Toy-Ventures: The Saga of Tonka's STEEL MONSTERS

These were plagued by shoplifters in my experience. I wanted these badly but every time I found them in a store the figure had been stolen. My folks were not going to buy me something with a missing part so I never got one. When I saw the carded figures later, I thought it was to allow people who bought a vehicle with a missing figure to finally get the driver.

Such an obscure but awesome line. I remember a kid I knew getting destroyer for his birthday in 1986 and being fascinated by these somewhat GI Joe scaled vehicles that lacked finer detail but made up for it by being robust. My little brother and I who were 8 and 5 respectively scouted around for a few of these and were able to pick up in enforcer and bomber when they went in clearance bins for very cheap by ‘87. They ended up being used in conjunction with our Joe collection with a real emphasis on post apocalyptic wasteland themes. We had a sizable backyard complete with the sandpit and small pond, so these vehicles were well suited for that rugged play that they all plastic Joe vehicles weren’t. They were donated to my younger cousins in the early to mid 90’s and were still in decent condition by that point, owing to that solid Tonka construction. I actually found enforcer in a storage box of toys at my aunts house when I was housesitting for them around 2017… Still in 8 out of 10 condition!

That is the coolest line I've ever seen I wish I would have collected it when I was a kid if I have a new about it cuz we used to play Mad Max with our bikes and make some of the weapons that we saw in the movie. Damn our childhood was wicked.

As a kid, had the Masher and Blaster, they were the perfect complement to GI Joe collection, really worked well as Dreadnok vehicles. Used to also keep my eyes open for Star Wars and Fisher Price toys that could be used with the Joes, also had a Sesame Street playset (Hooper's store/Tenement) which worked well as 'Springfield' Cobra base, if you are familiar with the comics storyline. Even used a He-Man as the barbarian Cobra prisoner that Duke fought in the original cartoon series. There was a lot of mixing and matching, but results were lots of fun. Ah, memories.

I still have my childhood Masher !

Thank you for re-igniting a core memory.

I've been a certified Mad Max enjoyer for decades but I've never heard of these. Very cool toys and I wish I had them as a kid.

What a fascinating toy line! When these came out, I was 20 and not into action figures. A shame, because the vehicles in this line are very impressive. The half track and road grader look extremely awesome. The smaller vehicles and the Hot Wheels sized vehicles do a great job of continuing the excellent design job. If I’d been into this toy line, I’d probably be frantically trying to complete it all. A side note for the huge Winnebago. The one that my ex and her brother had came with not figures but two actual dolls from the Topper Dawn doll line (one gal, one guy). Several of her friends in the collector’s community for Dawn dolls also had the Winnebago, and many of them also came with Dawn dolls. As that line was going under, leftover dolls were bagged as knockoffs left and right, and used in other things (just like the Lincoln Monster victim); the main boyfriend doll (different than the one in the Winnebago) wound up as a ‘French’ boyfriend in the Pippa line from Palitoy. (Thanks to the ex, I got rather into 6.5 fashion dolls myself… that’s why I know a lot about them lol) Thanks again for another cool video. A shame this line can’t be revived; it would also be awesome as customized Mego figures!

I had everything from this line. It was one of my favorite series especially as it came out not long after Beyond Thunderdome and I was obsessed with the whole Mad Max series up to that point. I miss these toys.

It's great to see these again. I have been trying to get my original childhood Enforcer jeep back from up top my parents attic in the barn. I know it's still up there waiting on me to reclaim it for my collection. Great video that unlocks memories!!!

I got the half track destroyer for Christmas in 86, I loved it then, used it with gi joe and star wars. I'm 45 now and still have it! Great video

Me and my brother both got Blaster Trucks for Christmas in 86, always enjoy the failed toys that we used to have like Sectaurs, or Bravestarr, Dino Riders

Yeah you're exactly right 💯% , Shit ain't made the way they used to do it 😢

My brother bought me Bomber for Christmas and I loved that thing. Chased after it switching the gears on it. I may still have it stashed away at my parents house somewhere.

These were so rad! I had the Jeep Wrangler, my step brother had the half-track and the road grader. I loved my Mad Max Jeep, and ised it with my GI Joes, even though it was a bit large.

I had Metal Face. I never had any of the vehicles. My Mom must have bought the figure by itself.

I remember seeing these on clearance in Kmart. I grew up in Minnesota, and did, in fact, have nearly every toy you mentioned other than these. I think that at this time, I was really in to Robotix. They had a cartoon that I only managed to watch a few times, but you could build them and then control them with a remote. Good old days.

I wanted these so bad when I was a kid. I kinda want them now as an adult to be honest.

Man this line rocks. I would’ve loved these as a kid.

oh no!! the secret is out 🤣 Awesome video Brian, thanks for sharing the love for this excellent underrated toyline 😍