Odd, brown, battery-operated "space tank" from 80s

[acroyear]

Need help identifying an odd mid-80's motorized vehicle
I guess it would would help if I had a picture of this toy, but I don't. I'll try to describe it the best I can.

Back around 1984 or 1985, there was this unusual, brown, battery-operated "space tank" toy, that- I think, was an one-off. I remember my mom buying it for me from Gimbels. On the cover of the box of the toy, it had a picture of a Kenner TIE fighter pilot riding in it's "cockpit" (which is strange, since this wasn't a Star Wars toy, nor was it made by Kenner). I remember thinking, as a kid, that it kind of seemed generic, there wasn't a line of figures or other vehicles to go along with it.

Several years ago, some toy collector website featured some catalogs from J.C. Penny's or Sears that featured this toy in its Christmas toy section. I really wish I made a note of what it was. Then, a year or so later, another toy collector site that featured some oddball, obscure (Japanese?) toys, had a picture of it, along with several other similar vehicles. Which got me thinking that the toy I got from Gimbels was a bootleg, or knockoff of some sort.

I have long since parted ways with the toy. But, I'm really curious what it was, and if there are more like it, or if it is from a line of toys imported from Asia.

I tried using google, but I really couldn't find the right search words. It really was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Which leads me back to here. I was wondering if anyone here had this toy, or know what it is...? I can't remember if it had motorized wheels on the bottom or if the "treads" on the side flipped-over as it moved. It was a rather awkward toy, and somewhat bland.

Anyone here that might have any info to share on this toy would be greatly appreciated.

[acroyear]

It vaguely looks like the GI Joe Imp. It has no weapons. It's roughly the same size as the Imp. It's perhaps a little more shaped like a box. It has a weird "wheel" on it's front that serves no purpose. The toy is actually kind of ugly.

[deadpool0207]

Ok I have no clue what your talking about but I did remember awhile back I found a really cool website that had old store catalogs heres the site www.wishbookweb.com/ if you click on the "Links" you can look at even more on there flickr page
its pretty cool
I hope you can find it

[rihia2k]

Indiana... Indiana... let it go.

(but I totally sympathize, y'know I can so well picture this ugly tank from what you've described, it's creepin' me out.)

[proteus]

i remember these - but i cant remember what theyre called- im sure someone does- they also did a kind of dinosaur zoid type robot, the box showed customised masters and star wars toys riding in the toy to show it played with both- they were called gigantoids, or mamoths or something like that- they had wind up motors.

[deadpool0207]

Proteus it sounds like your talking about the Megadons www.virtualtoychest.com/m/megadons/megadons.html

[proteus]

yeah thats the ones- there were loads of stuff similar to them over here i wonder if this tank is from something like that

[deadpool0207]

I FOUND IT !! If this isnt it I have no idea what else it could
I was looking for something else and came across this!!
www.virtualtoychest.com/echotoys/echotoys.html

[soren]

Glad you found it . It could have been this one
actionfiguresca.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cartoons&action=display&thread=9348

[Thor Laserpunch]

I just got 4 different ones. That brown tank (Defender), the Charger (bulky brown walker called "Space Mover" on virtualtoychest), and the Searcher (red) & Space Mover (silver) which apparently are the same as the "Space Walker" shown there.

The only one that wasn't sealed was the silver Space Mover. I put some fresh batteries in it and the motorized action still worked pretty vigorously but it was an inelegant affair with the limbs just flapping around and it going nowhere. Maybe they need to be positioned a certain way.

They're pretty neat though. Perfect for Star Wars or Madelman 2050. I'll snap some pics later.

e2a: there are some Radio Shack versions, too. At least I have seen the Defender in a Radio Shack box.

[StarRunn]

I reviewed three of the Echo vehicles in my Used Car Lot thread.

For this second batch of Used Car Lot vehicles, we go back to the early 1980s and a look at some futuristic science fiction hardware. All three of these machines were made by the Hong Kong company, Echo Toys LTD. I don’t believe that Echo ever made any action figures of their own, but they did make several motorized vehicles to be used with existing lines of figures. “Space Movers” was a series of three small vehicles made in 1983 specifically for use with 3 ¾” action figures; Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Marvel Super Heroes were all mentioned on the packaging!

Figures: I’ve recruited Lanard’s S.T.A.R. Force Troopers to test drive all of these vehicles.



This is one of my favorite vehicle designs because it is so weirdly different! There have been many walking transports, but none that looked or worked quite like this one. Not only does the battery powered Searcher actually walk, but it rears up on its hind legs!


















The battery operated motor in this unusual vehicle drives large, concealed wheels in the rear and rotating arms in the front. The four unpowered wheels attached to the moving arms provide a crawling action. A working hatch on top allows one figure to be positioned inside the vehicle. Although the Defender was designed for 3 ¾” figures, the axe and shovel details molded on the hull would be way undersize in this scale.
















This is not the third vehicle in the “Space Movers” series; rather, it’s a much larger, standalone vehicle. The battery powered Silver Striker runs forward and reverse on rubber tank treads and has a working search light. There are three seating options for action figures – forward and rear gunner positions suitable for 3 ¾” figures and a center command seat that can be adapted to fit either 3 ¾” or larger 5” to 5 ½” figures. This toy was produced in 1984.













Wasn’t the future wonderful?

[Thor Laserpunch]

STAR Force guys are a perfect fit. Also thought Adventure People Clawtrons or alien astronauts would work well.

Here is the Radio Shack version of the tank with some cool painted box art (looks like it's from the 60s though):

[StarRunn]

Boy, this ugly thing really got around.   That Radio Shack box art is terrific and makes the toy look appealing! 

[Thor Laserpunch]

Hey, let's not use the "u word"--unless it's utilitarian. They're gonna need street sweepers in space, too, after all.

[Thor Laserpunch]

Here's some more pics including some box art and a shot of the planetary artwork on the insert. I have two of the type I have pictured with the time traveler, the one that's in the box is hard to see but it's red. The Defender tank is silver and the other walker is brown.

[rihia2k]

Jul 18, 2016 17:42:49 GMT -6 Thor Laserpunch said:

Here's some more pics including some box art and a shot of the planetary artwork on the insert. I have two of the type I have pictured with the time traveler, the one that's in the box is hard to see but it's red. The Defender tank is silver and the other walker is brown.

"* holds most 3 3/4" figures - figures not included"
And what a darn shame. Who, after looking at that box art, now doesn't want a red-stripe (un)tie fighter?

[Thor Laserpunch]

His name is Greg Galacto and he works at the Burger King off space ramp 10000005.

[Thor Laserpunch]

kakugo posted this in the purchases thread and I noticed something



D-Dreker seems to be riding one of these little vehicles =o A version of the first walker I pictured in the post where I splashed all the pics. I had D-Dreker as my avatar at one point--cool toy, but since his body is a Starriors KO like the others, there ain't no way in hell he'd fit in that tiny thing.