The honest answer for most mainlines: about what you paid. The interesting answer: the exceptions are very specific, and telling them apart is the whole game.
The value tiers, realistically
Modern mainlines — £1–3. The overwhelming majority.
Sought-after mainline castings (JDM favourites, popular fantasy castings) — £4–15 to the right collector.
Premium lines (Car Culture, Team Transport, collaborations) — £8–40, metal-base, Real Riders.
Regular Treasure Hunts — £3–10. Super Treasure Hunts — £20–150+.
Vintage Redlines (1968–1977) — the deep end: condition-graded, with rare colours reaching hundreds or more.
Errors and prototypes — wrong wheels, missing tampos: niche but real premiums.
What moves the price
The exact variant — year, colour, wheel type and series can separate a £2 car from a £60 one on the same casting.
Condition and packaging — carded beats loose by 2–10×; card condition matters almost as much as the car.
Sold prices beat asking prices — always judge value on completed sales, not hopeful listings.
Point your camera at it
Vekkle Diecast identifies the casting and exact variant from a photo, flags Treasure Hunts, and shows live collector prices.