly sought-after by collectors in the know, this ultra-rare limited-edition Sega Dreamcast was released in 2000. Available only in Japan, it wows with a swish Sonic the Hedgehog monitor by Fuji. Mint condition models in the original box fetch up to $5,510 (£4,430) today.

29 April 2020

Apple Lisa: up to $50,000 (£40,200)

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Apple Lisa: up to $50,000 (£40,200)

A commercial failure, the Apple Lisa was launched in 1983 with a 5MB hard drive and was one of the first PCs marketed at business customers. It retailed at an eye-watering $9,995, which is $25,365 (£20,396) in today's money, about the same price of a family car. Very few survive to this day, and working models sell for sky-high prices, as much as $50,000 (£40,200).

29 April 2020

Commodore 65: up to $70,000 (£56,288)

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Commodore 65: up to $70,000 (£56,288)

The Commodore 65 was designed as the successor to the best-selling 64 and was backwards compatible with the former model, while incorporating advanced Amiga features. It was never officially released, but when Commodore went bust in 1994, between 200 and 1,000 units made it onto the open market. Today, these mythical prototypes are worth up to $70,000 (£56,288) apiece.

29 April 2020

Apple I: up to $905,000 (£727,710)

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Apple I: up to $905,000 (£727,710)

Apple's very first product, the appropriately named Apple I was designed and assembled by Steve Wozniak back in 1976. Steve Jobs sold his hippie van to cover the manufacturing costs. Only 200 units were produced and they each sold for a symbolic $666.66, which is $2,960 (£2,380) in today's money. Today, just 63 are known to exist and only eight are in full working order. The most valuable of the bunch went under the hammer for an incredible $905,000 (£727,710) at a Bonhams auction in 2014.

Search your home for these free collectables that are worth a lot of money

29 April 2020