5 Iconic 1960s Items Worth a Small Fortune Now
Between the incredible amounts of unparalleled music, historically defining political movements and a style that was all its own, there never been a time quite as iconic as the 1960s. Whether you aim to fondly look back on that time or be transported to an era you never got the chance to experience, vintage collectibles can be the ticket to a nostalgic fix -- not to mention worth lots of money.
If you are someone who loves vinyl records, coke-bottle glasses and dancing "The Twist," then check out these items from the 1960s worth a bucket of money in today's dollars.
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1. Volkswagen Vans
Good luck finding a more iconic car from the 1960s than the Volkswagen van, especially the one dubbed as the 13-window bus -- one of the most popular models produced. According to Past Factory, when it comes to VW vans today, "The standard model can sell for anywhere between $15,000 and $50,000, the 13-window can retail for upward of $150,000."
"These vintage, utilitarian, metal-clad, ill-shape boxes on wheels somehow bring out the adventurous, fun, freedom-loving spirit that was collectively yearned for in the 1960s [and] still rings true today," said JustAnswer appraisals expert Nora Curl.
Curl noted that a 1965 Type 2, 21-window Deluxe sold for a record $302,500 in 2017 through Barrett-Jackson's sale in Scottsdale, Arizona, which also sold a Type 2 1961 23-window Deluxe the very next year for $291,500.
2. Concert Merchandise
The music of the 1960s was a treasure trove of sound. If you went to the shows and kept your ticket stubs, you might have more than just good memories -- you could have a small fortune.
"Who knew that a tiny, old, half-torn paper concert ticket stub that you kept in a memories scrapbook can now be worth hundreds, if not thousands of dollars?" said Curl. "1967-1968 Jimi Hendrix Experience torn ticket stubs, especially with accompanying programs, have sold for $2,250 to $4,170 in recent years through RR Auction. Without the program, you can still expect $800 to $1,200."
Merchandise -- especially rock concert posters from artists of the era -- can be worth a lot of money in today's dollars, as well
"A 1966 Sept. 16 and 17 Skeleton and Roses Grateful Dead at Avalon Ballroom poster, [in] 9.8 graded condition, sold for $145,200.00 in 2023 at Goldin," Curl added. "The image was inspired by a 1900 work by Edward Joseph Sullivan and was reinvented into a color poster by Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley. Other copies of this poster have sold for $10,000 to $37,500 in past years."
3. Sputnik Chandeliers
You probably know these atomic-style, space-inspired Sputnik chandeliers just by sight. They were designed by Hans Harald Rath, a fourth-generation member of the family-owned Lobmeyr Glass Company in Vienna, Austria. The original chandelier, with hundreds of hand-cut Swarovski crystals, was gifted to the Met Opera.
"Currently, a reproduction of the Metropolitan Chandelier can be purchased from their gift shop for $34,1750, or $30,757,50 with membership," Curl said. "Vintage ceiling light fixtures in that style by the same maker are being offered for $19,000 to $30,000. And similar designs, in smaller sizes, by contemporary high-end lighting makers [go for] $4,000 to $8,000."
4. The White Album by The Beatles (First Pressing)
According to Curl, in total there were about 3,200,000 pressings of The Beatles' infamous White Album, with the first 10,000 considered to be highly valuable by collectors.
"The original retail price then ranged from $7 to $11.79," said Curl. "A far cry from the Ringo Starr personally owned, numbered 0000001, originally sold for $790,000 in 2015 at Julien's Auctions."
"Recently a numbered 0000006 British mono edition, previously owned by John Lennon, sold for $162,500 at Heritage Auctions," Curl went on to explain. "It is purported that the albums numbered 0000001 to 0000020 were mostly in the possession of those closest to the band. Low number first pressings, without the stellar provenance, or history of past ownership, can resell for four to five figures."
5. Astronaut and Space Memorabilia
Space might be the final frontier, but in the 1960s, the race was on and everyone was into having a little piece of the stars in the sky, man-made or natural.
"For the most part, any [...] early space exploration-related items are going to have some kind of value," Curl said. She noted that, from there, the actual dollar amount largely relies on how relevant to NASA an item is, what it is, and a number of other factors.
"Autographed photos from the Apollo 11 American astronauts who landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, have sold for $5,000 to $10,000," Curl added. "Beware that signed items from later decades are not going to have potential value."
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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