If your garage contains these 8 forgotten items, you might be sitting on a goldmine

Last weekend, while helping my neighbor clear out his garage after 30 years, I stumbled upon something that made my jaw drop.

Tucked behind a dusty workbench was an old record player that he was about to toss. “That thing’s worth at least two hundred bucks,” I told him. The look on his face? Priceless.

It got me thinking about my own garage. When my wife and I decluttered our home, we discovered we’d been literally sitting on thousands of dollars worth of forgotten items.

Our garage, in particular, had become a time capsule of decades worth of accumulation. And let me tell you, some of that “junk” turned out to be anything but.

Most of us walk past potential goldmines every single day without realizing it. That box of old camping gear? The toys your kids abandoned decades ago?

They might just fund your next vacation.

1. Vintage Coleman camping lanterns

Remember those indestructible green or red Coleman lanterns from family camping trips back in the day? The ones that seemed to survive everything from rainstorms to being dropped off picnic tables?

Well, those sturdy survivors from the 70s and 80s now sell for $100-300 if they’re still working. Even broken ones fetch $50-75 because collectors need them for parts.

I found two in my garage – one from a camping trip we took when the kids were little, another inherited from my father-in-law. Both still had the original mantles.

The real kicker? The older the model, the more it’s worth. Those pressurized gas models with the red tanks? Pure gold to collectors.

2. Original Star Wars toys (1977-1985)

“Dad, can I throw out this box of old space toys?” my son asked me a few years back. Thank goodness I looked inside first.

Even loose Star Wars figures without their original packaging can be worth $20-100 each. Complete sets or vehicles? We’re talking hundreds to thousands of dollars. 

The most valuable ones are from the original trilogy era. Look for anything made between 1977 and 1985. Even if they’re missing pieces, collectors might want them.

3. Old license plates

This one surprised me. Who knew people collected these things?

Pre-1970 plates, especially from less common states or with unique numbering sequences, sell for $30-200. Got porcelain plates from before WWII? You might be looking at several hundred dollars.

I had a stack of old plates from various family cars dating back to the 1960s. Sold them to a collector for enough to cover a nice dinner out with the grandkids – and then some.

4. Vintage fishing reels and lures

My neighbor, the same one with the Coleman lantern, nearly fainted when I told him what his dad’s old Penn reel was worth.

Quality reels from companies like Penn, Shakespeare, or Abu Garcia from the 50s through the 70s are worth $100-500. Individual wooden lures? They can sell for $20-50 each, sometimes more for rare ones. Even if they’re a bit rusty or the paint’s chipped, collectors love them for restoration projects.

I found a tackle box that belonged to my father – hadn’t opened it in twenty years. Inside were a dozen wooden lures that netted me almost $400.

5. Classic board games

Remember Dark Tower? That electronic board game that seemed so high-tech back in 1981?

Complete sets now sell for over $300. HeroQuest goes for $200 or more. Even original Monopoly sets from the 60s and 70s can fetch $50-150. The key word here is “complete” – all pieces, instructions, and preferably the original box.

We had a closet full of these games from when the kids were young. Most were missing pieces, but the few complete sets we had funded a weekend getaway.

6. Old power tools

Here’s something that might make you reconsider that garage sale: vintage Craftsman, Black & Decker, or Shopsmith tools from the 50s through the 70s are highly sought after.

Working drill presses, sanders, or saws can bring $100-400. Why? They were built like tanks back then – solid metal construction, replaceable parts, and they still work better than much of what’s made today. I sold an old Craftsman radial arm saw for $350 to a woodworker who specifically wanted vintage equipment.

7. Vintage coolers

Those metal Coleman or Thermos coolers that weighed a ton even when empty? They’re hot commodities now.

Coolers from the 50s through the 70s, especially in unique colors like turquoise or yellow, sell for $75-300. The older the better, and ice chests with original paint and minimal rust fetch premium prices.

We had two – one green Coleman from the 60s and a red Thermos model. Sold them both to a vintage camping enthusiast for $400 total.

8. Classic bicycles and parts

Ever heard of a Schwinn Stingray? How about those banana seat bikes every kid wanted in the 70s?

Complete vintage bikes can be worth $200-1,500 depending on the model and condition. But here’s the thing – even just parts are valuable. Original seats, handlebars, or wheels from classic bikes are sought after by restoration enthusiasts. I had an old Schwinn collecting dust for decades. A collector paid me $450 for it, rust and all.

Final thoughts

The condition matters, but not as much as you’d think. Even items with wear have value to collectors and restoration enthusiasts. The key is authenticity – original parts and materials are what people want.

Before you do anything, check online marketplaces for current prices. eBay’s “sold” listings are particularly helpful – they show what people actually paid, not just asking prices. You’ll be amazed at what folks are willing to shell out for authentic vintage items.

Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of throwing these items away or selling them for pennies at a garage sale without researching first. Take time to look up each item. That “junk” could fund a nice vacation, boost your retirement savings, or at least pay for a few special outings with the grandkids.