Hi Chuck,

Well, looks like you're touching upon a though subject. Only few of the recent Märklin items are really rare, depending on how you would define it. Items which I would define (for practical purposes) as recent rare items, would be produced after the mid 1990's and in MINT condition sell at the RRP or above. Bear in mind that items typically sell at prices just below the RRP, once sold new from shops. By taking the RRP, I would explicitly exclude very special items produced for individual shops, small batches for Business2Business sales and thus only include items that could be bought through at least a larger number of dealers in one or more countries. In that case, from the top of my mind I can list a few:

- 39021 (Blue Baden IVh steamer)
- 37343 (RE 4/4 II TEE)
- 48706 (1Fc. Märklin Kryptonite car)
- 37838 (BR 50, Christmas edition)
- Trix 24221 (does that count?) - (Bavarian Tank Car for 15 years+ members of the Trix club)

Some of the early weathered (or snow covered) locos as well as the early Bar car (4998) fetch high prices as well, if ever offered.

I am sure there are many more matching the definition above, however, it is also quite true that most articles sold as one time limited items are certainly limited in number, but not scarce per se. Additionally, as there are many people collecting, rather than running their models, even scarce ones are occasionally offered as new on fairs, eBay or elsewhere. In fact, I myself have a fairly rare loco listed currently, only 360 have been produced, in spite of that, it doesn't match the definition above as it comes cheaper than the RRP. Anyway, I would strongly advise against buying any Märklin for financial gain. Buy what you like, and if you are after a profit, seek elsewhere...

Hope this helps,

See this link for an item that could be considered rare. One of 333 made, and once distributed were selling for 3-4 times the original purchase price. I don't know what th egoing rate is now, and don't currently have access to a 2016 kolls to see what he says it is worth.

There are other models that have limited production quantities, sometimes round numbers like 999 or 5000, sometimes other funny numbers.

That was the retail price, they were going for 1000-1300 euro just after they were released. Probably unrealistic to hit the top end now, but I would have thought it would be more than retail. I don't think he has updated that since 2015, which also showed the retail price.

Thanks for looking it up Nigel.

Hi Chuck,

I look for the MAXI - car 95014 (Transport de Poissons) since years.

Regards

Markus

Some items are rarer than others. The 3422 Br194 in blue and cream, for example, can be quite hard to find at a good price.

Some of the special wagons can be quite rare too. Some of the early museum wagons can set you back several hundred euros.

I agree, but the Museum wagons from the mid 90's on are still not hard to find and at reasonable prices. Remember I talking about the mid 90's until the present.

Chuck

Yea Ray, those first few years can be rather pricey.

Chuck