While McDonald’s has been a staple in the fast-food industry since 1940, it wasn’t until the late 1970s that the iconic Happy Meal made its debut. This innovation came in response to competitive pressures, particularly from Burger Chef, a now-defunct rival that attracted families with toy offerings. Bob Bernstein, the advertising executive who played a crucial role in the Happy Meal’s creation, shared with CNN, “We were losing our endorsement of the kids. We wanted to reestablish ourselves with kids and the family and say we were kid friendly.”
Bernstein found inspiration in watching his son captivated by cereal boxes during breakfast, leading to the invention of the first Happy Meal box. Their initial concept, introduced in 1977, featured a burger, fries, cookies, a soda, and a small toy, all packaged in a box adorned with comics, puzzles, and games—elements designed to engage children during mealtime.
Initially, Happy Meals were launched in select cities, including Kansas City, Denver, and Phoenix, as other key markets hesitated to adopt the idea. However, by 1979, after a successful trial period, the Happy Meal rolled out nationwide, quickly gaining traction for its toy offerings.
Decades later, McDonald’s has firmly established itself as a family-friendly brand, renowned for those nostalgic toys that many of us cherished in our youth. If you’ve held onto any McDonald’s toys from your childhood, you might be surprised to learn that some of them can be quite valuable. Below, we explore some of the most sought-after collectibles.
McDonaldland ’70s Plush Toys
Although the Happy Meal was launched nationwide in 1979, McDonald’s had previously released toys based on characters from their commercials in the 1970s. They developed a whimsical world featuring Ronald McDonald and his friends, including popular figures like the Hamburglar, Officer Big Mac, and Mayor McCheese.
Among these toys, two stand out in terms of value. A rubber Mayor McCheese figure recently sold for $330 on eBay, though most usually sell for $50 to $70. Additionally, a plush set featuring both Mayor McCheese and Officer Big Mac has recently fetched over $225. The rarity of these characters, as they were phased out of commercials in the 1980s, likely contributes to their high resale value.
Dukes of Hazzard Cars
In 1979, “The Dukes of Hazzard” captured the hearts of viewers, running until its final episode in 1985. McDonald’s seized the moment by introducing toy cars from the show in their Happy Meals, including the famous General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger. These toys came with customizable stickers, including a controversial Confederate flag sticker.
Today, these Happy Meal toys are highly sought after by collectors. A complete set recently sold for over $350, while individual General Lee toys can command prices around $250. The collectible nature of these toys is partly attributed to the inclusion of the Confederate flag sticker, which contributed to the series’ removal from TV Land in 2015. Other vehicles from the franchise, such as Boss Hogg’s Cadillac and Daisy Duke’s Jeep, have sold for between $83 and $115.
In 1983, McDonald’s introduced Chicken McNuggets to their menu, which led to the creation of the McNugget Buddies toys in Happy Meals. These playful figures, featuring removable costumes, became a hit among children until they were discontinued in 1996. Recently, McDonald’s even revived these nostalgic toys in limited-edition adult Happy Meals.
Complete sets of McNugget Buddies can fetch a good price on eBay; collections from the early 1990s have sold for around $112, and unopened sets typically range from $100 to $250. In original packaging, McNugget Buddies have been known to sell for over $200.
Additionally, McDonald’s launched Changeables in the 1980s, inspired by the Transformers craze. These unique toys could transform from classic menu items into robots, captivating both kids and collectors. If you happen to find any Changeables from the 1980s in your possession, you might be pleasantly surprised—complete, unopened sets have recently sold for over $400, with most collections going for between $100 and $150.
Fast forward to the late 1990s, owning a Furby was a surefire way to gain popularity among peers. In 1999, McDonald’s released a collection of 80 McFurbys in various colors, which are now coveted by collectors. A complete set has recently fetched around $150, while smaller assortments can sell for anywhere from $1 to $25.
In 1986, the iconic Boo Buckets were introduced, featuring characters like the orange McPunk’n, the white McBoo, and the green McGoblin. These buckets became a Halloween favorite for Millennials, providing a fun way for children to collect candy. A full set of these buckets from 1990 has sold for about $150, while a lot of 17 from 1986 fetched $200. Each bucket features three different facial expressions, making them highly collectible. Even a small collection of Boo Buckets can yield between $50 and $100.
While McDonald’s has reintroduced some of these toys in recent years, the original versions from the ‘80s and ‘90s continue to hold a special place in the hearts of collectors. If you have any vintage McDonald’s toys stashed away, you might just be sitting on a hidden treasure!
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