TOP 10: Potential Star Wars Vintage Collection Small Vehicles

Posted by Bret on 10/11/21 at 07:05 AM Category: Hasbro, Vintage Collection, Top 5, #FightforTVC

Affordably priced small vehicles have always been a vital staple since the days of Kenner. But in recent years, Hasbro seems reluctant to give us much that is below $100. The exceptions were the surprisingly priced $40 skiffs, along with the Imperial Assault Tank, Imperial Troop Transport, and TIE Fighter that set you back about $80 each. We've repeated our calls and support for "small vehicle" sub-line for TVC in a more affordable price range. It would probably be reasonable to expect these to go for around $40. We recently wrote a list of Top 5 beasts that could help our world-building aspirations in the 3.75" scale. (Actually, that's redundant, since you can't meaningfully world-build in that other scale, so obviously it's 3.75"! Idiot.) Hasbro could probably put small vehicles and beasts into the same price-point category, and offer them together in case assortments. So here's a list of 10 small vehicles that Hasbro should consider doing - in no particular order.

1. Patrol Speeder with Patrol Trooper

Solo was perhaps the only instance of a Star Wars film that was received with a big "meh" across a large portion of the fan base. Perhaps it was the timing of the release or the off screen drama. Or maybe it was that many fans weren't really interested in the potential damage caused by Han's backstory that few people asked for. I enjoyed the film, as well as the character and vehicle designs therein. One of the designs that seems to have gained traction as a candidate for a 3.75" toy is the Imperial Patrol Speeder from the streets of Corellia. We've got Han's car, and since getting Moloch's speeder is a near certain impossibility, at least this is something that could chase the young Mr. Not Yet Solo. I think this would sell pretty well, especially if it came with the driver.

2. V-35 Landspeeder with Owen Lars

Another oft-requested vehicle from fans is the Lars family speeder, which can be seen parked in the garage in A New Hope as well as Attack of the Clones. Additionally, a few instances of this same model speeder can be seen in the streets of Mos Eisley. It's a neat design for a junky car, and would go great in almost any diorama of Star Wars street life. It could include Owen Lars, which would work if using the AOTC figure's body along with a new headsculpt. The difficulty with such a toy would be the lack of recognizability among casual fans.

3. DC0052 Speeder with Anakin Skywalker (Or Obi-Wan Kenobi)

This was the aircar used by the Jedi Order. According to Wookieepedia, the Jedi maintained a small fleet in order to allow them to zip around Coruscant when conducting Jedi business. Anakin uses one when he rushes to Palpatine's aid during the attempted arrest by Mace Windu and his 3 useless Jedi pals. It can also be seen parked outside Padmé's apartment after Obi-Wan pays a visit to tell her that Anakin freaked out. The vehicle could come with either Anakin or Obi-Wan. In this scenario, it's unlikely a new sculpt would be used, unless such figures were already in the works (or available) for mainline release.

4. XJ-2 Airspeeder with Bail Organa (or Yoda)

I loved the "cars" in the PT, and I'm glad we got the yellow one that Anakin and Obi-Wan use to chase down Zam Wessel in AOTC. But there's another car that we see in ROTS, and it's Bail Organa's slick XJ-2. He uses this when attempting to investigate the kerfuffle at the Jedi Temple following Order 66, but beats a hasty retreat after witnessing the 501st kill Jett Zukassa on the platform. Bail then uses the car to rescue Yoda from the bowls of the Senate chamber. If Hasbro made this vehicle, they would logically include Bail, since it's his car. But it seems highly unlikely they'd sculpt an acceptable update to the character. It's more likely (and not completely illogical) to repack the existing TVC Yoda. Selling "Bail Organa's XJ-2 Air Speeder with Yoda" might come off as an odd choice at retail, though.

5. Rebel Troop Cart with Rebel Hoth Trooper

While we already have the cart from the Yavin Hanger (which is super popular among collectors), we could really use the version of the transport cart which is visible in a few scenes in Echo Base. I didn't realize this until writing this article, but the vehicle is also in ROTJ, when it is used to transport the Endor Strike Force across the hanger and to the loading ramp of the captured Tydirium Shuttle. That makes it doubly marketable. The transport could come with a Hoth Rebel Trooper, with an alternate head from previous releases.

6. Yoda's Escape Pod with Yoda

One of the smaller vehicles on this list, the pod was provided by Tarrful so as to allow Yoda to escape Kashyyyk following the issuing of Order 66. The gift was a testament to Yoda's good relations with the Wookiees, he had. The pod is kind of football-shaped, and opens to reveal a simple interior with a comfy chair for the tiny Jedi. According to Wookieepedia, there were thousands of these pods hidden and strategically placed around the planet in case the battle went south and the Wookiees needed to escape. I also learned that there was a deleted scene in which Yoda flies another type of pod when he leaves Bail Organa for Dagobah. It is also speculated that Yoda used that pod as the basis to build his hut.

7. Gian Speeder with Naboo Royal Soldier

In 1999, Hasbro gave us the Naboo Flash Speeder, but for whatever reason, didn't give us the Gian Speeder which was used by Naboo military forces during the attack to liberate Theed. In TPM, you can see one of the Gian Speeders pull up near a large formation of Trade Federation droid troops, and create a diversion in order to allow Padmé, the Jedi, and their strike team (and a 9-year old boy) to infiltrate the Palace. Such a vehicle could come with one of the Naboo troops seen riding it - although that would obviously need to be a newly tooled figure.

8. 9000 Z001 Landspeeder with Luke Skywalker

This is another one of those barely recognizable vehicles from the OT that might not have mass retail appeal, but is definitely familiar and often requested by hardcore collectors. While designated as a landspeeder, it has an unusual spherical design with odd round windows. An additional one of these can be briefly spotted in the background of the Mos Eisley streets during the "Special Edition" drive by of the heroes in Luke's landspeeder. But the main one is prominently featured outside fo Chalmun's cantina. While the this speeder has no on-screen "owner", it would be perfectly acceptable if it included a new Farmboy Luke or Obi-Wan Kenobi. Like the ROTS Anakin and Obi-Wan mentioned above, this would probably be in conjunction with Luke or Obi-Wan already being planned (or released) in the main line.

9. Maldo Kreis Landspeeder with "Pilot"

This was the landspeeder that was summoned by the Kubaz taxi clerk after Mando rejected the droid-driven speeder that arrived first. The driver is officially unnamed, but many people recognized Brian Posehn as the actor. This taxi ferried Mando and his captured Mythrol quarry across some treacherous ice to the Razor Crest. After dropping off his fare, the unnamed driver sped off, and was promptly consumed by a vicious ravinak.

10. Zephyr-J Swoop with Din Djarin

This is the swoop speeder that was used in a few different episodes by the Mandalorian. Seems like one of those items that Hasbro should have already released, but since that is not the case, I'm asking for it here - after Chris has already asked for it at least once before. The speeder should come with a Beskar Mando, and he should have his crossbody napsack and Baby Yoda.

Honorable Mention: 74-Z Speeder Bike With Biker Scout

I add this as the honorable mention because we already have the classic ROTJ speeder bike from 2012. That was one of the nicest efforts by Hasbro in recent memory. The TRU exclusive was well executed almost a decade ago. So I'm not a fan of Hasbro spending tooling dollars on anything new here. I think it would be perfectly cromulent to re-release the TRU mold, but a new Biker Scout would be outstanding. As a bonus and a way to maximize that new figure (besides also releasing it in the main line), this speeder could be repainted and repackaged as the version from The Mandalorian. Like the Zephyr-J mentioned above, the figure could also come with a napsack and Baby Yoda. Extra bonus points if the figure had a swappable Ted Lasso head sculpt and Baby Yoda Punching Action.