Auburn Rubber Pick-up Truck
Auburn Rubber Company • Auburn Rubber Toy Vehicles
Toy Category
Vehicle
Year Released
circa 1950-1955
Condition
Fair; The body shows significant age but retains its shape. Crucially, the metal axles and rubber wheels are completely missing, and there is a tear/break at the front bumper loop hitch.
Estimated Market Value
$5.00 - $10.00 (In complete condition, these range from $25-$40; missing wheels reduces value significantly)
Description
A single-piece molded rubber pickup truck based on late 1940s Ford or Chevrolet styling. It features a bright red body with hollow windows, an open truck bed with wheel well humps, and a front bumper hitch loop. These were designed for rugged play and are often found with the metal axles and black rubber wheels missing.
Market Value
Estimated Market Value
$5.00 - $10.00 (In complete condition, these range from $25-$40; missing wheels reduces value significantly)
Auction Estimate
$3.00 - $7.00
Toy Identity
Edition Details
Standard mass-market release; Manufactured in Auburn, Indiana, USA
Model Number
Item No. 518 (Commonly assigned to this casting size)
Toy Type
Molded Rubber; Scale approximately 1:32-1:36 (approx. 4-5 inches scale)
Toy Condition
Fair; The body shows significant age but retains its shape. Crucially, the metal axles and rubber wheels are completely missing, and there is a tear/break at the front bumper loop hitch.
Packaging Condition
No Packaging; Item is loose and shows signs of heavy play wear.
Rarity & Significance
Low to Moderate; While Auburn Rubber toys are highly collectible as mid-century Americana, this specific example is common and in poor structural condition due to the missing chassis components.
Special Features
Single-mold construction, front bumper hitch loop, non-toxic flexible material design.
Notable Variations
Produced in various colors including blue, yellow, and green. Later versions were sometimes produced in vinyl/soft plastic as rubber production phased out in the late 1950s.