G.I.JOE VEHICLE SHOWDOWN Part 3 - 1984

THE G.I.JOE VEHICLE SHOWDOWN

PART 3:  Series 3 / 1984

It's Getting Serious Now...

    In 1984, G.I. Joe continued to expand their forces.  They became even more mobile with the addition of vehicles like the SHARC (a submarine) and the Killer WHALE Hovercraft.  The Joes also added to their defensive abilities with a handful of battle station areas like the Watch Tower.  The Joes were definitely a powerful force to reckon with.

    It was Cobra, however, that came out swinging more stronger than ever.  Aside from the fact they employed some characters that would become iconic to the evil organization, they also debuted some new, powerful vehicles like the Water Moccasin and the Stinger Jeep.  This was also the year Cobra showed us the crown jewel of their vehicle force with the mighty Rattler jet!  

10 - Awesome, Fantastic

9 - 7 - Various levels of Greatness

6 - 4 - Various levels of "Okay"

3 - Mediocre

2 -1 - Levels of Crapiness 

1 - MACHINE GUN DEFENSE UNIT

    Three mini battle station sets were released this year.  Pretty cool set especially for Rock n Roll or Roadblock.  Neat tank traps too!  Let's give it a 6.  

2 - MORTAR DEFENSE UNIT

    Interesting that it had stackable sandbags, unfortunately they weren't very stackable.  Also seems a little dangerous to be surrounded by oil and gas cans...?  It's okay, I'll give it a 4.  

3 - MISSILE DEFENSE UNIT

    Maybe I'm silly, but I thought this one was so cool because of the broken wall accessory that came with it.  The crate with the shells is also cool.  It gets a 7. 

4 - MANTA  (mail-in)

    Okay, here's a weird one!  It's an Attack Surfboard, right?  Certainly a bit strange.  It was the beginning of the toyline and it was a mail-in, they were still trying to figure things out with G.I. Joe.  I'm okay with it.  Not bad.  It's a 4.

5 - CHAMELEON, with Zartan

    Hmm... what do you say about this one?  Well, it's awesome.  I love the look and the concept of a "swamp skier" sounds interesting.  It changes color, just like the driver.  It can be broken down as it's own disguise.  Very cool!  The negative?  Fell apart, it was flimsy, most kids lost parts of it.  Mine broke in multiple places.  Unfortunately, the fragility is enough to take this cool vehicle down to a rating of 6.  It should have been a 10.

6 - COBRA C.L.A.W.

    I loved this cool, little mechanical hang-glider!  This was an easily affordable addition to your Cobra forces.  I'll give it a 9. 

7 - MOUNTAIN HOWITZER

    Cool towable cannon.  Very well done!  Awesome that you can load the shells into it.  I also like the field glasses too.  It's a 7.

8 - WATCH TOWER

    I really liked these mini "world building" playsets.  This one was often staged next to my Joe Headquarters.  Very cool.  It gets an 8.

9 - BIVOUAC

    Another "world building" playset.  This was a favorite.  With the cot, it was a place where Doc's patients could rest and heal.  It had a cool radio, mortar, and even tools.  How I didn't lose any of that stuff is anyone's guess.  I still have this!  Another 8.

10 - SKY HAWK

    A nice, small Joe air vehicle.  Airborne usually piloted mine.  Decently durable, easy to add into battles.  I like it.  I'll give it a 7.  

11 - S.H.A.R.C, with Deep Six

    Didn't have it till my adult "collector" days.  Never a fan.  I covered my thoughts on this flying submarine pretty well in Snoova's Top 10 - Least Favorite Vehicles.  It gets a 3. 

12 - COBRA WATER MOCCASIN, with Copperhead

    I was so jazzed to get this vehicle and it did not disappoint!  Carried several Cobras into the swamps, it had a great "swampy" color, and a great figure to boot.  A favorite for sure!  An easy 10!

13 - V.A.M.P. II, with Clutch (tan)

    A desert version of the original VAMP, now outfitted with a missile launcher.  I had the first VAMP, so I didn't get this till many years later.  Still, I like the upgrades.  Very cool.  It's a 9.  

14 - COBRA STINGER, with Stinger Driver

    Cobra's version of the VAMP in perfect "night attack" colors.  Looks amazing!  Figure was "meh" compared to other Cobra recruits this year.  Another 9 (could have got a 10 with a better figure). 

15 - SLUGGER, with Thunder

    I never had this one, but I know people that did.  So I never really got too attached to it.  It's okay, not bad.  Maybe a 6...?

16 - COBRA RATTLER, with Wild Weasel

    Just eyeballing this thing in the G.I. Joe catalog was enough to make everyone want to own this!  Amazing all the way around!  This jet was just a hair smaller than the Skystriker and was more "manageable" to work into battles.  Cool figure, cool jet, great colors, and armed to the teeth.  It's a 10, no doubt!

17 - KILLER WHALE, with Cutter

    This is where our minds were getting blown with what Hasbro could do!  The Whale was crazy-awesome!  I got this for Christmas and loved it instantly.  It had it all - cool gun turrets, working fans, a launchable recon sled, a mini motorbike, depth charges, storage space for figures, it rolled, it floated, etc.  There is no denying this thing is a 10!!  

18 - COBRA A.S.P. (Assault System Pod)

    Whoops...  forgot this one, so it's at the end.  This gun emplacement had a pretty wicked look.  It was cool that Cobra could tow it behind the HISS Tank or Stinger.  I never really understood why it had the ability to sit upright???  To be a better target?  Whatever.  It was pretty neat and Cobra needed it - a 7.

    Hasbro was setting the bar high for the toyline with the incredible offerings this year!  When we were kids, so many of these were instant "must-haves".  I remember my friend Greg calling me up and telling me "I just saw Zartan at K-Mart!" and "I just saw the Rattler".  I would jump on my bike and high-tail it to whatever store so I could see them for myself!  I also know I spent a lot of time mowing lawns to try to buy several of these vehicles.  

    The year 1984 was a major milestone for the toyline.  What did you think of it?  How would you rank this assortment?