50 replies to this topic

[jkaris]

Damn you bastitch guy!

Okay, I get this email from Veers this weekend and my jaw dropped. He found a freakin MUSCLE hauler!

Hey Johnny & Nate,

I’m saving time by email you both. You guys are going
to shizznit your pants. I found a MUSCLE Hauler! Or at
least I think I did?! I’ve attached the pictures I
have, and I can take some more if you want.

I can’t effing believe it. But I think it’s good
karma, or something. I guess it depends on how you
look at it. The reason I say that is I was “Up-North”
(people in Michigan vacation in Northern Michigan,
it’s called “Going Up-North”) visiting my buddy that
lives in Petoskey.

He broke his back skiing at the tail-end of the
season, don’t worry he’s ok. He can walk and stuff,
but he has trouble lifting his head right now. He
needs his brace (which I found out cost $2500) for 3~4
months, and then he’s starting physical therapy
for…actually I’m not sure how long. There were some
things I didn’t want to push with him. I’m sure you
know what I mean.

Anyway, the worst part of his injury is that he
didn’t/doesn’t have any health insurance. So his
medical bills are pretty hardcore. Well some friends
and family have been putting together fundraisers.
Most of them are still being planned, but one of the
first ones is going to be a garage sale (or silent
auction if they can get a restaurant-type place to
donate some space, drinks, etc.).

Well while I was up there I asked if there was
anything I could do. Obviously Drew said no, but I
asked another buddy (from up there) that was visiting
him and he said that he actually needed some help
picking up some stuff for the sale/auction. So I went
with him to pick up a few big things (i.e., a table,
TV, a really cool dresser-cabinet-thing, etc.). Well
when we were dropping the stuff off at this guy’s
place, I jokingly said I wanted to get a preview since
I had been friends with Drew for so long. I was
joking, but kind of serious so I took a look around.
Right away some toys caught my eye. Some SW stuff
(nothing I didn’t have), some trains, an old race car
set thing, and some Hot Wheels.

As a effing joke I opened up the Hot Wheels case. I
was actually looking for SW figures that might be in
there too. Well I nearly shizznit my pants. I saw a
effin’ MUSCLE truck looking up at me. It looked
effing awesome too.

Well I freaked out, but I didn’t want to show it. You
know what I mean. So I said to the guy, “Hey man,
there’s some cars in here that I’d like. How’s $500
sound? It’s more than they’re worth, but it’s for
Drew.”

Well this guy freaked out and said sure. I told him I
didn’t have all the money right now, but I gave him
$200 from the ATM and promised I’d send a check on pay
day. When we were going to the ATM I asked they guy
where, or who, he had got the toys from. He said he
was pretty sure it was from a guy he worked with (some Construction/Architect company?).

So then I asked if the guy would be at the
auction/sale. He wasn’t sure, but thought he probably
would be. Well you can effing bet that I’m going to
be talking to that guy when they have that thing,
which I think is a few weeks off.

I know I ripped my friend Drew off a little bit, but I
just knew that it had to end up in my hands. What is
some a-hole had bought them for his kids? What if
some little shizznit had been playing with that thing?

And I’m going to keep sending him money. Hell, the
dude isn’t working. He’s still got everyday bills. I
can help him with those, and keep my conscious clean.
It’s effing win-win, right?

Anyway, that’s how I got my hands on it. I know it’s unbelievable. I still don’t effing believe it. That’s why I sent you guys the pictures. I figure if anyone can help me figure out if it is real, it would be you two.

Hey Johnny, do you have Darrin’s email? Didn’t he have
one of these? I know Dr. Frankenstein’s Dad tried to
buy one awhile ago, but I don’t think he ever held it.
I’m trying to get “physical” details (i.e., windows,
wheels, etc.).

I know this is an insanely long email, but this whole
thing is effing insane. I wanted to just put it on
the board, but I wanted some expert opinions before I
really start to celebrate.

Thanks guys,
Chad

Like I said, lucky bastitch!

Attached Files

•  Sunday.jpg   318.18K   90 downloads

[jkaris]

And another pic...

by the way, did I mention that Veers was a lucky bastitch? Just checking!

Attached Files

•  With_a_MUSCLE.jpg   282.32K   77 downloads

[TigerPrawnMaster]

*shizznits pants* + *Head explodes*

[GRANDTHEFT]

Wow Veer's

This is the reason why i love muscle collecting , you just never know.




Mischa

[jkaris]

Nate or Veers, can you re-upload the second picture. I already deleted them and the one I uploaded got corrupted.

[arforbes]

HOLY EFFING SH!T!!!

This is UNBELIEVABLE! Veers, good karma! Jesus, how much is that thing worth again?

Edited by arforbes, 30 June 2004 - 11:15 AM.

[ToyManiac]

From this thread, it looks to be worth, at least, $1300.

Now that is one hell of a FIND!

[Soupie]

Wow, $500 -- what a steal!

[Adamantiumwulf]

More proof that Veers is a bung hole.

Great find.

[Rokk]

Wow! That is one hell of a find, Veers! Talk about a super-rare!

[Tortle]

I've been on vacation this weekend and Monday, so I got quite a surprise when I got back! The truck featured in the pictures looks legit, and Veers' story sounds plausible. After some consideration, it seems we have two scenarios regarding the truck's origins, both with unanswered questions:

1) The truck could be a rare prototype from Mattel. If so, the original owner must have known about its "specialness" (either through working with Mattel or having friends in high places at Mattel), otherwise he wouldn't have been able to obtain the truck. Why didn't this guy give the MUSCLE truck special treatment? It was stored away with all the other Hot Wheels cars. Why wouldn't he think that the MUSCLE truck was special in some way?

2) The truck might NOT be a prototype, but a production toy instead. Do we have any way of finding out whether or not the truck was ever part of Mattel's Hot Wheels line? Maybe it was only offered in certain countries, like POTF85 Yakface. I've done some research on the Web, but I've found nothing definitive.

I'm leaning more towards the second explanation. I just don't think that impossibly-rare prototypes are floating around in people's attics just waiting to be discovered. I think it's more probable that it was offered in some limited fashion and found its way to that guy's collection.

Edited by Tortle, 29 June 2004 - 07:08 AM.

[Tortle]

...and Veers' story sounds plausible.

Hey!

No offense intended. I just meant to say that I trust your story.

By the way, here's another pic that Veers sent along:

Attached Files

•  muscletruck.jpg   50.18K   37 downloads

Edited by Tortle, 29 June 2004 - 07:53 AM.

[TheOrgg]

So the only things that someone in this community doesn't have, rarities-wise, are A) The store mobile display some have mentioned remembering (as do I, vaguely, along w/ the placecards that stuck out at Toys R Us), and the Birthday Cake advertisement from those little binders that grocery stores have to display their cakes... I should've asked for it, but I was ten... Didn't think about it, even though they threw it away the day I asked if it was still avaible... Bah. I did get a Terry Bull from their 'bag o' parts' though...

Veers, Congratulations! I'm sorry to hear about your friend, but I agree that paying some of his monthly bills in addition to the $500 initial investment should satisfy whatever form of Karma y'attribute this to.

[gilgar]

2)  The truck might NOT be a prototype, but a production toy instead.  Do we have any way of finding out whether or not the truck was ever part of Mattel's Hot Wheels line?  Maybe it was only offered in certain countries, like POTF85 Yakface.  I've done some research on the Web, but I've found nothing definitive.

I'm leaning more towards the second explanation.  I just don't think that impossibly-rare prototypes are floating around in people's attics just waiting to be discovered.  I think it's more probable that it was offered in some limited fashion and found its way to that guy's collection.

Not likely, it's not in the Tomart's for Hot Wheels. Also I've seen it on a couple of different HW web sites before as a proto. HW variations from other countries are listed in it and are fairly well known on the HW web sites.

Someone could have known a Mattel employee, not necessarily one in high places, or picked it up at some type of toy convention/show. The friend could have bought it/traded from someone who was more an action figure collector (vs. a HW collector) and didn't know the value of HW protos.

[doc_moore_j]

Sorry to hear about your friend. I'd like to offer more, but I can only spare about $350 now, so there's my bid.

[Soupie]

Something smells fishie.

[jkaris]

$700 - you cover shipping and insurance.