The French Connection

Great box-art !

Fulgur Virevolte, CHR, France, 1960's

Very basic design...

 

But with antenas for that futuristic look 

Tomy's drilling tank ?

I don't know to what extend this was a toy to replicate / compete with Bandai's Thunderbirds license, because this thing has the looks of the Mole, but tires instead of tracks...

TOMY tank, Japan, 1970's (?)

The propulsion on this toys is quite clever, since a track links both independent set of 4 wheels on the bottom of the vehicle, making it an 8x8 drive vehicle.

What's wrong with wheels ?

Really, your best option to drive in moondust ?

Space Rescue, Asahi (ATC) Japan, 1970's

Better than one radar ? Two radars !

Space Radar Scout Pioneer, Modern Toys, Japan, 1960's

King Moguras and Barracuda Tank

King Moguras, Midori Shokai, Japan, 1971

 

This design is remeniscent of the Mole from the Thunderbirds series.  The model had originally a missile-shooting turret  and 2 side missiles (missing here).

Barracuda, Midori Shokai, Japan, 1971

Motorized... even in water !

Ultraman's wheels for rock-splitting action !

This is another toy coming straight from the Japanese universe of Ultraman (Ultraman Taro to be exact): behold the Bermider II tank ! (with wind-up key)

Looks like the Mole from the Thuncerbirds but on esteroids... and yes, the design of the box is way cooler than the design of the toys itself... but at least it has a spark mechanism behind an orange translucid panel at the back.

Bermider II, Bullmark, Japan, 1973

Saving lives ? Get diggin !

Even though this craft never appeared on TV, it was used by International Rescue (AKA Thunderbirds) in the comics. JR21 went at it and ... voilà, the Bandai version. 

Excavator, Bandai, Japan, 1960's

Make bubbles, not war !

Tanque Invencible, Patentado, ?, Spain ?

 

Forget cameo camouflage patterns. This is the Red Baron of the tanks, baby ! No way this thing will loose itself in the sandbox !

You dip the yellow part of the canon in the soap - and blow
at the back, regulating airflow with finger on hole on the turret.

New additions to the RockeTank collection !

You press on the dome and air sends missile away !

Great simple design and these colors !

RockeTank, Sewell Products USA, 1950's

Mechanik Orange

Cubistic lines... invert bathtub, put dome + radar and voilà !

You have some kind of a lunar car !

 

Space Vehicle, ?, Russia, 1970's ?

Space Tank and Robot.

Flashing Lights ? Check
Flashing robot's face ? Check.
Spring loaded missiles ? Check.
I think this one is ready to go. All it needs is fresh batteries !

Space Tank, Chi Li Toys, Taiwan, 1980's

... before it became a kitchen appliance

X-3 Magnetron, Corgi, Gt.Britain, 1970's

X-2 Lasertron, Corgi, Gt.Britain, 1970's

When the space toys started gaining in popularity again at the end of the 70ies, both Matchbox and Corgi toys started with a serie of futuristic-looking vehicles. There were 2 others in Corgi's "The Explorers" serie: a green swampboat type of thing called X4 Scanotron and a blue X1 Rocketron. None of these were based on real vehicles or TV shows but they were way cool nevertheless !

Bubbles ? What bubbles ?

"Explorer" moon car, Comansi, Spain, 1980's

"Space Bird", Comansi, Spain, 1980's

Another interesting design for spacecraft was the one adopted by Comansi of Spain. With the success of the  Playmobil / Famobil space line going on at the time - they had to jumb on the wagon and get some spacetoys of their own. This is the result : bubble like pods either on wheels or with reactors in the back. The Space Bird makes me think of an Eagle (Space 1999) - but without the central part and with blown up cockpit.

Pull your galaxy !

Pull toy (wood), Kouvalias ?, Greece ?,
1950's

It's springy, it's wobbly, and spins along the way. An architects post-modernist experiment ? Maybe not - but you will not find these in the actual Fisher Price catalogues...

It has the flair of the 50'ies - Eames era, togther with lucite lamps, revlon-covered couches and coconut chairs...

Crayola Spacetank

Camouflage definitely not needed on moon. STOP.
Very nice way to paint a tank. STOP.
Give me box of crayons...

Jet and Rocket Tank, Peter Pan, England, 1950's