The Rarest And Most Expensive Gunpla Kits

Key Takeaways

• The Gundam franchise has inspired fans for more than 40 years with iconic mobile suits.
• Gunpla market includes rare and highly sought-after kits, some selling for high prices.
• Collectible Gundam models range from $200 to $11,000, with some being incredibly rare.

Often called ‘Japan’s Star Wars,’ the Gundam franchise has inspired fans worldwide for 40+ years with its groundbreaking mechas, rich universe, and complex characters. Alongside the shows and movies, the ‘Gunpla’ market, which is short for Gundam plastic model kits, has grown. These Gunpla range from high-quality model kits to detailed action figures that showcase the iconic mobile suits.

Gunpla has become such an independently popular hobby that many people who have never even watched Gundam still buy and collect kits. And as with any popular collectible, Gunpla released in limited quantities or through exclusive events have become rare and highly sought-after treasures. So here the rarest Gundam kits out there!

10

Bandai Hi-Res 1/100 Wing Gundam Zero Endless Waltz (Plated Coating)

$200

A limited color version of the Hi-Resolution Wing Gundam Zero, this kit features pearl coloring for the white armor, and a matte metallic finish for the blue, red, and yellow armor. That matte finish is an especially nice touch, as it more closely resembles the way metal looks in anime (as opposed to shiny and reflective metal).

There are only a handful of High Resolution kits available for Gundam, which have the assembler build armor and apply it to a pre-constructed frame rather than build the frame itself. Originally released in 2018, this pearl coated version of the Hi-Res Wing Gundam Zero remains difficult to find to this day.

9

HGUC 1/144 RX-78 GP03 Gundam Dendrobium

$300 – $500

A stunning recreation of the massive RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium, this kit is a whopping 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. With multiple attachable weapons and 108 micro-missile packs, the RX-78 GP03 Gundam Dendrobium includes both the mobile weapon and the Gundam itself.

The RX-78 GP03 Gundam Dendrobium is so massive that its accessory kit alone is the size of a ‘regular’ Gunpla. The Dendrobium is such a faithful recreation that, over 20 years after its release, the kit is still in high demand.

$250 – $500

Released in 2020, the Metal Build Astray Gold Frame Amatsu Hana features die-cast construction that sets it apart from the bulk of Gundam kits, which are primarily made of plastic. This exceptional design quality and attention to detail made it a prized kit among collectors, and it’s still in high demand.

Though the Astray Gold Frame Amatsu Hana Metal Build is a beautiful piece that would’ve been well-received no matter the circumstances, a surge in Gunpla interest due to the COVID quarantine may have caused the kit to sell out even faster. Either way, the kit will still cost you big bucks to get your hands on it.

7

Premium Limited Bandai PG 1/60 Trans-Am Raiser Gundam 00

$600

A tenth-anniversary celebration of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, this kit recreates the GN-0000+GNR-010 00 Raiser that was introduced in the second season of the show. Its striking colors are accented with metallic molding that gives an extra pop to what is already an eye-catching model.

Equipped with LED lighting in the GN Drives, the Trans-Am Raiser Gundam 00 even glows a vivid green that mimics the GN particle release. This attention to detail and the fact that the model kit was a limited release for the show’s anniversary make it one of the rarest ever made.

$700

Back-to-back in 2002 and 2003, the MG Special Mechanic Seal W Chance Campaign gave Gundam fans some of the most sought-after models ever made. In 2003, that kit was the PG 1/60 Char’s Custom Zaku II Red Metal Version.

Unlike 2002’s prize — which only had 30 models created — this red metal version of Char’s Custom Zaku II saw 300 kits distributed. Though it may be slightly more available than the 2002 grand prize, it’s still one of the most sought after Gunplas in the world.

5

Perfect Grade Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex Narrative Version

$600 – $900

One of the flashiest and most eye-catching Gunplas around, the Perfect Grade Unicorn Phenex Narrative Version can’t be found in a model kit shop. This isn’t just due to its rarity, but because Bandai had a limited sale online only.

The model is derived from the Mobile Suit Gundam NT anime, complete with a dazzling gold finish and blue LEDs. The kit originally sold for $550, but high demand has caused the aftermarket price to fluctuate between $600 and $900, with some outliers selling for as high as $1,600.

4

MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Version 2.0 Pure Gold Plating

$2,000

The Pure Gold Plating Version of the 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam (ver. 2) was more destined to become a ‘holy grail’ of collectors than many other kits because only a limited number of people even had access to it. The kit wasn’t just only available to Club MG members—it was only available to those who had collected a certain number of points.

Today, the MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Version 2.0 Pure Gold Plating kit is such a rare find that it can be tough to price accurately. Most estimates put it around $2,000 to $2,350, but a 2024 eBay listing seems to have sold for nearly $15,000.

$2,500

When Tamashii Nations goes big, it doesn’t mess around. The Metal Structure Kaitai-Shou-Ki RX-93 Nu Gundam depicts the ν Gundam (the ‘v’ is pronounced ‘nu’) from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. The model contains a staggering 2,000 individual parts, which come together to meticulously detail every aspect of the mecha.

Standing two-feet tall with die-cast components, the Nu Gundam features movable armor panels, LED lights, and plenty of accessories like the beam rifle, New Hyper Bazooka, and beam sabers. In regard to its high price point and rarity, the piece speaks for itself.

$3,000

Another gargantuan model from Tamashii Nations, the MSN-04 Sazabi comes from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. It launched in 2022 and, like the other products in Tamashii Nations’ Kaitai-Shou-Ki line, the level of detail and craftsmanship is unparalleled.

Originally priced around $1,300, the figure was only available through a timed lottery, making it difficult for most fans to obtain it directly. The limited quantities that were available quickly sold out, with aftermarket listings reaching astounding prices. The model is still a pricey and hard-to-find item today, but back in 2022, prices reached as high as $8,000.

1

PG 1/60 RX-78-2 (Gundam Gold Version)

$7,000 – $11,000

The MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Version 2.0 Pure Gold Plating may have had a one-time selling of $15,000 and the Tamashii Nations Metal Structure Kaitai-Shou-Ki MSN-04 Sazabi did once hit $8,000, but high price tag of the PG 1/60 RX-78-2, or ‘Gundam Gold Version,’ is the most consistently high due to its rarity.

Like the PG 1/60 Char’s Custom Zaku II Red Metal Version, the Gundam Gold Version was a limited-edition prize for the MG Special Mechanic Seal W Chance Campaign (this one for 2002). Considering only 30 kits were ever created, fans will be hard-pressed to ever even see one of these in real life.