Tonkadave's Vintage Toys

1976-77 MIGHTY DUMP

How can we tell its a 1976-77?

1. Decals shown were used in 1976 and 1977 only.

2. The Sheetmetal behind the front wheels was shortened up 1/4" and flared out in 1976. The truck shown above has it as shown here as compared to the version Pre-1976 as shown here

The photo above left is an example of a 1976 Mighty Mixer in orange yellow paint. The regular issued Mighty Mixers for 1976 should all be green in color. This unit left the factory as a JC Penney Special Edition Model. This model has the 76-77 decals. Above right is a photo from the 1976 JC Penney holiday catalog. It shows a 1975 Mighty Mixer also in orange yellow. Just like the Tonka Catalogs, JC Penney could also use the previous year toy in their ads. Had you ordered one of these from the catalog, you would have received the 1976 model on the left. Not the 1975 model as shown in the catalog. The Tonka model number is 7662.

1971 MIGHTY DUMP

How can we tell its a 1971?

1. First clue is the Tonka USA decal in use from 1970-73. Shown Here

2.White plastic wheel bearings are present. They were eliminated in 1972. Shown here

3. Hydraulic piston bracket is mounted on underside of bed for use in the hydraulic version. (first appearing in 1971) Shown here

4. The familiar XMB 975 labeled tires are not present and weren't used until 1972.

5. Saddle fuel tanks are not present behind cab and were removed after the 1970 model year.

6. No vinyl bumper blocks on front bumper, removed in late 1971.

Shown here

7. Center rivet in rear of cab missing. It was removed after 1970.

Shown here with and shown here without after 1970.

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I collect Tonka and other Toy vehicles.

Classic Tonka Trucks and Toys from the 1960's-1990's

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Mighty Tonka Toys -- THE REAL BIG TONKA'S.

Mighty Tonka's have come into their own recently and are becoming very popular with collectors. Mighty Tonka's are found in several different styles and sizes. They are mostly the larger models, but not always. It depended on Tonka's marketing strategy as to whether the were branded Mighty or not. There are some guidelines that can be used for identification, but you will find that there are many exceptions. You can't always depend on the catalog photos, as they were mostly produced in the year prior to the model being released. They won't always match what was actually sold in stores the following year. (That's the case with all the Tonka Series) There were also a few special edition variants sold only at department stores like JC Penney. By using the guidelines and decals you can get a pretty good idea of what your looking at, but it is not an exact science. Below are some examples of how confusing keeping track of Mighty Tonka's can get.

The best known, best selling, and longest lasting Tonka just happens to be the Mighty Dump Truck as seen above. They have been made continuously in different forms since 1964. Nearly all Mighty Tonka dumps prior to 1982 will have a black chassis. Here are two examples of the occasional mighty dump that left the factory with a yellow chassis. On the left a 1980 example and a 1982 example at right with the distinctive large cab decal used only that year. Shown here

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In 1991 Tonka made a Special Edition run of power company trucks for 3 separate companies. Georgia Power, Duke Energy and Alabama Power. These did not show up in catalogs and were different from any other production power truck that Tonka made. By 1991 the Mighty Power and Bell Telephone trucks had been retired. Tonka was able re-use the old tooling from 1978 for this model with a few modifications. The old power truck had a square hole in the roof for one of the play people drivers to be inserted. This version did not have that feature and the roof was solid. The 1978 era power truck came with a straight stick boom only. For this version, Tonka brought back the old articulating Snorkel boom from the fire trucks of the 70's and 80's (with the exception of the nozzle assembly). The original Bell Telephone and Mighty Power truck from 1978 era came with a Play People driver, traffic cones, barricades, as well as a ladder. This version included the ladder only. Since they re-used the original chassis, it still bears the date 1978 on the underside. This could fool collectors into thinking it was the year of manufacture. The MR 970 Tires are used with white hubs. The Georgia Power truck is the most striking version with decals running the length of the truck, rear chevron striping, taillight decals, as well as a reflective red decal on the boom assembly. The other variants had only a small side cab decal and look rather plain as seen here. In the world of mass produced toys, I would consider these trucks to be scarce and highly desirable. Production numbers are unknown but these were surely made for only a brief time and in very low numbers as compared with regular production Tonka's.

1991 Georgia Power Truck Special Edition