Atom Jet Racer Zips Past $25K During Auction of Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum Collection

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Ever since Milestone Auctions’ October 2023 debut offering of toys from the legendary Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum collection, the question many vintage toy fans have been asking is, “When will we see Part II?” Their long wait ended recently when the suburban Cleveland auction house rolled out 774 lots of tin windups, battery-operated toys, pressed-steel trucks, Japanese tin cars, Dooling gas racers, and both automotive and character toys from Germany’s pre-war era.

The single-consignor event closed the books at $460,000, a figure that was comfortably within Milestone’s range of expectations and a full $100,000 above the overall low estimate. “Across all categories, better things brought better prices. Some of the numbers were insane, like on the Atom Jet racer and the small Lionel autos,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “European toys were shipped everywhere, and the number of bidders for postwar Japanese toys was way up – collector interest just keeps on growing for that particular category.”

Large and wildly futuristic Yonezawa (Japan) tin friction #58 Atom Jet racer with driver inside.Sold for $25,740 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000 at Milestone Auctions. Image courtesy Milestone Auctions

Made by Yonezawa, the wildly futuristic tin friction #58 Atom Jet racer finished at the top of prices realized. With its distinctive midcentury colors, a toothy chrome grille, and cool 1950s/’60s graphics, the oversize toy measured an impressive 26 inches long. Popular with postwar Japanese toy aficionados, Atom Jet always creates a stir on those rare occasions when an example appears at auction. At Milestone’s sale, it stormed across the finish line to claim $25,740 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.

Other auction highlights include:

Rare 1912 Lionel #80 Automobile Outfit containing orange race car, original drivers and track. Original cardboard box with Lionel advertising on exterior. Appeared never to have been played with. Sold for $10,238, more than five times the high estimate. Image courtesy of Milestone Auctions

Issmayer (Germany) tin clockwork Gordon Bennet racer in excellent condition with original passenger figures, 7 1/2 in. long, sold for $10,148 against an estimate of $4,000-$6,000.

Rare Dean’s Rag Mickey Mouse (attached) on Scooter. All original and in very nice condition Height: 8in. Sold for $5,658 against an estimate of $800-$1,000. Image courtesy of Milestone Auctions

1959 Tonka B-212 Fire Department set with 30-inch fire ladder truck, fire pumper truck and set box lithographed to resemble a burning apartment building marked “TONKA APTS.” Very fine, never-played-with condition. Sold for $3,960 against an estimate of $800-$1,200. Image courtesy of Milestone Auctions

Lehmann (Germany) tin windup Taxi Cab, 7 in. long. All original and in excellent condition. Sold for $3,198 against an estimate of $400-$600 Courtesy of Milestone Auctions

Steelcraft pressed-steel New York/San Francisco streamline bus with Art Deco styling. All original with excellent paint. Length: 21in. Sold well above high estimate for $2,640. Image courtesy of Milestone Auctions