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Matchbox Monster Trucks; Not a complete showing, but some...
Topic Started: Aug 22 2012, 02:42 PM (3,866 Views)
Billy Kingsley
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The Mad Documenter!
Wes mentioned in another thread that he wondered what Matchbox did in Monster Truck form. I'm pretty sure I do have each different truck, but not all the variations. BUT...the majority of mine are missing. It's believed they are in my storage unit(s) but actually finding them may not be for some time. Most of what's missing are the real trucks that were issued, the fantasy trucks, I believe, we have found most of. Matchbox did both.

There are several variations of Matchbox monster trucks. Early issues had correct looking tires. Later, they went with paddle tires, which are not used by monster trucks, and later still, they put neon tires on them for some unknown reason (other than, perhaps, the fact that it WAS the 1990s!). I have seen the tires in yellow and orange, but I don't know if there were others. I hated the neon tires then. And I still do, in fact. As far as I know, the neon tires were not ever used on a real truck, but again, I have not seen most of mine since the mid 1990s.

There are also three chassis variations- the back of the chassis may have no holes, it may have a box with a rectangular slot to have the tractor pull trailer attach, or the slot may be in the chassis itself, no box.

Here's a pictorial of the different Matchbox Monsters I can find...most of mine were played very hard so are not in great shape. I also need to reshoot some of them....
First, the fantasy trucks made up by Matchbox.
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You can see the box added to the chassis at the very back on this one.
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There is also the 57 Chevrolet, in which thread came my inspiration for making this post.
Black paddle tire.
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yellow paddle tire.
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And now, the real trucks. Matchbox made dozens of them, starting as early as 1986, possibly sooner. My lifelong love of automobile racing began in 1986 when my mom purchased my dad a VHS tape of a monster truck rally, which came with a Matchbox Taurus. I took the truck instantly, and eventually the tape too. I still keep the tape in my room but I don't play it much, afraid my somewhat finnicky VCR will ruin it. (Return of the Monster Trucks is the title). Taurus, unfortunatly, is missing. I was born in October of 1984, so I was 2...max.
One thing about Matchbox's Monster Truck issues...they didn't always use the correct body when they issued a truck...so while these next trucks are all real trucks, they may not have actually been on these bodies.
Awesome Kong II. (Note- bumpers, wheels and chassis were originally chrome. Exposure to sandbox stripped chrome)
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Bigfoot. This Ford pickup body was used for almost every standard pickup Monster, including my original Taurus, and even USA-1 and Carolina Crusher, which were Chevrolets in real life. Carolina Crusher even had "Have you driven over a Ford...Lately?" on the tailgate when I saw it in person.
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This was from the last wave of Matchbox monsters. I don't recall when, exactly, they came out, but I would guess 1994 or earlier. They were all real trucks- or at least, close to them. It included the first issue of Grave Digger, but was on the wrong body. I don't remember what body they used, anymore, but I remember it was wrong. The line came out either after or right near the time I was no longer playing in my sandbox, and I don't believe any of them hit the sand in my collection.
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Fly-N-Hi was an obscure truck in real life, but it was a real truck.
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Rollin' Thunder. This was a very rare truck in real life, I only ever saw it on broadcasts twice or so, including Return of the Monster Trucks.
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USA-1, in reality, was a Chevrolet. Didn't matter to Matchbox, it went on the Ford! USA-1 was one of the first trucks that started to flip all the time- back then, it was an accident...now, you know going in that at least one truck will flip, usually Grave Digger. This version has the box for towing the trailer.
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My original version does not have the box, or much of it's paint, left.
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That's all I can find...I have dozens more, somewhere, and if nobody posts them up before I find them, I will post them when I do find them.
Edited by Billy Kingsley, Aug 22 2012, 02:51 PM.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Awesome, Billy! Thanks for that! And I look forward to seeing what else you put up!

Even if the Monster Trucks aren't ones' cuppa tea, these are sure fun to look at!
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Spennyman
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Minivan
Those are great Billy. I don't see the Mad Dog Chevy Blazer casting. That was my favorite as a kid.
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

I had the Bog Buster, yellow Jeep, and Bigfoot as a kid. The Peterbuilt one is awesome! Didn't know about that one. Excellent thread Billy. Pics are much appreciated. :thumbup:
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
I think Hawk was based on a real truck also. And Hog is supposed to be Brute Boss Hogg. Using a Chevy Laguna stock car to represent a semi truck. Yeah... I think the name change was to avoid legal issues since Warner Brothers owns the character name Boss Hogg and Ertl had an exclusive on the "Dukes Of Hazzard" license at the time.

The paddle tires releases were marketed as mud racers as opposed to true monster trucks. The original version of the Corvette used the targa bodystyle before switching to the convertible.
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
juantoo3
Aug 22 2012, 03:05 PM
Even if the Monster Trucks aren't ones' cuppa tea, these are sure fun to look at!
This statement applies to me. I'm not a collector of these, but I REALLY enjoyed the show!!
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cody6268
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Minivan
Are these regular models that have been outfitted with monster wheels and a special base?
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Bill50
Fullsize
Now in real 1:1 these are starting to make a come back here in the UK,always good to see some of older issues.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
cody6268
Jul 28 2013, 12:00 PM
Are these regular models that have been outfitted with monster wheels and a special base?
That's correct.
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
At one time I had some of the "real" monster truck models from Matchbox but they have long since been sold to collector's who were much more into those models. My favorite was Grave Digger (suppose that goes with my love for hearses. :D ). When we lived in St. Louis we often drove by the headquarters for Big Foot and again I had a couple of Big Foot models in my collection on one time - one of those being I believe from ERTL.
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mbx64
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Matchbox Collector
I had no idea of Matchbox's relationship with Monster Trucks. Thanks for this great, informative post, Bill! :D
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cody6268
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Minivan
pjedsel
Jul 28 2013, 06:27 PM
At one time I had some of the "real" monster truck models from Matchbox but they have long since been sold to collector's who were much more into those models. My favorite was Grave Digger (suppose that goes with my love for hearses. :D ). When we lived in St. Louis we often drove by the headquarters for Big Foot and again I had a couple of Big Foot models in my collection on one time - one of those being I believe from ERTL.
I've been a Bigfoot and Grave Digger fan since I was little. I had Bigfoot, it was a New Bright RC (I still have it minus the wired controller), and Grave Digger (Both a friction powered 25th Anniversary Hot Wheels model, and a giant Tyco RC model, if I can find the controller and a new battery I think i can get it working again)
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Chorton49
Compact
Awesome thread. The beat up ones at the end if the pictures are from my childhood. The others were bought at a flea market last summer for $2 each!

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Billy Kingsley
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The Mad Documenter!
Seeing that red Taurus sure brings me back a world of memories. That was my first truck, the one that started a lifelong obsession with auto racing of all sorts, 27 years ago.
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