Christmas 1984 woke up to find under the tree all put together in Battle Formation Joe Sky Hawk, Joe Dragonfly, Joe Sharc, Joe Ram, Joe Falcon, Joe Slugger, Joe APC, Cobra Rattler, Cobra Moccasin, Cobra Hiss Tank, Cobra Fang, & Zartan's Chameleon. Also there was every Joe and Cobra action figure available at the time. My mum had found every figure and vehicle she could all year long and put them on layaway for me. Most days we barely had a pot to piss in but my mum always made Christmas something special. I'll remember that Christmas Morning until the Day I die.
I 100% can relate.......me and my mom were recwntly talking about christmasas passed and she apologised to me a 40 year old man for never being able to get me the uss flagg. She would set up my joes while i was away at school only to get them straight up get schwacked as soon as 5 year old me got home.
Back in the 90s my parents got me the motorcycle, the VAMP jeep, the dune buggy thing, the swing wing fighter jet Striker, also there was an exoskeleton figure.
Great list. I had several of those vehicles. The thing I loved about GI Joe was the fact that larger vehicles came with a driver and extra space for more figures. Smaller single figure vehicles, unless they were part of a character's style like Zartan and the Chameleon and Sgt. Slaughter and the Triple T Tank, did not come with a figure. In short, Hasbro had the great mindset to sell their vehicles with the idea that they would sell more figures. You just couldn't have fun with only the pilot, you wanted another figure in that Dragonfly. Oh for the days were toy companies really put thought into a toyline.
I wish that would've worked for me lmao. I said I needed some more figures for a big vehicle, then my mother said "you already have dozens, use them!" On the other hand, smaller vehicles (thus not as expensive) with a pilot were big sellers. Every kid gotta take that extra figure no matter if you liked it or not.
The technical details on the decals like 'Lube Point', 'Sensor Access', and removable panels for maintenance always sparked my imagination as a kid. Such a well thought out toy line.
5:59 An important note about the APC, especially in light of your highlighting this feature for the WHALE, is that the APC *also* floats (hence why it's referred to as amphibious). In fact, I think it predates all other floating GI Joe toys. Unlike the other water toys (except the WHALE), though, this made sense in both land and water play.
You're so right! It did float! Of my toys going outside the wire it was my least favourite, but it always made the list, was durable, & one of my first vehicles.
Had many of these, but the vehicle i probably loved the most wasnt even close to being the most armed, but the bridgelayer i used in almost every scenario
Yup, The WHALE is definitely number one. Finally got one for my collection at last year's JoeFest. It was 99% complete, and the part that was missing was easy to design and 3D print. Now to get me a Tomahawk...
I picked up a personal favorite of mine the Wolverine at Joe fest this year. It was missing the tow cable as most wolverines are but to your point I was able to get one that was 3D printed and it works just fine
Jeez you're in my head!! The Tomahawk as well!! My little brother and I would just play forever with these! (Thinking back, the Tommy would get either shot down, and need rescue.. Or it would come into rescue a situation. Thanks for sparking these memories!)
This G.I. Joe vehicle is in the “ S” Class category, the Defiant Space Shuttle Complex. I never owned one but boy did I want it. It wasn’t as big a the carrier , which is a good thing considering how over the top in size that thing was. The shuttle was more space friendly and could still be played with as a ship or play set . Totally awesome toy.
One Christmas I had to choose between getting the carrier as my one and only gift or getting Transformers Omega Supreme and some NES games. I didn't get the carrier but I think I made the right choice based on how big it was lol.
Although we were not really wealthy, our parents did surprise us sometimes when we got something pricey - which wasn't often. When my youngest brother got the Sky Striker, we brothers thought it was huge to play with... Then one day, our mum got us "all" the USS FLAGG and we all thought it was absolutely bonkers compared to the Striker! Miss you, mum...
I had the Snow Cat, the Triple T Tank, and the Conquest X-30. Great memories. I think a huge thing I liked about the GI Joe vehicles was that you had to put them together. This way, if you wanted to, you could take them apart and simulate wreckage.
I threw the antennas away on Christmas day. Didn't even see them on the plastic. Thought they were just part of it. By the time I realized they were missing the garbage was gone. Still makes me sad.
What a great video. Just watching it reminded me of the fun, imagination and passion that went into the GI Joe toy line. These toys were just too cool. I missed out on many of these back in the day when I was a kid which is why I am so glad many have been released recently and even some like the Skystriker got a Haslab collector upgrade and then there is all the cool Classified toys. Great stuff all around. Thank you.
This video nearly brought a tear to my eye not only for the nostalgia of it, but it's practically my top 10 list as well. Also loved that so many of your choices were the smaller to mid-sized vehicles as opposed to an array of giant oversized ones. Can't wait to see your Cobra list, although I'd speculate that the Ferret and Moccasin are shoe-ins.... :)
I love the Havoc, it was my first proper Action Force toy (I think it was pre changeover when I got mine) after having a couple of figures. It became their base as well as vehicle. I got the Dragonfly eventually, super cheap in a trashed box from Woolworths, and that was my full loadout!
Great video Tony! I agree with this list. I was fortunate enough to have owned them all as a kid except for the whale. My best friend owned it so we would swap vehicles for a week. It went perfect with the platform. Man, good times. So glad we had these toys and not phones.
The only vehicle from this list that I had, was the Snowcat. I absolutely loved it (still do). My older brother had a few others from this list, but certainly didn't allow me to play with them. The best Joe toy I ever had was the General. Massive vehicle, tons of missiles and guns. Big ol cannon, and a helicopter. Such an awesome toy.
Very solid choices. Personally, I'd put the VAMP Mk. II at #10 instead of the HAVOC, but I do get the love some have for the it. Really looking forward to the Cobra list!
In 2009 myself and two other guys carpooled three times a week to college classes. Randomly one mentioned in passing that he has the USS Flagg in his parents attic. The other guy and I geeked out and proclaimed how much we wanted to see and play with it. I am now over 40 and still waiting for my play date
Lol. I bought one off eBay when I was in college. I assembled it in my parents' basement. My Mom called it the f-ing Flagg and gave the big sections to Goodwill. I kept the add-on pieces and sold them during COVID-19. I got back my investment and then some lol. Overall the Flagg didn't live up to expectations. Especially as an adult.
A) So glad you are still keeping the history of the toys/titles we are so lucky to have grown up with in our era!!! Have loved your channel for years!! B) when you listed the Havoc as a controversial addition into the 10 ten shouldn't be controversial at All! I believe that lists are shaped by the titles we come up with... This list is the top 10 Joe vehicles. That doesn't, to me, mean that this list is the "most essential vehicles in Joe history". This is YOUR top 10, nostalgia should very much be a part of the additions your form into the top 10☺️ those vehicles helped shape your childhood, and, in turn, your adulthood!!!!! You're a good person and do such a professional job with your channel!!!! The heart you out into the videos is very clear!!!!! Respect to you.
Your top 2 picks are also my top 2 but I would rate the Sky Striker higher because I'm just an military aviation nut. I'm going to jump the gun and rate my two favorite Cobra vehicles as the Night Raven and the Water Moccasin. The Moccasin was small and had fewer features and parts than the Whale or the Cobra Moray but I just always loved how it looks. The Night Raven, well anything based on a cross between Fire Fox and an SR-71 is going to be cool!
the Moccasin was awesome. Small yes, but easily manipulated as a kid. That was the problem I had with GI Joe. For every Cobra vehicle, Joe had a larger version. The balance of power always seemed off to me. and yet the Cobra vehicles were (a) cheaper and (b) easier to play with (more durable because there were less greebles and features to break/lose)
@@ericshade9632 Ah, but what about the Night Raven? I'd even say the Rattler was at least competitive with the Skystriker (size-wise, though the swept wing feature is just amazing), but the Night Raven was clearly superior to the Conquest.
You can use the Dragonfly and the bed that came with Doc to move casualties MASH style. There are a ton of secret play features like this in the first 5 years of the line.
Wow! I had the Dragonfly helicopter, and the Snow cat (my fave!). Always wanted the Tomahawk, but I also had the G.I.JOE headquarters, as well as a lot of cool Cobra vehicles!
I feel lucky that I was gifted most of these vehicles as a kid. I sure wish in my later teenage years that I would have not been so certain that I would never want them again! I remember giving them away for sale in a yard sale. That said, I've kept all my daughter's toys for her when she wants to revisit her childhood, so it's not a total loss!
I know exactly how that feels..I had a ton of figures and vehicles....I ended up giving them away to salvation army in my teen years..if only I knew..smh.
I feel u if I knew the internet was coming I would have saved all my stuff I would have made a fortune by now my stuff was lightly played with nothing was broken I kept the blueprints and file cards eventually I ran out of space had to give them away
Hello Tony, I really enjoy your videos. I have recently been buying shells and parts of vintage GI vehicles like the whale, skystriker and dragonfly to fix up for my son's to get for Christmas this year. It's been a lot of fun. I'm not going full restoration just good enough to play with, it will be Christmas 1983 all over again for us this year.
This is a pretty good list. I think the Warthog A.I.F.V. and the Mobile Command Center deserved at least a honorary mention here. The MCC is primarily a playset, BUT, contrary to the USS Flagg, it is truly mobile as its name states and qualifies as vehicle too. As somebody stated in a previous comment, I would have made a swap and put the VAMP instead of the HAVOC.
Another great video! Of the vehicles on this list, I (at one time) had the "Dragonfly," "Sky Striker," "APC," and the "Rapid Fire." Just to mention, as it was briefly mentioned in the video, I remember taking my G.I. Joe "V.A.M.P." to show-n-tell in the 2nd grade. Also, my uncle (who is just under 2 years my senior) had the "(Killer) W.H.A.L.E." which, when visiting, I'd use as a carrier/launch platform for the Joe's "Devilfish" attack boat. Last thing, my uncle also had the "H.A.V.O.C." and I still retain a VHS home video of a family visit in which it can be heard my uncle singing part of the "HAVOC" commercial jingle, i.e., "Nothing's too tough for HAVOC! Nothing's too rough for HAVOC!" lol
I was a Joe fiend, as a child. Other than the Flagg, and x-29, and the shuttle. I pretty much had everything else. I've always been kinda engineer minded ( and an aviation guy) so some things made sense, and others didn't. ( Like the tomahawk, having the fan blade, as tail rotor, ???? When it already had dual rotor system)Although the "NOTAR" on the Dragonfly, made sense, at least in the right steps. I really enjoyed the mini sets, that didn't come with figures. The bivouac, hawk(?) Missile system, I forgot what their lineup collection was called though. Regardless, many fun years!
I'm currently contemplating selling my Joe collection and this video just made me think against it. Thanks Tony. I agree with everything on this list except the APC. I just like the Rolling Thunder more.
At 10:35 what was available underneath? looks like a place for batteries but the thing wasnt battery operated? Would've hoped you opened that to see what was there.
Just an empty compartment. Looks like it might have been big enough for batteries. Perhaps they had once considered designing the fan blades to be battery operated. Fans have speculated for years.
Oh man, this video really took me down memory lane! Loved playing with my own or my friend's GI Joes when we visited! I had the Killer Whale and it was one of my favorite toys.
I had my joes in the woods with the Outpost Defender. Of course, Snake-Eyes or Storm Shadow was perched atop a branch to watch over the Joes and vehicles below.
I have to admit watching these vids is difficult because one of my biggest regrets is not keeping all of my GI Joes from when I was a kid. I had a lot of these vehicles, mad at myself for not keeping them. Some of my favorites not shown here were the Dreadnok Thunder Machine, Bridge Layer, Sgt. Slaughters Warthog, and my ultimate favorite Defiant, but that would be more of a playset than a vehicle. When I saw Defiant going for upwards of $12K online I was almost sick to my stomach.
I feel the G.I Joe warthog is not only deserving of being on this list but possibly even contend for the top spot. I still have this vehicle from when I was a kid, complete. It's a tracked amphibious armored troup career, like the killer whale. It features a double ballistic misle launcher, machine 2 machine gun turrets, a place for the driver "Sargent slaughter " which the vehicle comes with his figure that has a lot of detail to. Has enough room for 6 Joe's inside the Troup carrier compartment and 9 Joe's in total. One of my favorite Joe vehicle's, and we'll deserving of a spot on the list. 👍🏾
Wow thanks for sharing, brings back childhood memories, I had the first motorized tank with the controls at the top turret, the killer whale, rattler, whirlwind, jeep, wish I would have kept all of it, along with all the star war toys!
Hey remember they used to change it up? like different colors. it would be the same exact toy and then be like no it's got tiger stripes or made completely out of silver or blue or something like that. I also like the spaceship wish that made the list.
This is right in my wheelhouse! My brother & I were always playing with our Joe's & had many figures, vehicles, & the base! Good times, Good times. I got the RAM as first vehicle. The jeep w/Clutch & HISS tank were two of my favorites. My brother had Snow-Job & Frost-Bite with there accompanying vehicles. Snow Job had the snowmobile, Frost Bite with the Snow Cat (#4 in video). My brother loved the snow troops for some reason. We had the APC w/camo top. Also had all the figures in the APC in the video. We were very well behaved one year (1985?) & only asked for G.I.Joe stuff & Santa came thru big time. Of the list we had 1,2,4,5,6, & 9. Nailed it though. The Hovercraft is absolutely #1. The Killer W.H.A.L.E. was/is the most fun on to play with.
The WHALE was my favorite. One that was left off your list that I loved was the SHARC....it was very versatile and durable. One other thing about the WHALE: it was heavily and prominently featured in the GI Joe comic books of that era.
Man, nostalgia city. I had every one of these but the Flag (although I knew a kid who had it). My favorites of these were the "Striker" (FAV), Mauler tank, APC, Tomahawk helo, and the Whale hovercraft. I would say the tank and the dune buggy especially... I ended up doing custom paintjobs on mine, and added a crap ton of extra stuff (camo nets, ammo cans, etc.). I got a lot of mileage out of those things.
I still have a RAM completely in box. My parents lost it when I was a kid, and I found it as a young adult lost back in a closet. Best toy I never got as a kid ever.
Skystriker was my favorite Joe side toy. But Ace was lost in action in the snows of Mt. Backyard. The Sharc got the most play time in the tub. The later Phantom X-19 and Conquest X-30 were a lot of fun too. Killer Whale was great, but I would put Rolling Thunder right with it. Cobra side, Night Raven and Rattler by far. Yeah, was mostly about the planes at that age.
Absolutely my favorite vehicles as well! The all-green APC is very rare, eh? I still have four of them! I went crazy in the 90’s and mail-ordered over $500 worth of Joe stuff, including four APC’s and FOUR Whales! So glad I did🤓
Awesome list, and totally agree, the Whale is the best! Sadly, never had one as a kid. Hasbro did a great job with those, the really found a balance between play features and kid-resistant.
Definitely agree with the WHALE... still have mine from 1984 but it's been thru the ringer lol... One of my most memorable christmas presents as a kid...
Great list! I had several of these. Never had the HAVOC or Snow Cat but always wanted them. I can still remember that Snow Cat commercial to this day. Snowww CAT!!!, lol.
This is a great list. I had the Killer Whale as a kid. I always felt like it was several toys in one. Also, Cutter was the coolest and always a standout character.
My favorites are the Tomahawk since my grandparents got it for me and my brother as kids, and then the Snowcat since I always wanted it as a kid and finally got it a couple years ago. Looking forward to your Cobra list down the road.
A mate of mine has a Havoc. I had a GI JOE chopper but it wasn’t the Dragon Fly. Later on I had a lot of ‘Corps’ 1:6 action figures and they came with a lot of rebranded Joe vehicles. I had the Corps version of the Dragonfly and a tank, ‘inflatable’ patrol boat and tank. Then there was some Steet Fughter toys and I had a re painted Vamp
Great list. I would have put the Armadillo in there somewhere, but I'm mostly in agreement with you. I never had the WHALE as a kid but I always envied those who did. That would probably be my first choice as well. Can't wait for your Cobra list.
Some of my favorites: 1. Cobra Moray Hydrofoil. It floated and when waterlogged it would sink to the bottom. I spent countless hours playing with it in the pool. 2. The Cobra Night Raven was another pool favorite simply because it also sank, but very slowly. I liked to have it crash land and have the pilots escape before it went under. 3. The Dreadnought Thunder Machine - I put that through so much abuse crashing into stuff, jumping it, pushing it off the front steps, etc. 4. The Rolling Thunder - Just because of it's size. It was like having a mobile command center. I Was only 5 when G.I Joe came out, and didn't know/get into it until several years later, so while I had tons of G..I Joe Vehicles and Figures, I only a handful of the early ones.
@@AnalogToys Wow... someone happy tells you what Vehicles he liked... not complaining that they were not on the list, just stating his favorites... and instead of saying something constructive you rudely respond with 'Did you not listen to part where said there are no Cobra vehicles on this list?' What a scummy, rude thing to do. Seriously...
I was lucky that we managed to get all the GI Joe toys here in Malaysia. I had the Dragonfly and I still have vivid memories of how each of these vehicles box art were. I was also lucky that I worked at Toys R Us for a while when I was 16 and was constantly looking as GI Joe toys at work. Thanks for the video!
As a kid, I immediately took to the AWE Striker and Crankcase, my dad has sported a similar style mustache before I was born, and his hair color is the same. I had to get that set!
Had a few... lots of great play... dreamed of others... the great play that could've been... good times! In my opinion, the post 2000 'RHINO' belongs on any GI Joe top ten vehicle list (I'm aware this is a vintage list so it wouldn't be here). It's one of the toys from recent years I found genuinely impressive, and it works as a tank, troop carrier _and_ helicopter! Limitless play value! On a related note, the recent (ish) re-release of the Tomahawk tops the original in one little way: It allows Roadblock's gun (the big one that comes with a more recent issue of him) to clip inside, and it looks amazing!
Great List Tony! The top three especially were favorites of mine. I always thought the Tomahawk was one of the coolest vehicles from any toy line ever. Cheers!🍻
I was poor when I was a kid but when my best friend left with his family to go to another country he gave me the tomahawk and the a10 tank buster cheers Aaron where ever you are top man!
Hi there, I had a Panther Jeep from the SAS branch of "Action Force" figures (it was black and had yellow markings/stripes with a double barrelled machine cannon on the roof) then I got the AWE Striker. Wish I still had the Striker. And does anyone else think Cutter looks a bit like Captain Quint of "The Orca" in Jaws? Great video.
Did you ever make the Cobra version of this? I can't seem to find it on your channel. I always preferred Cobra to Joe but I did have a Dragonfly (that the Skis never fit on) and a Ram for Joe vehicles.
Between my brother and I, we had all of these. He had the GI Joe base as well. We had most all of the original stuff and I still have my Dragonfly, Mauler MBT, Mobat MBT (wasn't that the original tank's name?), slugger (self propelled howitzer), and I think I have the Warthog armored vehicle as well. I know my brother has his completely restored cobra rattler. We had so much of that stuff!
Mine, playsets excluded. 10. Snowcat 9. Devilfish 8. Wolverine 7. VAMP 6. WHALE 5. Warthog 4. Tomahawk 3. Armadillo 2. Slaughter's Marauders Equalizer (I never owned a Mauler) 1. AWE-Striker Honorable mentions: The APC. Yeah, if we had the Palitoy version. Or even if the US release had a tow hook, it would make my list. Silver Mirage Motorcycle, yes, it's fiddly and just a fragile mess with age. But at the time I loved it.
Christmas 1984 woke up to find under the tree all put together in Battle Formation Joe Sky Hawk, Joe Dragonfly, Joe Sharc, Joe Ram, Joe Falcon, Joe Slugger, Joe APC, Cobra Rattler, Cobra Moccasin, Cobra Hiss Tank, Cobra Fang, & Zartan's Chameleon. Also there was every Joe and Cobra action figure available at the time. My mum had found every figure and vehicle she could all year long and put them on layaway for me. Most days we barely had a pot to piss in but my mum always made Christmas something special. I'll remember that Christmas Morning until the Day I die.
Thats wholesome
Luvs to your mum, mate! Thanks for sharing 👍
I 100% can relate.......me and my mom were recwntly talking about christmasas passed and she apologised to me a 40 year old man for never being able to get me the uss flagg. She would set up my joes while i was away at school only to get them straight up get schwacked as soon as 5 year old me got home.
Good mother you had there
That is EPIC! Talking about a dream come true. Best mom in the world right there. Thanks for sharing.
Back in the 90s my parents got me the motorcycle, the VAMP jeep, the dune buggy thing, the swing wing fighter jet Striker, also there was an exoskeleton figure.
I got the Tomahawk for Christmas of 1986. Hands down the best toy I ever owned!!!
Me too! Little sister snapped all the rotors off. Traumatizing. It didn't make it.
I just bought it with everything but the pilot.
Great list. I had several of those vehicles. The thing I loved about GI Joe was the fact that larger vehicles came with a driver and extra space for more figures. Smaller single figure vehicles, unless they were part of a character's style like Zartan and the Chameleon and Sgt. Slaughter and the Triple T Tank, did not come with a figure. In short, Hasbro had the great mindset to sell their vehicles with the idea that they would sell more figures. You just couldn't have fun with only the pilot, you wanted another figure in that Dragonfly. Oh for the days were toy companies really put thought into a toyline.
I wish that would've worked for me lmao. I said I needed some more figures for a big vehicle, then my mother said "you already have dozens, use them!"
On the other hand, smaller vehicles (thus not as expensive) with a pilot were big sellers. Every kid gotta take that extra figure no matter if you liked it or not.
I love the original gi joe orings they were very customizable
The technical details on the decals like 'Lube Point', 'Sensor Access', and removable panels for maintenance always sparked my imagination as a kid. Such a well thought out toy line.
5:59 An important note about the APC, especially in light of your highlighting this feature for the WHALE, is that the APC *also* floats (hence why it's referred to as amphibious). In fact, I think it predates all other floating GI Joe toys. Unlike the other water toys (except the WHALE), though, this made sense in both land and water play.
You're so right! It did float!
Of my toys going outside the wire it was my least favourite, but it always made the list, was durable, & one of my first vehicles.
When did SHARC come out?
Had many of these, but the vehicle i probably loved the most wasnt even close to being the most armed, but the bridgelayer i used in almost every scenario
I loved playing with my W.H.A.L.E. Hovercraft and Moray Hydrofoil in the snow!
Yup, The WHALE is definitely number one. Finally got one for my collection at last year's JoeFest. It was 99% complete, and the part that was missing was easy to design and 3D print. Now to get me a Tomahawk...
I picked up a personal favorite of mine the Wolverine at Joe fest this year. It was missing the tow cable as most wolverines are but to your point I was able to get one that was 3D printed and it works just fine
Also floated in our pool!
It actually FLOATED!!!
oh, man...I had no idea!! And I had a pool to actually put it in..opportunity missed!! 😪😪😪😪😔😔😔
Jeez you're in my head!! The Tomahawk as well!! My little brother and I would just play forever with these!
(Thinking back, the Tommy would get either shot down, and need rescue..
Or it would come into rescue a situation. Thanks for sparking these memories!)
Lemme guess, the fan fins? 😂
Tony you are right on point here! Great vid! Great List! Love your love for the line!!
This G.I. Joe vehicle is in the “ S” Class category, the Defiant Space Shuttle Complex. I never owned one but boy did I want it.
It wasn’t as big a the carrier , which is a good thing considering how over the top in size that thing was.
The shuttle was more space friendly and could still be played with as a ship or play set .
Totally awesome toy.
One Christmas I had to choose between getting the carrier as my one and only gift or getting Transformers Omega Supreme and some NES games. I didn't get the carrier but I think I made the right choice based on how big it was lol.
@@seanyoung9014 I think you made the right choice . Omega plus a bunch of games to one carrier . I would have choose Omega as well.
Dude I remember I got the conquest x30 when it came out in 1986, it was the best toy I had got for 12 years
Although we were not really wealthy, our parents did surprise us sometimes when we got something pricey - which wasn't often. When my youngest brother got the Sky Striker, we brothers thought it was huge to play with... Then one day, our mum got us "all" the USS FLAGG and we all thought it was absolutely bonkers compared to the Striker! Miss you, mum...
I had the Snow Cat, the Triple T Tank, and the Conquest X-30. Great memories. I think a huge thing I liked about the GI Joe vehicles was that you had to put them together. This way, if you wanted to, you could take them apart and simulate wreckage.
I had a AFA graded snow cat. Sold like a fool
The Mauler... i didnt even remeber those antennaes and smoke bombs. We lost those easily in the first day. probably lost in christmas wrapping paper
The microphone on the driver helmet was missing.
I threw the antennas away on Christmas day. Didn't even see them on the plastic. Thought they were just part of it. By the time I realized they were missing the garbage was gone. Still makes me sad.
What a great video. Just watching it reminded me of the fun, imagination and passion that went into the GI Joe toy line. These toys were just too cool. I missed out on many of these back in the day when I was a kid which is why I am so glad many have been released recently and even some like the Skystriker got a Haslab collector upgrade and then there is all the cool Classified toys. Great stuff all around. Thank you.
This video nearly brought a tear to my eye not only for the nostalgia of it, but it's practically my top 10 list as well. Also loved that so many of your choices were the smaller to mid-sized vehicles as opposed to an array of giant oversized ones. Can't wait to see your Cobra list, although I'd speculate that the Ferret and Moccasin are shoe-ins.... :)
I love the Havoc, it was my first proper Action Force toy (I think it was pre changeover when I got mine) after having a couple of figures. It became their base as well as vehicle.
I got the Dragonfly eventually, super cheap in a trashed box from Woolworths, and that was my full loadout!
Great video Tony! I agree with this list. I was fortunate enough to have owned them all as a kid except for the whale. My best friend owned it so we would swap vehicles for a week. It went perfect with the platform. Man, good times. So glad we had these toys and not phones.
I’m in such a great mood. Felt like a kid again. Where is the Devil Fish.? The only toy I ever asked for 2 of because it was so awesome .
The only vehicle from this list that I had, was the Snowcat. I absolutely loved it (still do). My older brother had a few others from this list, but certainly didn't allow me to play with them.
The best Joe toy I ever had was the General. Massive vehicle, tons of missiles and guns. Big ol cannon, and a helicopter. Such an awesome toy.
I cheered when I saw #1. Great line up! Very well done.
This brings back some memories.
I had the Snowcat and the Tiger Force repaint of the Dragonfly. So many good vehicles!
Very solid choices. Personally, I'd put the VAMP Mk. II at #10 instead of the HAVOC, but I do get the love some have for the it. Really looking forward to the Cobra list!
In 2009 myself and two other guys carpooled three times a week to college classes. Randomly one mentioned in passing that he has the USS Flagg in his parents attic. The other guy and I geeked out and proclaimed how much we wanted to see and play with it. I am now over 40 and still waiting for my play date
Lol. I bought one off eBay when I was in college. I assembled it in my parents' basement. My Mom called it the f-ing Flagg and gave the big sections to Goodwill. I kept the add-on pieces and sold them during COVID-19. I got back my investment and then some lol. Overall the Flagg didn't live up to expectations. Especially as an adult.
A) So glad you are still keeping the history of the toys/titles we are so lucky to have grown up with in our era!!! Have loved your channel for years!!
B) when you listed the Havoc as a controversial addition into the 10 ten shouldn't be controversial at All! I believe that lists are shaped by the titles we come up with... This list is the top 10 Joe vehicles. That doesn't, to me, mean that this list is the "most essential vehicles in Joe history". This is YOUR top 10, nostalgia should very much be a part of the additions your form into the top 10☺️ those vehicles helped shape your childhood, and, in turn, your adulthood!!!!!
You're a good person and do such a professional job with your channel!!!! The heart you out into the videos is very clear!!!!!
Respect to you.
Your top 2 picks are also my top 2 but I would rate the Sky Striker higher because I'm just an military aviation nut.
I'm going to jump the gun and rate my two favorite Cobra vehicles as the Night Raven and the Water Moccasin. The Moccasin was small and had fewer features and parts than the Whale or the Cobra Moray but I just always loved how it looks. The Night Raven, well anything based on a cross between Fire Fox and an SR-71 is going to be cool!
the Moccasin was awesome. Small yes, but easily manipulated as a kid. That was the problem I had with GI Joe. For every Cobra vehicle, Joe had a larger version. The balance of power always seemed off to me. and yet the Cobra vehicles were (a) cheaper and (b) easier to play with (more durable because there were less greebles and features to break/lose)
@@ericshade9632 Ah, but what about the Night Raven? I'd even say the Rattler was at least competitive with the Skystriker (size-wise, though the swept wing feature is just amazing), but the Night Raven was clearly superior to the Conquest.
Thx for these memories..
Never forget my dad handing me the Tomahawk Christmas morning, fully built, ready to play..
🍻🇨🇦
Fantastic list Tony. Surprised the iconic Skyhawk didn't make your list. My honorable mention would be the S.H.A.R.C. and Devilfish.
Another great video Tony. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. Had great times playing with a few of these vehicles.
Whale was the first and best GIJoe toy i ever got. Took that thing in the pool, watched it sink like a rock. Luvved it anyway.
It was definitely a poor design and easily flooded. Still looked awesome, though.
You can use the Dragonfly and the bed that came with Doc to move casualties MASH style. There are a ton of secret play features like this in the first 5 years of the line.
Lot of nostalgia watching this - I was a GI Joe collector as a kid...fond memories. Thanks for this vid.
Man I was having a bad day until I saw this video. It brought back a lot of good memories!! Thanks a lot and continue the awesome videos!!
Wow! I had the Dragonfly helicopter, and the Snow cat (my fave!). Always wanted the Tomahawk, but I also had the G.I.JOE headquarters, as well as a lot of cool Cobra vehicles!
I feel lucky that I was gifted most of these vehicles as a kid. I sure wish in my later teenage years that I would have not been so certain that I would never want them again! I remember giving them away for sale in a yard sale. That said, I've kept all my daughter's toys for her when she wants to revisit her childhood, so it's not a total loss!
I feel your pain. I was shamed by my cousins when I was 13 that I still had toys so I sold them all at a yard sale. What a waste!
I did the same thing with my He Man collection.
I know exactly how that feels..I had a ton of figures and vehicles....I ended up giving them away to salvation army in my teen years..if only I knew..smh.
I feel u if I knew the internet was coming I would have saved all my stuff I would have made a fortune by now my stuff was lightly played with nothing was broken I kept the blueprints and file cards eventually I ran out of space had to give them away
Same. And the original Transformers.
Had the Ram, Striker, and the Killer Whale. I can still remember in detail the Christmas mornings when I received the latter two. 😊
The dragonfly was my 5th bday present from may soon to be step dad. I remember it fondly 40 years later
Great Top 10 list, Tony.
Hello Tony, I really enjoy your videos. I have recently been buying shells and parts of vintage GI vehicles like the whale, skystriker and dragonfly to fix up for my son's to get for Christmas this year. It's been a lot of fun. I'm not going full restoration just good enough to play with, it will be Christmas 1983 all over again for us this year.
This is a pretty good list. I think the Warthog A.I.F.V. and the Mobile Command Center deserved at least a honorary mention here. The MCC is primarily a playset, BUT, contrary to the USS Flagg, it is truly mobile as its name states and qualifies as vehicle too.
As somebody stated in a previous comment, I would have made a swap and put the VAMP instead of the HAVOC.
Another great video! Of the vehicles on this list, I (at one time) had the "Dragonfly," "Sky Striker," "APC," and the "Rapid Fire." Just to mention, as it was briefly mentioned in the video, I remember taking my G.I. Joe "V.A.M.P." to show-n-tell in the 2nd grade. Also, my uncle (who is just under 2 years my senior) had the "(Killer) W.H.A.L.E." which, when visiting, I'd use as a carrier/launch platform for the Joe's "Devilfish" attack boat. Last thing, my uncle also had the "H.A.V.O.C." and I still retain a VHS home video of a family visit in which it can be heard my uncle singing part of the "HAVOC" commercial jingle, i.e., "Nothing's too tough for HAVOC! Nothing's too rough for HAVOC!" lol
I was a Joe fiend, as a child. Other than the Flagg, and x-29, and the shuttle. I pretty much had everything else. I've always been kinda engineer minded ( and an aviation guy) so some things made sense, and others didn't. ( Like the tomahawk, having the fan blade, as tail rotor, ???? When it already had dual rotor system)Although the "NOTAR" on the Dragonfly, made sense, at least in the right steps. I really enjoyed the mini sets, that didn't come with figures. The bivouac, hawk(?) Missile system, I forgot what their lineup collection was called though.
Regardless, many fun years!
Man, I had most of those as a kid. I miss those days and toys.
I had a smile on my face throughout the entire video. Takes me back.
Man, this brings me back. I had six of the top ten list. The Whale and Helicopter were so much fun....
I'm currently contemplating selling my Joe collection and this video just made me think against it. Thanks Tony. I agree with everything on this list except the APC. I just like the Rolling Thunder more.
Ever interested, let me know brotha - have a blessed holidays and new years to you and your loved ones
That list deserves a second part. Also includes the silver mirage
At 10:35 what was available underneath? looks like a place for batteries but the thing wasnt battery operated? Would've hoped you opened that to see what was there.
Just an empty compartment. Looks like it might have been big enough for batteries. Perhaps they had once considered designing the fan blades to be battery operated. Fans have speculated for years.
@@AnalogToysIt was for drug smuggling 😂
Oh man, this video really took me down memory lane! Loved playing with my own or my friend's GI Joes when we visited! I had the Killer Whale and it was one of my favorite toys.
I had my joes in the woods with the Outpost Defender. Of course, Snake-Eyes or Storm Shadow was perched atop a branch to watch over the Joes and vehicles below.
I have to admit watching these vids is difficult because one of my biggest regrets is not keeping all of my GI Joes from when I was a kid. I had a lot of these vehicles, mad at myself for not keeping them.
Some of my favorites not shown here were the Dreadnok Thunder Machine, Bridge Layer, Sgt. Slaughters Warthog, and my ultimate favorite Defiant, but that would be more of a playset than a vehicle. When I saw Defiant going for upwards of $12K online I was almost sick to my stomach.
I feel the G.I Joe warthog is not only deserving of being on this list but possibly even contend for the top spot. I still have this vehicle from when I was a kid, complete. It's a tracked amphibious armored troup career, like the killer whale. It features a double ballistic misle launcher, machine 2 machine gun turrets, a place for the driver "Sargent slaughter " which the vehicle comes with his figure that has a lot of detail to. Has enough room for 6 Joe's inside the Troup carrier compartment and 9 Joe's in total. One of my favorite Joe vehicle's, and we'll deserving of a spot on the list. 👍🏾
Wow thanks for sharing, brings back childhood memories, I had the first motorized tank with the controls at the top turret, the killer whale, rattler, whirlwind, jeep, wish I would have kept all of it, along with all the star war toys!
Hey remember they used to change it up? like different colors. it would be the same exact toy and then be like no it's got tiger stripes or made completely out of silver or blue or something like that. I also like the spaceship wish that made the list.
Yeah I remember that. I definitely had the tiger stripe edition of whatever that was.
Loved this list .. Had pretty much all of them as a kid, number 1 was my favorite as well...
This is right in my wheelhouse! My brother & I were always playing with our Joe's & had many figures, vehicles, & the base! Good times, Good times. I got the RAM as first vehicle. The jeep w/Clutch & HISS tank were two of my favorites. My brother had Snow-Job & Frost-Bite with there accompanying vehicles. Snow Job had the snowmobile, Frost Bite with the Snow Cat (#4 in video). My brother loved the snow troops for some reason. We had the APC w/camo top. Also had all the figures in the APC in the video. We were very well behaved one year (1985?) & only asked for G.I.Joe stuff & Santa came thru big time. Of the list we had 1,2,4,5,6, & 9. Nailed it though. The Hovercraft is absolutely #1. The Killer W.H.A.L.E. was/is the most fun on to play with.
I always liked how the Snow Cat's canopy was frosted except for where the wiper would clear.A nice little bit of realistic detail.
I had the Killer Whale when I was a kid, then I grew up and got to ride in them from ship to shore as an Infantry Marine.
The WHALE was my favorite. One that was left off your list that I loved was the SHARC....it was very versatile and durable. One other thing about the WHALE: it was heavily and prominently featured in the GI Joe comic books of that era.
Awesome list
Almost cried remembering my childhood with these perfect toys 😊
Man, nostalgia city. I had every one of these but the Flag (although I knew a kid who had it). My favorites of these were the "Striker" (FAV), Mauler tank, APC, Tomahawk helo, and the Whale hovercraft. I would say the tank and the dune buggy especially... I ended up doing custom paintjobs on mine, and added a crap ton of extra stuff (camo nets, ammo cans, etc.). I got a lot of mileage out of those things.
I remember getting the GI joe general for Xmas when I was a kid. I wish I still had that bad boy in the box. Love the channel.
This brought back so many good memories. I had most of these and mostly agree with the ranking
I still have a RAM completely in box. My parents lost it when I was a kid, and I found it as a young adult lost back in a closet. Best toy I never got as a kid ever.
Skystriker was my favorite Joe side toy. But Ace was lost in action in the snows of Mt. Backyard. The Sharc got the most play time in the tub. The later Phantom X-19 and Conquest X-30 were a lot of fun too. Killer Whale was great, but I would put Rolling Thunder right with it. Cobra side, Night Raven and Rattler by far. Yeah, was mostly about the planes at that age.
Absolutely my favorite vehicles as well! The all-green APC is very rare, eh? I still have four of them! I went crazy in the 90’s and mail-ordered over $500 worth of Joe stuff, including four APC’s and FOUR Whales! So glad I did🤓
It's incredible how many amazing vehicles GI Joe had. This is why I still prefer the 3.75 over the classified.
Awesome list, and totally agree, the Whale is the best! Sadly, never had one as a kid. Hasbro did a great job with those, the really found a balance between play features and kid-resistant.
Same. Never had it but ALWAYS wanted it. I had the Cobra hydrofoil, which was great, but I wish I had the WHALE as sort of a Joe counterpart.
Definitely agree with the WHALE... still have mine from 1984 but it's been thru the ringer lol... One of my most memorable christmas presents as a kid...
Great list! I had several of these. Never had the HAVOC or Snow Cat but always wanted them. I can still remember that Snow Cat commercial to this day. Snowww CAT!!!, lol.
Fantastic list. I owned all of the top three. Fond memories.
This is a great list. I had the Killer Whale as a kid. I always felt like it was several toys in one. Also, Cutter was the coolest and always a standout character.
I loved the little joke of his civilian name: Skip A. Stone.
My favorites are the Tomahawk since my grandparents got it for me and my brother as kids, and then the Snowcat since I always wanted it as a kid and finally got it a couple years ago. Looking forward to your Cobra list down the road.
A mate of mine has a Havoc. I had a GI JOE chopper but it wasn’t the Dragon Fly. Later on I had a lot of ‘Corps’ 1:6 action figures and they came with a lot of rebranded Joe vehicles. I had the Corps version of the Dragonfly and a tank, ‘inflatable’ patrol boat and tank. Then there was some Steet Fughter toys and I had a re painted Vamp
Love the list and excellent description/detail 🙌🏻
Great list. I would have put the Armadillo in there somewhere, but I'm mostly in agreement with you. I never had the WHALE as a kid but I always envied those who did. That would probably be my first choice as well.
Can't wait for your Cobra list.
Some of my favorites:
1. Cobra Moray Hydrofoil. It floated and when waterlogged it would sink to the bottom. I spent countless hours playing with it in the pool.
2. The Cobra Night Raven was another pool favorite simply because it also sank, but very slowly. I liked to have it crash land and have the pilots escape before it went under.
3. The Dreadnought Thunder Machine - I put that through so much abuse crashing into stuff, jumping it, pushing it off the front steps, etc.
4. The Rolling Thunder - Just because of it's size. It was like having a mobile command center.
I Was only 5 when G.I Joe came out, and didn't know/get into it until several years later, so while I had tons of G..I Joe Vehicles and Figures, I only a handful of the early ones.
Did you not listen to part where said there are no Cobra vehicles on this list?
@@AnalogToys Yeah, but was just listing my favorite vehicles :(
@@captainobvious9233 I absolutely LOVED the Rolling Thunder. I wonder why it couldnt crack the top 10?
@@AnalogToys Wow... someone happy tells you what Vehicles he liked... not complaining that they were not on the list, just stating his favorites... and instead of saying something constructive you rudely respond with 'Did you not listen to part where said there are no Cobra vehicles on this list?'
What a scummy, rude thing to do. Seriously...
The Skystriker, the Whale, the Dragonfly... so nice. I have a Haslab of the first, and ordered the second. How I enjoyed that Whale.
The partly frosted, partly clear canopy on the Snowcat that simulates an iced-up window was so visually clever for the time!
i really enoyed your list and i am blown away by the condition of all of your vehicles. the decals are spectacular
I was lucky that we managed to get all the GI Joe toys here in Malaysia. I had the Dragonfly and I still have vivid memories of how each of these vehicles box art were. I was also lucky that I worked at Toys R Us for a while when I was 16 and was constantly looking as GI Joe toys at work. Thanks for the video!
As a kid, I immediately took to the AWE Striker and Crankcase, my dad has sported a similar style mustache before I was born, and his hair color is the same. I had to get that set!
Thanks Tony. I always love your videos.
You’re doing the Lord’s work, Tony. Love this list.
Had a few... lots of great play... dreamed of others... the great play that could've been... good times!
In my opinion, the post 2000 'RHINO' belongs on any GI Joe top ten vehicle list (I'm aware this is a vintage list so it wouldn't be here). It's one of the toys from recent years I found genuinely impressive, and it works as a tank, troop carrier _and_ helicopter! Limitless play value! On a related note, the recent (ish) re-release of the Tomahawk tops the original in one little way: It allows Roadblock's gun (the big one that comes with a more recent issue of him) to clip inside, and it looks amazing!
Great List Tony! The top three especially were favorites of mine. I always thought the Tomahawk was one of the coolest vehicles from any toy line ever. Cheers!🍻
I was poor when I was a kid but when my best friend left with his family to go to another country he gave me the tomahawk and the a10 tank buster cheers Aaron where ever you are top man!
Hi there, I had a Panther Jeep from the SAS branch of "Action Force" figures (it was black and had yellow markings/stripes with a double barrelled machine cannon on the roof) then I got the AWE Striker. Wish I still had the Striker. And does anyone else think Cutter looks a bit like Captain Quint of "The Orca" in Jaws? Great video.
Can’t argue with this list at all!! Awesome breakdown and video brother 🤙🏼
Great list! I would have to find a place for the Sky Hawk on mine. So many great toys! I don't recall the little bike on the WHALE.
Did you ever make the Cobra version of this? I can't seem to find it on your channel.
I always preferred Cobra to Joe but I did have a Dragonfly (that the Skis never fit on) and a Ram for Joe vehicles.
The Top 10 Cobra vehicles video is coming in early 2025
@@AnalogToysHydrofoil Moray, Rattler and Hiss better be in the top 5 lol.
I love that you added the HAVOC. It may not be realistic, but It is fun!
Between my brother and I, we had all of these. He had the GI Joe base as well. We had most all of the original stuff and I still have my Dragonfly, Mauler MBT, Mobat MBT (wasn't that the original tank's name?), slugger (self propelled howitzer), and I think I have the Warthog armored vehicle as well. I know my brother has his completely restored cobra rattler. We had so much of that stuff!
Mine, playsets excluded.
10. Snowcat
9. Devilfish
8. Wolverine
7. VAMP
6. WHALE
5. Warthog
4. Tomahawk
3. Armadillo
2. Slaughter's Marauders Equalizer (I never owned a Mauler)
1. AWE-Striker
Honorable mentions: The APC. Yeah, if we had the Palitoy version. Or even if the US release had a tow hook, it would make my list.
Silver Mirage Motorcycle, yes, it's fiddly and just a fragile mess with age. But at the time I loved it.
100% agree with this entire list. I had many of these on the list too. Wish I would have kept them. Joe's are so cool
Excellent choices all around, Tony!
I think the Conquest X-30 deserves a top 10 slot. Great list!
Awesome video… It was a great time for action figure in the 80’s