I hinted previously that a plastic toy brontosaurus I had bought might end up being part of our “money maker” series, and indeed it did.
When I first picked this guy up, I took a chance on him for a couple reasons. First, he was stamped on the bottom with all sorts of info. If he was just a cheapie dino from China he wouldn’t have so many stats.
I also took a chance on him because “Brontosaurus” as a prehistoric creature no longer exists. I don’t mean that he is extinct (like all his dino pals) but as a type of dinosaur, the “Brontosaurus” is no more. Some scientists had thought the Apatosaurus and the Brontosaurus were different animals, when they were really the same. Apatosaurus won out.
Anyway, I put this guy on ebay and he instantly started getting bids. LIKE A LOT OF BIDS. So I did a bit of research. This dino was sold in museum gift shops and was therefore pretty rare to begin with. He was also made by Invicta Plastics, which was heralded for its high quality dinosaur casts.
So get this, I paid ONE DOLLAR for my Brontosaurus buddy. And he sold for SIXTY ONE DOLLARS. Thems good margins.
I messaged the buyer and asked him about the dinosaur and his reason for buying. Here is what he said:
Hello! These items are very hard to find!(Almost every invicta plastic dinosaur! Specially in mint condition!)Production line stopped in the early 90’s in the UK!I’ve been wanting these beautifull classic damn plastic dinos since i was a kid maddly!Never did purchase them!Untill these last days!(used! 2-3 items missing!)For enthusiasts like me there pretty collectable! Any info on a Dimetrodon would be great or any Invicta British Museum Of Natural History Plastic Dinosaur!
For the record, this guy is from Greece, which may explain the odd phrasing and abundance of exclamation points. Anyway, I LOVE his enthusiasm and cannot wait to ship out his dino. His country may be responsible for the collapse of the Euro, but HELL THEY’VE NOW GOT ONE OF THE RAREST COLLECTIBLE PLASTIC DINOSAURS EVERRRR.
-Erin