My VAMP (Panther) collection

[volleydan]

Here is a picture of my collection of Joe jeeps.....I never thought I would get as close as I have to having them "all":



You can't really tell from the pics, but what I'm most proud of is that except for the Dreadnok Stinger, all of them are complete (the accessories for the Police Jeeps are in a sealed baggie so I couldn't display them).

In boxes: 01 Desert Striker and 25th VAMP. There is also the box to my Tiger Sting

Top row: Tiger Sting, VAMP Mk II (mail away), VAMP Mk II, VAMP, VAMP (shovel variant)

Middle row: UK Panther (black rollbars), UK Panther (yellow rollbars), 97 TRU Rattler 4WD, Dreadnok Stinger, Stinger

Bottom row: Funskool MRF Jeep, Funskool Police Jeep (rescue squad version), Funskool Police Jeep (individual packed version)

Not pictured are the 1997 Convention VAMP and the MSV Jeep from Canada - I recently purchased both and they are in transit.

By my tally, I still need six VAMP variants - the Street Striker, the mail-away Stinger (black doors/roof), the UK version of the Tiger Sting, the Brazilian VAMP, the 03 VAMP from the set with the Whirlwind, and the upcoming 25th Stinger.

[The Baron]

Is the UK Night Attack the same as the Stinger? There's probably some sticker variances or something.

Nice collection! Can you tell us more about the Funskool stuff, please?

[scoobydie]

Very nice collection Dan
Really want to get my hands on a Mk2 Vamp, with the misile launcher.
Well done on the Dreadnok, not the common I believe!

[SteveD]

Wow! Excellent collection Dan. I never realised there were so many variants of it, being insulated away in my little Action Force world. Thanks for sharing.

[AnnieM]

I really like the Funskool MRF colourway - and the spare wheel on the back.

Tiger Sting is cool too - Ed's got loads of the Tiger Force stuff now, and while I previously thought they were a bit arse (when I had only seen them in photos) I have since changed my mind - they look really cool as a "team"

[Lady Jaye]

I've got the 2003 VAMP playset MISB for you. Drop me a PM if interested.

Below a few more VAMP variants!

[SteveD]

I love the way they are all on your cards table too! You must've had a strong hand to go "all in" with that lot!

[volleydan]

Is the UK Night Attack the same as the Stinger? There's probably some sticker variances or something.

Nice collection! Can you tell us more about the Funskool stuff, please?

As far as I know, the mold of the Night Attack is the same as the US Stinger - except that the tires for some of the UK ones were rubber with nugget wheels while the US version got plastic tires with spoke wheels. The stickers were very different, but I can't string myself out collecting sticker variants because then I would be looking for VAMPs from every country around the world.

The Funskool jeeps weren't actually released under the GI Joe banner. Best I can tell, when Hasbro sold many of its molds to Funskool in the 90s, Funskool used them to not only make the Joe toys, but also to release several items that had nothing to do with the Joe line. In fact, the packaging on many of these items makes absolutely no reference to GI Joe.

Among these items were the MRF Jeep (MRF was a line of racing toys, and I think the Jeep was intended to be like a repair vehicle), the Police Jeep and its driver Supercop, and the infamous Superhero figure. They also used a Silver Mirage body and a Snake Eyes figure to make a set called "Street Hawk" (though later versions came with a repainted TARGAT figure) and they used a Crazylegs figure to make a figure called "Skydiver". Less popular, but no less interesting, is that they repainted a Cobra CLAW and released it as a Superman toy (why - can't he already fly?) and took the Stiletto and made it into a Batman toy.

Things like this are what makes collecting Funskool stuff the most challenging and occasionally frustrating area of all of Joe collecting to me.

[volleydan]

Very nice collection Dan
Really want to get my hands on a Mk2 Vamp, with the misile launcher.
Well done on the Dreadnok, not the common I believe!

You're right on the Dreadnok jeep. It's currently one of the most expensive items in the Joe line here in the States. Usually, complete ones sell for $150-200. Good thing that this one is mine from childhood

I actually have an extra VAMP Mk II, but it's in pretty bad shape. Missing steering wheel and got some damage to the undercarriage. Let me know if you want it and (other than shipping, which I can't do anything about) it will be cheap......

[volleydan]

I love the way they are all on your cards table too! You must've had a strong hand to go "all in" with that lot!

Believe me when I say I have a "full house" with this collection.