Box of vintage 8-track tapes neatly arranged, featuring artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis

’70s Household Items That Are Surprisingly Valuable Today

If you grew up in the 70s, you may be sitting on a goldmine and not even know it. Those seemingly mundane household items from your childhood could be worth a pretty penny today. From vintage toys to retro kitchenware, let’s take a nostalgic trip back in time and discover 14 treasures from the 70s that are surprisingly valuable today.

1. Pyrex Bowls

Three Vintage Pyrex Bowls in different colors on a white countertop
Image Credit: Available Classics /eBay.

Remember those colorful Pyrex bowls in your grandmother’s kitchen? They’ve become a hot commodity among vintage collectors. The mixing bowls, particularly those with the “Gooseberry” or “Cinderella” pattern, can fetch a good price. With their nostalgic charm and sturdy quality, it’s no surprise why they’re in such high demand.

2. Star Wars Action Figures

Assorted vintage Star Wars action figures from the 1980s displayed on a flat surface
Image Credit: Pearl’s Coins Jewelry And Antiques/eBay.

If you were a Star Wars fan in the 70s, you might have collected action figures of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and other characters. Unopened figures can go for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on the collector’s market. Even used ones, depending on their condition and rarity, can be quite valuable.

3. Vintage Concert T-Shirts

White t-shirt featuring a vintage-style Nirvana band print with distressed red and black design, worn over a red flannel shirt
Image Credit: Panos Sakalakis/Pexels.

Did you attend a Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin concert back in the day and buy a souvenir t-shirt? If so, you might be in luck. Vintage concert tees, especially those from iconic 70s bands, can be worth a lot of money. The value increases if they’re in good condition and feature original artwork.

4. Pez Dispensers

Collection of vintage PEZ dispensers with character heads including Santa, Elvis, Betty Boop, and a robot displayed in case
Image Credit: Marianne Serra – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

Remember those plastic candy dispensers with a character’s head on top? If you’ve held onto them, they might be worth a lot more than just a trip down memory lane. Particularly rare Pez dispensers, like the “Make A Face” model, can bring in a significant amount.

5. Lunch Boxes

Vintage lunchbox
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Remember the joy of opening up your lunch box at school and seeing your favorite cartoon characters or TV show stars? It turns out, vintage metal lunch boxes, especially those featuring popular 70s themes like The Partridge Family or Scooby-Doo, are highly sought after by collectors today.

6. Vinyl Records

Vinyl records and compact discs scattered on a white surface, multiple black records with colored labels, CDs reflecting light, casual display of music media collection
Image Credit: Muffin Creatives/Pexels.

Vinyl has made a comeback in recent years, and original pressings from the 70s are particularly valuable. Look out for albums by iconic artists like David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, or Pink Floyd. The more rare the pressing, the higher the price.

7. Fisher Price Toys

Fisher Price Adventure People figures, plastic action figures, colorful outfits, jointed arms and legs, vintage 1970s-1980s toys, small-scale, various professions represented, standing upright on display
Image Credit: Scruffy Looking’s Toy Box/ebay.

Fisher Price’s Play Family House or the iconic Little People School Bus from the 70s could be worth a fair bit today. Collectors love these toys for their charming simplicity and nostalgic appeal.

8. Atari Video Games

Atari 2600 console, black design with ridged surface, classic joystick controller with a red button, four game cartridges displayed in front, vintage gaming system
Image Credit: eBay.

The video gaming revolution began in the 70s with the introduction of the Atari console. If you were lucky enough to have one, some of your games could be worth a small fortune, especially if they’re still in their original packaging.

9. Vintage Levi’s Jeans

Assorted denim jeans on hangers, orange tags, outdoor clothing rack, flannel shirts, casual wear display
Image Credit: Anastasiya Badun/ Pexels.

Did you know that a pair of vintage Levi’s jeans from the 70s could be worth hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars? The older and more unique the pair, the higher the value.

10. Barbie Dolls

Three vintage Barbie dolls in colorful 90s outfits, blonde hair styled with accessories, posed closely together
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Barbies were a staple for many children in the 70s. If you’ve held onto your dolls, and they’re in good condition with their original clothing and accessories, they could fetch a handsome price.

11. Rotary Phones

Rotary Dial Phones in Bright Colors
Image Credit: RDNE Stock Project /Pexels.

The classic rotary phone, with its satisfying dialing mechanism, is a piece of technology that has become a desirable collectible. Especially sought after are models in unusual colors or with unique features.

12. Polaroid Cameras

White Polaroid Now instant camera placed in front of its black retail packaging, displayed on a wooden shelf
Image Credit: Marietto – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.

Instant photography was all the rage in the 70s, thanks to Polaroid. These cameras are now considered vintage and can be highly valuable, particularly if they’re in good working condition.

13. The Beatles Memorabilia

The Beatles vinyl record with blue label, album cover showing band members’ faces, placed on wooden surface
Image Credit: stickermania2853/ Pexels.

Anything related to The Beatles is a collector’s dream. If you have any original albums, posters, or merchandise from the 70s, they could be worth a lot more than you think.

14. Evel Knievel Toys

Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle ToY
Image Credit: Big GAME Hunter Toys/Ebay.

Toys based on the daredevil Evel Knievel were hugely popular in the 70s. If you still have any of these, particularly the stunt cycle toy, you might be sitting on a small fortune.