McDonald's was in its heyday from the 1970s to the 2000s. Apple pies were actually fried, and their nuggets weren't breaded into oblivion. As a 90s kid, I remember the Golden Arch's golden era well, and I've got the vintage McDonald's glasses to prove it. And what we thought were just fun tchotchkes to beg our parents for have turned into a surprisingly expensive collectible.
9 Vintage McDonald's Glasses With Values Worth Toasting To
Back in the 1980s, getting fast food was an event, and these restaurants created all sorts of gimmicky goods, games, and giveaways to draw people in. While Happy Meals toys were for kids, McDonald's made its specialty glasses for adults. Adults could take home these limited-edition glasses (usually with a pop culture tie-in flare) for a nominal fee.
Nowadays, you can find these errant glasses in thrift stores with pretty cheap price tags. But nostalgia sells, and these vintage McDonald's glasses are making a huge comeback.
| Vintage McDonald's Glasses | Recent Sales Prices |
|---|---|
| 1983 Camp Snoopy Glasses | $35 |
| 1981 The Great Muppet Caper Glasses | $42 |
| 1995 Batman Forever Glass Mugs | $50 |
| 2007 Shrek the Third Glasses | $56 |
| 1993 Topps All-Time Greatest Team Glasses | $60 |
| 1976 Anchor Hocking Milk Glass Mugs | $65 |
| 1977 Collector's Action Series Glasses | $80 |
| 1970s Prototype Character Glasses | $300 |
| 1977 Fry Guy Gold Prototype Glass | $600 |
1983 Camp Snoopy Glasses: $35
Made in 1983, McDonald's 'Camp Snoopy' glasses took the beloved characters from the Peanuts comic strips and printed them onto their signature cylindrical glass cups. There were five designs in total featuring the characters in various camp-themed scenes.
Generally, Camp Snoopy glasses sell for about as much as most other vintage McDonald's glasses do — around $10-$40. Complete sets will get you the most money online, like this one that recently sold for $35.
1981 The Great Muppet Caper Glasses: $42
In 1981, McDonald's made a couple of glasses to promote the new muppet movie, The Great Muppet Caper. Decked out in bright and silly illustrations, every major character had a dedicated glass. A complete set of these tall glasses goes for about $20-$40 online, like this one that sold for $42.
1995 Batman Forever Glass Mugs: $50
Batman Forever was the camp classic that rocked every young millennial's world in 1995. McDonald's, in their robust marketing campaigns, partnered with the film to release several 3-D character mugs.
While these aren't the most expensive vintage McDonald's glasses you can find, pristine sets can sell for upwards of $50-$100. For example, a complete set of all 10 mugs sold for $50 in an eBay auction.
2007 Shrek the Third Glasses: $56
In terms of lasting popularity, Shrek is Dreamworks' most successful title. With a fifth movie on the horizon, Shrek merch is set to skyrocket in value. Back in 2007, when the third film in the series was released, McDonald's launched its own collectible glasses line.
Right now, you can nab sets of these glasses for around $50. For example, an eight-piece set recently went for $56 online.
1993 Topps All-Time Greatest Team Glasses: $60
If baseball trading card prices are anything to go off of, MLB fans are willing to shell out big bucks when it comes to team and player memorabilia. McDonald's released a glasses series featuring several of the game's greatest players in conjunction with Topps — yes, that trading card company.
Sports collectibles always find their fans, and these glasses are no different. Complete sets are the most valuable, selling for anywhere between $50 and $100. A 10-piece set recently sold for about $60 online.
1976 Anchor Hocking Milk Glass Coffee Mugs: $64.99
Anchor Hocking is one of the most famous American glassware makers from the 20th century. From affordable Depression glass sets to McDonald's milk glass coffee mugs, vintage Anchor Hocking makes a killing on resell websites.
In fact, a set of six McDonald's Anchor Hocking mugs from around 1976 sold for about $65 on eBay. Though they're not what most people think of when they hear McDonald's glasses, they're infinitely collectible today.
1977 Collector's Action Series Glasses: $80
Following their white-background character prototype glasses, McDonald's eventually settled on a clear background glass that featured one of six different characters: Ronald McDonald, Officer Big Mac, Mayor McCheese, Grimace, the Hamburgler, and Captain Crook.
These were marketed as a bit of a collector's item, pushing people to clamor for a complete set. This collector's mindset makes them worth about $50 to $75. For example, a complete Action Series glass set recently sold for $80 on eBay.
1970s Prototype Character Glasses: $300
Before McDonald's turned to celebrity voiceovers and intense close-ups of their food, they were pumping out commercials with their unhinged characters getting into hijinks with one another. From the iconic Ronald McDonald to the indescribably strange Grimace, these characters weaseled their way into people's hearts in the 1960s and 1970s.
They were so popular that McDonald's made early prototypes of their future-successful glasses venture with some of their characters. These glasses are quite valuable today because no one's sure how many were made. In fact, individual glasses, like this Ronald McDonald, are selling for a little over $300 apiece on eBay.
1977 Fry Guy Gold Prototype Glass: $600
The most expensive vintage McDonald's glass to sell in a long while is a 1977 prototype. Uncharacteristically golden in color (as opposed to their usual clear glasses), this Fry Guy glass — featuring an illustration of Ronald McDonald himself — is extremely hard to find. Hence why one collector battled it out in an eBay auction and won it for a whopping $599.99.
Raise a Glass to These Iconic McDonald's Momentoes
From Boo Buckets to vintage McDonald's glasses, there are so many special mementos from the golden arches that can send you back to your childhood. And for a spare 50 bucks, you, too, can get a healthy dose of nostalgia shot right into your bloodstream.
