Tonka trucks
 

I stumbled onto an online auction the other night that was local to me that had a load of hotwheels, diecast, models and other stuff. Most of it went for a lot more than I was willing to spend but one lot that caught my eye as it came up for closing was a table full of old metal Tonka toys and other stuff. I increased the existing bid by $1 and actually won the table full for less than what a Happy Meal cost now. The 55 BelAir diecast was worth well more than what I paid for the lot.

I am going to try my luck and taking them apart, one at a time, bead blast and then see if I can find some Tonka yellow powder so I can powdercoat them. I can make up all new decals for them inhouse so that is not an issue.

This will be a spare time project but kinda looking forward to it. They sure bring back the good ole day memories.


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Re: Tonka trucks
 

just some more photos of the entire lot.


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Re: Tonka trucks
 

This little train was in the wooden crate. It is a shame it is missing one of the straight tracks. The locomotive is a wind up with the key that sticks out of the side of it.


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Re: Tonka trucks
 

This is why I dont go to auctions. I love this kind of stuff! Those toys were well loved.

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That track looks like Lionel .027 gage with the center rail removed.

K

Re: Tonka trucks
 

SCORE! Love that old stuff. I had the Tonka dump truck and earth mover as a young lad and always wanted the grader.

Those appear to have made a number of children happy for hours in the dirt. As it should be.

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Any updates for this? Were you able to get them cleaned up and painted?

Re: Tonka trucks
 

Going to be a Cool project.

Re: Tonka trucks
 

Tonka trucks from back when they were built to be played with and to last. Looks like those trucks were well played with. Our 3 boys played with Tonka trucks but guess they treated them a bit nicer. Never left them in the sand box during the rainy days, always packed them to the garage. Without being told that I might add, LOL. Carried over well as all three have picked up on Dad's car and truck thing.

When we remodeled the kitchen the Mrs. got all her "girly kitchen trinkets" above the cabinets there was room on the utility cabinet to display the boys Tonkas. Their own displayed "place of honor" :lol:

All are early to mid-70s real metal Tonkas. :chevy:
The art work on the cabinet behind them is the two G'daughters from a few years ago.
Like to see some pics of the finished and restored Tonkas when you get to that point.

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I ran across this picture yesterday, saved it for this thread.

Re: Tonka trucks
 

I have not started on them yet. I have been mostly flat of my back going on 2 months with a neck/ shoulder injury that is finally starting to get better. Original injury was in 2012 and has been pretty much dormant for the last 8-10 years.

I bought a 30 gallon trashcan full of new Black Beauty blasting grit for $12 at auction and decided I would load it in the back of my truck with just my daughter helping. When her side slipped, my dumb ass thought I was still young and tried to take the entire load. I found that I am no longer young. It took 2 weeks for the injury to surface but I know that is what did it.

Hope to get back to them in next few weeks.

Re: Tonka trucks
 

Oh wow!! I'm sorry. I hope you get well soon

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These were mine when I was a kid, some are 1955,56. I cleaned them up gave them paint jobs and Now my Grandkids play with them

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Those are Cool.:metal::c2::):bann:

I need to get the one's I have out of the barn that I have.
They are still in decent shape.?

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CG, we should have a ''like'' button/icon, :lol: True statement on that truck. I had one like that when I was young (long time ago) and it NEVER laid down on me or refused to haul a load of sand. :chevy: