Many of the Matchbox cars that Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge has in his collection are still in their original boxes. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

A mail-order Matchbox car that Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge has in his collection. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge looks for a particular car among the 23,000 Matchbox cars stacked floor to ceiling in display cases in his basement. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge holds up a box of Matchbox Yesteryear cars. He has about 23,000 Matchbox cars stacked floor to ceiling in display cases in his basement. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

A custom made Matchbox car, designed to look like a van Joe DiNovo of Norridge used to have with the Chicago Bears logo on it, which he had made for his 52nd anniversary with his wife Marion. After celebrating their 60th anniversary in December, he's getting another custom car made for their anniversary. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge points out some of the toy trucks and cars that line his walls, most in their original boxes. He has about 23,000 Matchbox cars stacked floor to ceiling in display cases in his basement. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Joe DiNovo of Norridge displays a series of Matchbox cars representing each of the 50 states in his basement. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge holds up a custom made Matchbox car with his name on it. He has about 23,000 Matchbox cars stacked floor to ceiling in display cases in his basement. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

One of the oldest sets of Matchbox cars that Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge owns. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Besides collecting Matchbox cars, Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge is an avid Bears fan. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge has about 23,000 Matchbox cars stacked floor to ceiling in his basement. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

One of the oldest sets of Matchbox cars that Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge owns. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Joe DiNovo, 84, of Norridge has about 23,000 Matchbox cars stacked floor to ceiling in display cases in his basement. He started collecting cars in 1965. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media