My vintage Joe childhood collection is returning

[Mercenary696]

I thought these were lost. I recently discovered that some of my old GI J.O.E. collection has been found. It has been packed away for almost 20 years.

I stopped collecting Joes around series 4. I only got about half of the figures and a few figures of series 4. From 1982 - 1984 I had almost everything. By about 1985, I was on to Transformers. I had a great collection that I took great care of. I am happy to see it returning. I thought it was lost, thrown out or donated to Goodwill years ago.

This is only about 1/3 of what I had. So far, no figures, but I got my hopes going.

The first image is of me during Christmas of 1983. What an awesome year. I got almost all of series 2 that year. Check out those vintage boxes!!! I kept all the box artwork somewhere too. I hope that is found as well.

The other 3 images are of what I got so far. The Hovercraft and Hydrofoil are in excellent shape and complete. The only thing missing for the Hydrofoil is the lens, which I am sure was lost long ago before I even boxed these up.

All the vehicles are in great shape too. I am missing pieces such as fuel cans and some missiles and I know those are in zip lock bags somewhere. One of the boxes had a bunch of loose parts, so I got my fingers crossed for those too.

The greatest part about this is that these were MY toys as a kid. They are not just vehicles I picked up on eBay or at a flea market, but part of my childhood collection.

This just goes to show that there are still quality vintage Joe stuff out there, packed away in storage. It makes me wonder what other people have packaged away in storage, waiting to be rediscovered.

UPDATE on page 4.

[KushViper]

You've got some nice pieces there. I have complete Moray, one of my all time favorites. I would love to have that WHALE tho. You must be stoked!

[dcooper]

Nice pics. Awesome that you found YOUR toys. Nothing better than having your own stuff.

[smag99]

Very nice, consider me jealous :)

[Mercenary696]

Nice pics. Awesome that you found YOUR toys. Nothing better than having your own stuff.

Definitely, there is some great sentimental value to holding something I had and played with back in 1983.

[Unclassified]

wow... they are like brandy new..

[crock master]

i picked up my chilhood collection from my parents about 2 years ago. i havnt found my figures or transformers yet either. but i did get my terrordrome

[CobraCrimson]

Nice find! Brings back tons of memories

[CVdelgado]

i am truly happy for you. : )

[BigShadow]

I recently uncovered my old collection from about 20 years ago, so I know how you feel. It's the best feeling ever, like a trip through time. I almost had a tear in my eye, the nostalgia really hit me. Congrats on uncovering your old buddies!

[TheBeachHead]

Simply amazing. And like someone else said, I'm truly happy for you.

[GeneralxRon]

Looks Clean and kept well after all these years....playtime!

[Rulz]

ah.. this situation is the same as I have in 2008, that's why I get back to collecting joes again, because uncovered my old collection from the box.. congrats man !

[The Batman]

How are they so damn shiny and perfect stickers applied??? Those musta been some serious airtight boxes!! Most impressive!!

[Cobra80]

Congrats to you for finding Your old Joes. I got back into vintage joes in January 2008. I knew I had kept most of my figures from when I was a kid. I for some reason was not much of a vehicle kid. It's a shame when I look back at all these kick butt vehicles I could have asked for at Christmas.

I found an old shoe box with about 50 Starting Lineup figures and on the bottom were all my Joe/Cobra figures. I was so happy when I found them.

Again, congrats and enjoy your Joes. :)

[Cobra80]

The first image is of me during Christmas of 1983. What an awesome year. I got almost all of series 2 that year. Check out those vintage boxes!!! I kept all the box artwork somewhere too. I hope that is found as well.

I love seeing old family Christmas photos from the 1980's. It's so cool to see old TF, SW and GI Joe boxes. I miss the 80's.

[rip_cord]

wow. what a find. congrats!

keep the pics coming as you discover more! :D

[rip_cord]

The first image is of me during Christmas of 1983. What an awesome year. I got almost all of series 2 that year. Check out those vintage boxes!!! I kept all the box artwork somewhere too. I hope that is found as well.


somebody was a 'good boy' in '83! :D

[solo0525]

Very Cool !! I was a dumb ass .. I gave my stuff away .. when I hit middle school .. damn did I regret that !

[sjames90]

Awesome! I remember finding the tubs and boxes that my mom packed away. Aboug 10 boxes of GI Joe and He-Men. It's a thrill you just can't duplicate.

[rip_cord]

Very Cool !! I was a dumb ass .. I gave my stuff away .. when I hit middle school .. damn did I regret that !

i feel your pain. i stupidly sold mine to one of my younger brothers friends.
he hounded me for months when i was in high school and i finally caved in a sold it all!
if i remember correctly, he paid me $150 for it all - 3 payments of $50.

[sonofdestro]

I love hearing about adult collectors getting their old stuff back, it means those toys have come full circle. I love the first picture. You have got the classic "oh this one is clothes" look on your face. I am so happy for you, enjoy your past.

[ero]

The greatest part about this is that these were MY toys as a kid. They are not just vehicles I picked up on eBay or at a flea market, but part of my childhood collection.

Amen. That's like gold. Or better than. So happy for you. Enjoy it!

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachments/g-i-joe-collection-showcase/68966d1288458769-my-vintage-joe-childhood-collection-returning-joecoll1.jpg
And man, that's what I want my vehicle collection to look like RIGHT NOW! That's hitting all the sweet spots.

I rummaged through my parents' garage last summer, desperately trying to find my Joes amid their tubs and tubs of junk, but no luck. I suspect my dad might have thrown it all away, despite his coy attempts at the contrary. Not that I blame him, being a dad now myself and seeing how the junk accumulates. But this at least gives me hope that it is still somewhere in there, although it would look nothing like the pristine condition of your collection. And if not hope, then at least I can live vicariously through your rediscovery. :)

[AMERICAN_Hero7]

That's awesome...and here I was exstatic about finding ONE of my old vintage figs at my parents house...

[blayze5150]

Makes me wish I could find my childhood collection.

[ero]

That's awesome...and here I was exstatic about finding ONE of my old vintage figs at my parents house...

Hey, don't discount it. Any find is a good find.

[luigi]

awesome

[TK1945]

I found the box to my Moray a few years ago in the back of a closet at my parents. I don't know how it got there but I thought for sure it was thrown away. Always awesome find stuff like this.

[sharky]

wow... they are like brandy new..

No kidding. Goes to show that keeping them packed away well really does preserve them.

[ironknife]

vary cool!!! in awesome condition as well and yes it's even better that it's from your childhood, vary cool.

[Atreides]

That is very cool. Wish the same would happen here, unfortunately all our toys went to our ungrateful younger cousins.

Nothing Survived.

[Matt Trakker]

Grats on the find! They all look in really great shape. A fantastic addition to your collection.

[Mercenary696]

Update:

I went back and went through everything I could find. The only thing I found was a zip lock back with some old Joe insert catalogs.

For the past month, I have been on a buying frenzy. I had to calm down and stop somewhere, it was getting out of hand. Collecting these is addictive. I will pick up some more later in January/February, but for right now, this is it. I picked up on about 30 figures, some more vehicles and parts.

The hovercraft and Hydrofoil are complete. I was smart enough to pack away the accessories in the same box as the vehicles that I got. I can't say the same about the others. I am still missing missiles, gas cans and some other small pieces. Amazingly enough, the VAMP, VAMP MK2, and the Stinger all have their steering wheels. I am going to clean up the Skystriker and get some replacement stickers and restore it.

[Mercenary696]

Now for the gem of my collection:

The original 12 figures from 1982. All of these figures are mint! I also have Steeler, but he is in another case. I just photographed the original 12. I couldn't be happier. All the figures are tight, have very little to no paint wear. Flash is the only one that has paint wear which is on one of his upper arms. All come with the "black" versions of guns as opposed to the gray ones that came with the later issue swivel arm figures.

I am very stoked about these. This is what I wanted above all else.