I'm selling my Voltron III Matchbox - Taiwan version. I figured I would let everyone on the forums know first before it goes to ebay. Price is $250 shipped within the USA since it's in fantastic shape and it's rarer than the Japan version (more about that below). It's in like new condition. Below you will see pics of it. Comes with original box (top flap ripped off but other than that rather nice; see pics below) and a copy of instructions. The paint and chrome of all the lions are in like new shape. I would rate 9/10. There are a few light surface scratches on black lion's lower chrome legs (you will see in pic). As for the paint and chrome on all the lions: like new with very minimal wear; they really look like new; very near mint plus++. When I say very minimal, I mean very minimal wear. You will maybe find a tiny pin size dot of a paint chip in a few places. As far as the joints on all the lions: Voltron transforms and works perfectly as he should. All joints are tight except for the green lion's right front leg joint is very loose for some reason. It does not affect the transformation of Voltron. The only other joints that aren't quite as tight as the others are the black lion's lower chrome leg/knee joints (where it bends at the knee). They're not loosey goosey but thy're not real tight either; I would say somewhere in the middle of loose and tight - medium. This really doesn't affect Voltron. He stands perfectly fine/straight with no problem with arms at side. If you put his arms forward/reaching out at the sides he tends to lean/fall forward but you just have to move him back/bend him slightly back for him to stand with his arms up and out. The green and red lion heads shoot off as they should. All lions have silver stickers on their underside that read: GOLION D CY&K TOEI MADE IN TAIWAN. The red, green, blue, and yellow lions all have BANDAI 1981 TAIWAN embossed under their jaws and the black lion has this embossed on the yellow plastic on his back (you have to lift up tail to see embossing). So basically you have a Matchbox Voltron III with near mint + paint and chrome that works as it should and it's the rarer Taiwan recall version to boot. For those that aren't aware, Matchbox Voltron III had one version made in Japan and one version made in Taiwan. The Taiwan version was recalled due to higher lead content in the paints of the lions and were pulled off shelves back in the mid 80's (there's actually a thread I started about it on here titled: Voltron III Matchbox: Taiwan vs Japan version; definitely worth a read). ALso to note, for the black lion, around his chest symbol there is red paint but on his upper arms there are square red stickers that continue the pattern of red surrounding the symbol. The Matchbox Japan version had all red paint but the Taiwan versions that I've seen have the red stickers like mine/this one. The red stickers are on there and look good. Well, I'll let the pics do the talking (click link below):
Hello, in my opinion the set you are selling in that condition is not worth what you are asking. I am not sure what your bottom dollar price is, but that price is way over the top. If you can get someone to pay that price, or even close then I am glad for you. Good Luck.
Well, everyone has their opinion and what amount they would pay for something. Things are worth more person to person. Someone just bought a Voltron III Matchbox Japan version for $340; person stated like new shape but it appeared in the picture the red crest paint was worn/rubbed off a little on the left arm and the bottom of the chrome feet had fading - check it out: http://cgi.ebay.com/Matchbox-DieCast-Voltron-Japan-Goda...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem There was another one that had mixed Taiwan and Japan lions that sold for $295. Too bad the people who bought these didn't see mine when it was listed. It's all about who is looking for it at the time your selling. Pricing varies on ebay day to day but the lowest I will sell that Voltron for right at this moment is $200 shipped in the USA. Shipping is $20 so price is really $180 plus shipping. Some people would think that's reasonable to a little high but hey, you want a good quality Voltron then you have to pay more. Sure, you can find one for $75-$100 with visibly bad chrome and paint wear and who knows about the joints since the people that sell the more worn out ones don't give much info and you find yourself asking questions to get to what the seller should have already stated up front (like me). Here, check this one that went for $61: http://cgi.ebay.com/Voltron-Transforming-Robot-by-Match...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Note: that is the lowest one sold for on ebay in the last few weeks. Those who want quality pay the extra amount needed. It's not that easy to find a Voltron in the shape mine is that I'm selling. The toy is 20 years old and of course hasn't been made in years. If I don't get that for it then I keep it. But I think it will just be a matter of time before it does sell for that. Here's another example of one that sold for $150 plus shipping: http://cgi.ebay.com/1984-Matchbox-VOLTRON-III-3-Lion-3-...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Looks comparable to the shape mine is in but you can see some wear on the black lion and he states 8/10 chrome and paint wear so it's in good shape with a little wear. $150 plus shipping is a fair/good price for that one. Someone got a pretty good deal. I'm selling the Taiwan one which is rarer than the Japan version. If I put mine for $150 buy it now there's no doubt it would sell fairly quickly. $175-180 plus shipping is what I want to get for it and I should have no problem getting that for it sooner or later.
UPDATE: ITEM IS NOW SOLD. NO LONGER FOR SALE. WENT FOR $185 PLUS SHIPPING. I JUST LISTED IT ON EBAY 1 HOUR AGO BUY IT NOW AND IT ALREADY SOLD AND BUYER ALREADY PAID. WENT SUPER QUICK!!
Thanks K2! You got a great deal on that MISB one! I just recently bought a MISB one too for $229. It's the Matchbox Japan version with open book box. Seller stated MISB and there are 4 pieces of tape (2 on top flap and 2 on bottom)sealing it. The tab that you would insert in to the side of the box to close/seal the front cover hasn't been broken/opened to insert. Box looks awesome as well as the clear plastic windows. The lions look brand new too. The only thing I noticed when looking thru the plastic window is the red lion has two real small pin size dots of paint loss/chip (really really small pin size). I wonder if this could be from age or from the factory like this? Either way, this is a set I will keep probably forever since it looks like I just went to Toy's R Us and bought it! I remember in the 80's they had it displayed in their big glass case along with motorized rc vehicles like Typhoon, submarine, monster trucks, etc. I also have an opened and displayed Matchbox Japan one that is like new but not quite as nice as the MISB one. So I have one for display and one extra MISB in case I need it/just to have since I absolutely love Voltron! This is an awesome and by far the coolest die cast robot ever! I used to watch Voltron as a little kid all the time. I remember for my 6 or 7th birthday (talking 1986 or 1987) my parents bought me the die cast Matchbox Voltron III and displayed it so when I woke up I saw it right on my dresser. It was awesome. Then I remember my parents saying "it's die cast you know" and they thought it was too heavy/hard for me to play with and said they have a plastic Voltron and you can actually put the figures inside (Panosh Place) which might be better fore me if I wanted to really play with it which I usually did with my figures. I said yeah and they returned the die cast Matchbox Voltron and got me the Panosh Place with all the figures. I played with it all thru my childhood and while it was better to play with, I always knew the die cast one was cooler and I missed it. So here I am years later wanting my childhood toy back and I got it!!
Box is minty fresh too!
