Top 10 Best GI Joe Vehicles

[@jokerz7936]

Christmas 1984 woke up to find under the tree all put together in Battle Formation Joe Sky Hawk, Joe Dragonfly, Joe Sharc, Joe Ram, Joe Falcon, Joe Slugger, Joe APC, Cobra Rattler, Cobra Moccasin, Cobra Hiss Tank, Cobra Fang, & Zartan's Chameleon. Also there was every Joe and Cobra action figure available at the time. My mum had found every figure and vehicle she could all year long and put them on layaway for me. Most days we barely had a pot to piss in but my mum always made Christmas something special. I'll remember that Christmas Morning until the Day I die.

[@WassupitsdaT]

Thats wholesome

[@aworldmadeofcardboard3692]

Great list. I had several of those vehicles. The thing I loved about GI Joe was the fact that larger vehicles came with a driver and extra space for more figures. Smaller single figure vehicles, unless they were part of a character's style like Zartan and the Chameleon and Sgt. Slaughter and the Triple T Tank, did not come with a figure. In short, Hasbro had the great mindset to sell their vehicles with the idea that they would sell more figures. You just couldn't have fun with only the pilot, you wanted another figure in that Dragonfly. Oh for the days were toy companies really put thought into a toyline.

[@JLPCaminero]

I wish that would've worked for me lmao. I said I needed some more figures for a big vehicle, then my mother said "you already have dozens, use them!" On the other hand, smaller vehicles (thus not as expensive) with a pilot were big sellers. Every kid gotta take that extra figure no matter if you liked it or not.

[@HighFalutinTootin]

I love the original gi joe orings they were very customizable

[@JosephDickersonUX]

Yup, The WHALE is definitely number one. Finally got one for my collection at last year's JoeFest. It was 99% complete, and the part that was missing was easy to design and 3D print. Now to get me a Tomahawk...

[@Stygian360]

I picked up a personal favorite of mine the Wolverine at Joe fest this year. It was missing the tow cable as most wolverines are but to your point I was able to get one that was 3D printed and it works just fine

[@Rockhound1943]

Also floated in our pool!

[@davidriddell5294]

It actually FLOATED!!! oh, man...I had no idea!! And I had a pool to actually put it in..opportunity missed!! 😪😪😪😪😔😔😔

[@davidriddell5294]

Jeez you're in my head!! The Tomahawk as well!! My little brother and I would just play forever with these! (Thinking back, the Tommy would get either shot down, and need rescue.. Or it would come into rescue a situation. Thanks for sparking these memories!)

[@MOUNTAINEER1976]

I got the Tomahawk for Christmas of 1986. Hands down the best toy I ever owned!!!

[@danmorris8594]

Me too! Little sister snapped all the rotors off. Traumatizing. It didn't make it.

[@ricricky4103]

I just bought it with everything but the pilot.

[@tomservo5347]

The technical details on the decals like 'Lube Point', 'Sensor Access', and removable panels for maintenance always sparked my imagination as a kid. Such a well thought out toy line.

[@roguishpaladin]

5:59 An important note about the APC, especially in light of your highlighting this feature for the WHALE, is that the APC *also* floats (hence why it's referred to as amphibious). In fact, I think it predates all other floating GI Joe toys. Unlike the other water toys (except the WHALE), though, this made sense in both land and water play.

[@dangerfindertreasureseeker8905]

This G.I. Joe vehicle is in the “ S” Class category, the Defiant Space Shuttle Complex. I never owned one but boy did I want it. It wasn’t as big a the carrier , which is a good thing considering how over the top in size that thing was. The shuttle was more space friendly and could still be played with as a ship or play set . Totally awesome toy.

[@seanyoung9014]

One Christmas I had to choose between getting the carrier as my one and only gift or getting Transformers Omega Supreme and some NES games. I didn't get the carrier but I think I made the right choice based on how big it was lol.

[@dangerfindertreasureseeker8905]

@@seanyoung9014 I think you made the right choice . Omega plus a bunch of games to one carrier . I would have choose Omega as well.

[@BHARGAV_GAJJAR]

Back in the 90s my parents got me the motorcycle, the VAMP jeep, the dune buggy thing, the swing wing fighter jet Striker, also there was an exoskeleton figure.

[@woltersworld]

The Mauler... i didnt even remeber those antennaes and smoke bombs. We lost those easily in the first day. probably lost in christmas wrapping paper

[@geoffdickey3761]

The microphone on the driver helmet was missing.

[@riderofthe4thseal]

I had the Snow Cat, the Triple T Tank, and the Conquest X-30. Great memories. I think a huge thing I liked about the GI Joe vehicles was that you had to put them together. This way, if you wanted to, you could take them apart and simulate wreckage.

[@xancypillosi9497]

I had a AFA graded snow cat. Sold like a fool

[@imj3688]

This video nearly brought a tear to my eye not only for the nostalgia of it, but it's practically my top 10 list as well. Also loved that so many of your choices were the smaller to mid-sized vehicles as opposed to an array of giant oversized ones. Can't wait to see your Cobra list, although I'd speculate that the Ferret and Moccasin are shoe-ins.... :)

[@nickdunlop07]

Another great video Tony. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. Had great times playing with a few of these vehicles.

[@Rosarymeds]

I never understood why the Sky Striker expanded its wings with its land gear down. When on the ground, I always wanted the wings retracted. And when it was in the air in a fierce dogfight, I wanted the wings expanded out, but it didn't make sense to have the landing gear down in flight. So much research went into these toys. I'm puzzled how they didn't see how 6 year olds would be confused by the wing/landing gear combinations.

[@poolee77]

When F-14s take off the wings are out, and for low speed. The retract for high speed and storage. Maybe they didn’t have the budget to have two separate retraction features so they interlinked them in the way that made the most sense. Which it does

[@scottboyer8450]

Your top 2 picks are also my top 2 but I would rate the Sky Striker higher because I'm just an military aviation nut. I'm going to jump the gun and rate my two favorite Cobra vehicles as the Night Raven and the Water Moccasin. The Moccasin was small and had fewer features and parts than the Whale or the Cobra Moray but I just always loved how it looks. The Night Raven, well anything based on a cross between Fire Fox and an SR-71 is going to be cool!

[@ericshade9632]

the Moccasin was awesome. Small yes, but easily manipulated as a kid. That was the problem I had with GI Joe. For every Cobra vehicle, Joe had a larger version. The balance of power always seemed off to me. and yet the Cobra vehicles were (a) cheaper and (b) easier to play with (more durable because there were less greebles and features to break/lose)

[@roguishpaladin]

@@ericshade9632 Ah, but what about the Night Raven? I'd even say the Rattler was at least competitive with the Skystriker (size-wise, though the swept wing feature is just amazing), but the Night Raven was clearly superior to the Conquest.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Tony you are right on point here! Great vid! Great List! Love your love for the line!!

[@fizzer11]

At 1.33......Those two drivers in the cockpit of the HAVOC vehicle look like they are laid face down on milking tables!!🤣🤣🤣

[@G7M9W]

Very solid choices. Personally, I'd put the VAMP Mk. II at #10 instead of the HAVOC, but I do get the love some have for the it. Really looking forward to the Cobra list!

[@MichaelJShaffer]

Great Top 10 list, Tony.

[@luisortizsolorzano5109]

That list deserves a second part. Also includes the silver mirage

[@jbstoytrunk]

Can’t argue with this list at all!! Awesome breakdown and video brother 🤙🏼

[@37Kilo2]

The only vehicle from this list that I had, was the Snowcat. I absolutely loved it (still do). My older brother had a few others from this list, but certainly didn't allow me to play with them. The best Joe toy I ever had was the General. Massive vehicle, tons of missiles and guns. Big ol cannon, and a helicopter. Such an awesome toy.

[@mixmix1487]

Great video Tony! I agree with this list. I was fortunate enough to have owned them all as a kid except for the whale. My best friend owned it so we would swap vehicles for a week. It went perfect with the platform. Man, good times. So glad we had these toys and not phones.

[@dwoncrawford5823]

Man I was having a bad day until I saw this video. It brought back a lot of good memories!! Thanks a lot and continue the awesome videos!!

[@Chrisuperfly1]

I have to admit watching these vids is difficult because one of my biggest regrets is not keeping all of my GI Joes from when I was a kid. I had a lot of these vehicles, mad at myself for not keeping them. Some of my favorites not shown here were the Dreadnok Thunder Machine, Bridge Layer, Sgt. Slaughters Warthog, and my ultimate favorite Defiant, but that would be more of a playset than a vehicle. When I saw Defiant going for upwards of $12K online I was almost sick to my stomach.

[@TheToyOdyssey]

Fantastic list Tony. Surprised the iconic Skyhawk didn't make your list. My honorable mention would be the S.H.A.R.C. and Devilfish.

[@austind9675]

I had the GI Joe Hover Whale as a kid for like…1 day, maybe a few weeks. I don’t know what happened to it, where it went, if my mom threw it away or what but it haunts my dreams to this day. I loved that toy and its disappearance is one the biggest mysteries of my life.

[@jordel2010]

This is a pretty good list. I think the Warthog A.I.F.V. and the Mobile Command Center deserved at least a honorary mention here. The MCC is primarily a playset, BUT, contrary to the USS Flagg, it is truly mobile as its name states and qualifies as vehicle too. As somebody stated in a previous comment, I would have made a swap and put the VAMP instead of the HAVOC.

[@stephenthomas1492]

I feel lucky that I was gifted most of these vehicles as a kid. I sure wish in my later teenage years that I would have not been so certain that I would never want them again! I remember giving them away for sale in a yard sale. That said, I've kept all my daughter's toys for her when she wants to revisit her childhood, so it's not a total loss!

[@cowpuddles4851]

I feel your pain. I was shamed by my cousins when I was 13 that I still had toys so I sold them all at a yard sale. What a waste!

[@amethystglare]

I did the same thing with my He Man collection.

[@hovmad8702]

I know exactly how that feels..I had a ton of figures and vehicles....I ended up giving them away to salvation army in my teen years..if only I knew..smh.

[@jaredharris1970]

I feel u if I knew the internet was coming I would have saved all my stuff I would have made a fortune by now my stuff was lightly played with nothing was broken I kept the blueprints and file cards eventually I ran out of space had to give them away

[@lawrencebrewer8769]

Same. And the original Transformers.

[@Chasing80sToys]

That's a great list with some of the greatest GIJOE vehicles in the world. Enjoyed seeing your top 10. 👍👍👍 YoJoe

[@cquinn4555]

another awesome vid thanks brother!

[@jumpupapple960]

Dude I remember I got the conquest x30 when it came out in 1986, it was the best toy I had got for 12 years

[@SaturnCanuck]

Thanks Tony. I always love your videos.

[@Alphahydro]

I had a smile on my face throughout the entire video. Takes me back.

[@SodoMojo22]

Lot of nostalgia watching this - I was a GI Joe collector as a kid...fond memories. Thanks for this vid.

[@ezgezg8618]

Thx for these memories.. Never forget my dad handing me the Tomahawk Christmas morning, fully built, ready to play.. 🍻🇨🇦

[@adrianobernardiprado5033]

Awesome list Almost cried remembering my childhood with these perfect toys 😊

[@JFvE]

Excellent choices all around, Tony!

[@splintershield]

Oh man, this video really took me down memory lane! Loved playing with my own or my friend's GI Joes when we visited! I had the Killer Whale and it was one of my favorite toys.

[@yesterlandtoys1138]

Nice selection Tony! I can agree with your selection and choices. Good stuff!

[@ratface44]

Awesome video Sir!

[@Mstngdaddy74]

I feel the G.I Joe warthog is not only deserving of being on this list but possibly even contend for the top spot. I still have this vehicle from when I was a kid, complete. It's a tracked amphibious armored troup career, like the killer whale. It features a double ballistic misle launcher, machine 2 machine gun turrets, a place for the driver "Sargent slaughter " which the vehicle comes with his figure that has a lot of detail to. Has enough room for 6 Joe's inside the Troup carrier compartment and 9 Joe's in total. One of my favorite Joe vehicle's, and we'll deserving of a spot on the list. 👍🏾

[@scubapete9500]

Great countdown! 💥💥💥

[@bgreen8853]

I was poor when I was a kid but when my best friend left with his family to go to another country he gave me the tomahawk and the a10 tank buster cheers Aaron where ever you are top man!

[@legomech1946]

Great list!

[@terrenceodonnell6347]

Loved this list .. Had pretty much all of them as a kid, number 1 was my favorite as well...

[@foginternational]

Solid list. Great video

[@MrSmokincodz]

I remember getting the GI joe general for Xmas when I was a kid. I wish I still had that bad boy in the box. Love the channel.

[@skyden24195]

Another great video! Of the vehicles on this list, I (at one time) had the "Dragonfly," "Sky Striker," "APC," and the "Rapid Fire." Just to mention, as it was briefly mentioned in the video, I remember taking my G.I. Joe "V.A.M.P." to show-n-tell in the 2nd grade. Also, my uncle (who is just under 2 years my senior) had the "(Killer) W.H.A.L.E." which, when visiting, I'd use as a carrier/launch platform for the Joe's "Devilfish" attack boat. Last thing, my uncle also had the "H.A.V.O.C." and I still retain a VHS home video of a family visit in which it can be heard my uncle singing part of the "HAVOC" commercial jingle, i.e., "Nothing's too tough for HAVOC! Nothing's too rough for HAVOC!" lol

[@lowmazda626]

i really enoyed your list and i am blown away by the condition of all of your vehicles. the decals are spectacular

[@211inprogress]

Awesome upload, I had one of those jeeps in 87, I've only got a Hiss now, I got new one recently. All the best. 🇬🇧

[@theesweetscience2084]

A) So glad you are still keeping the history of the toys/titles we are so lucky to have grown up with in our era!!! Have loved your channel for years!! B) when you listed the Havoc as a controversial addition into the 10 ten shouldn't be controversial at All! I believe that lists are shaped by the titles we come up with... This list is the top 10 Joe vehicles. That doesn't, to me, mean that this list is the "most essential vehicles in Joe history". This is YOUR top 10, nostalgia should very much be a part of the additions your form into the top 10☺️ those vehicles helped shape your childhood, and, in turn, your adulthood!!!!! You're a good person and do such a professional job with your channel!!!! The heart you out into the videos is very clear!!!!! Respect to you.

[@gregglistrom2483]

Ahhh, the memories. Put a big smile on my face. I had 1,3,4, and 7.

[@hillbillyharper4008]

Outstanding list. I absolutely loved the havoc

[@shinerdrinker9249]

When I was a kid, my father told me he could get me the US Flagg for Christmas one year. But then he also said I must choose between the Flagg or my bed. I'm telling you, as a kid, it was an incredible choice. Dad was impressed when I picked the bed. He got me the WHALE instead. I also prefer the Conquest X-30 over the Skystriker for the airplane. Slip-Stream was a cooler pilot, but the "working" parachute is difficult to get over

[@Justincredibletoys]

Good work, Home. Watching the podcast and brought me to your channel.

[@2023thekid]

Hello Tony, I really enjoy your videos. I have recently been buying shells and parts of vintage GI vehicles like the whale, skystriker and dragonfly to fix up for my son's to get for Christmas this year. It's been a lot of fun. I'm not going full restoration just good enough to play with, it will be Christmas 1983 all over again for us this year.

[@SkageXL5]

I love the Havoc, it was my first proper Action Force toy (I think it was pre changeover when I got mine) after having a couple of figures. It became their base as well as vehicle. I got the Dragonfly eventually, super cheap in a trashed box from Woolworths, and that was my full loadout!

[@8andSk8]

Awesome video… It was a great time for action figure in the 80’s

[@SkyFireDrone2022]

Absolutely my favorite vehicles as well! The all-green APC is very rare, eh? I still have four of them! I went crazy in the 90’s and mail-ordered over $500 worth of Joe stuff, including four APC’s and FOUR Whales! So glad I did🤓

[@jasonking3182]

You can use the Dragonfly and the bed that came with Doc to move casualties MASH style. There are a ton of secret play features like this in the first 5 years of the line.

[@PepeSylvia]

Man, this brings me back. I had six of the top ten list. The Whale and Helicopter were so much fun....

[@RetroToyEscapades]

Thanks for the very informative video, Tony - I still have the vintage Tomahawk. Havoc and Skystriker on hand; though missing a ton of stickers and accessories but thankfully their main body frames are still present ahaha. After watching the vid I now feel like tracking down the Mauler!

[@drewjbx228]

Wow thanks for sharing, brings back childhood memories, I had the first motorized tank with the controls at the top turret, the killer whale, rattler, whirlwind, jeep, wish I would have kept all of it, along with all the star war toys!

[@hardcorepoetic]

Fantastic list. I owned all of the top three. Fond memories.

[@xazylsclubhouse]

Great list 👌 And even if the Triple T didn't make the list, it was great to see it in the video 😎 Yo Joe!

[@kgwilso]

This is a great list. I had the Killer Whale as a kid. I always felt like it was several toys in one. Also, Cutter was the coolest and always a standout character.

[@BCWasbrough]

I loved the little joke of his civilian name: Skip A. Stone.

[@animationcycles7109]

I was a Joe fiend, as a child. Other than the Flagg, and x-29, and the shuttle. I pretty much had everything else. I've always been kinda engineer minded ( and an aviation guy) so some things made sense, and others didn't. ( Like the tomahawk, having the fan blade, as tail rotor, ???? When it already had dual rotor system)Although the "NOTAR" on the Dragonfly, made sense, at least in the right steps. I really enjoyed the mini sets, that didn't come with figures. The bivouac, hawk(?) Missile system, I forgot what their lineup collection was called though. Regardless, many fun years!

[@sithcarebear1]

Great List Tony! The top three especially were favorites of mine. I always thought the Tomahawk was one of the coolest vehicles from any toy line ever. Cheers!🍻

[@Mrhandfriends]

Just sat here smiling and remembering Christmas mornings in the 80’s !!! Killer whale kicked ass !! Thank you 🙏

[@bjpalm1994]

Great list! I had several of these. Never had the HAVOC or Snow Cat but always wanted them. I can still remember that Snow Cat commercial to this day. Snowww CAT!!!, lol.

[@katherineberger6329]

The SnowCat's ski torpedoes are just goofy enough to be sci-fi while not being so goofy that they COMPLETELY blow suspension of disbelief.

[@PhantomDruid]

Great list. I would have put the Armadillo in there somewhere, but I'm mostly in agreement with you. I never had the WHALE as a kid but I always envied those who did. That would probably be my first choice as well. Can't wait for your Cobra list.

[@joshua3732]

I love that you added the HAVOC. It may not be realistic, but It is fun!

[@robertlduncan12]

My favorites are the Tomahawk since my grandparents got it for me and my brother as kids, and then the Snowcat since I always wanted it as a kid and finally got it a couple years ago. Looking forward to your Cobra list down the road.

[@beaker126]

Awesome list, and totally agree, the Whale is the best! Sadly, never had one as a kid. Hasbro did a great job with those, the really found a balance between play features and kid-resistant.

[@PhantomDruid]

Same. Never had it but ALWAYS wanted it. I had the Cobra hydrofoil, which was great, but I wish I had the WHALE as sort of a Joe counterpart.

[@impossiblepie]

Yo Joe!!!! Great video Tony!

[@Riznal]

I was lucky that we managed to get all the GI Joe toys here in Malaysia. I had the Dragonfly and I still have vivid memories of how each of these vehicles box art were. I was also lucky that I worked at Toys R Us for a while when I was 16 and was constantly looking as GI Joe toys at work. Thanks for the video!

[@thagrifster594]

I am not ashamed to say that I had all of them and what a great childhood! Thanks

[@rahdigga6031]

I'm currently contemplating selling my Joe collection and this video just made me think against it. Thanks Tony. I agree with everything on this list except the APC. I just like the Rolling Thunder more.

[@xancypillosi9497]

Ever interested, let me know brotha - have a blessed holidays and new years to you and your loved ones

[@ferrisculhay5179]

Whale was the first and best GIJoe toy i ever got. Took that thing in the pool, watched it sink like a rock. Luvved it anyway.

[@jayman105]

Wow! I had the Dragonfly helicopter, and the Snow cat (my fave!). Always wanted the Tomahawk, but I also had the G.I.JOE headquarters, as well as a lot of cool Cobra vehicles!

[@66_ed_Hawkenson]

Definitely agree with the WHALE... still have mine from 1984 but it's been thru the ringer lol... One of my most memorable christmas presents as a kid...

[@adamshotts6097]

Ty for posting, aka I remember having each one as a kid.

[@jnichols1986]

I think the Conquest X-30 deserves a top 10 slot. Great list!

[@BeachHead79]

I had the Snowcat and the Tiger Force repaint of the Dragonfly. So many good vehicles!

[@scockery]

Mine, playsets excluded. 10. Snowcat 9. Devilfish 8. Wolverine 7. VAMP 6. WHALE 5. Warthog 4. Tomahawk 3. Armadillo 2. Slaughter's Marauders Equalizer (I never owned a Mauler) 1. AWE-Striker Honorable mentions: The APC. Yeah, if we had the Palitoy version. Or even if the US release had a tow hook, it would make my list. Silver Mirage Motorcycle, yes, it's fiddly and just a fragile mess with age. But at the time I loved it.

[@cygarza]

Man, I had most of those as a kid. I miss those days and toys.

[@tacticalmattfoley]

The WHALE was my favorite. One that was left off your list that I loved was the SHARC....it was very versatile and durable. One other thing about the WHALE: it was heavily and prominently featured in the GI Joe comic books of that era.

[@ConfusionDistortion]

Havoc, Vamp, Whale, Rolling Thunder, APC, Ram cycle, Sharc, Mean Dog, Warthog, and Devilfish kinda all hover in my top 10 per what I though was cool or had as a kid, and what I still like today. Also worth mentioning is the Mobile Battle Bunker, Skystorm, and Conquest. I mean there are plenty of others too that are top tier. It's a toy line that pretty much put out nothing but hits till 1991 where it became very hit or miss.

[@shanehai2699]

Great list, and I'd even include the Conquest, Wolverine, & Devilfish as honorable mentions.

[@MoparMcNeer]

100% agree with this entire list. I had many of these on the list too. Wish I would have kept them. Joe's are so cool

[@paulleyharris7851]

My 10 list of GI Joe list: 1.) A-10 Warthog w/ Ace 2.) Wolverine w/ Cover Girl 3.) Ghost Striker w/ Ace 4.)Tomahawk w/Ace 5.) Devilfish 6.) Mauler w/ Heavy Metal 7.) Hammer 8.) Desert Fox w/ Skidmark 9.)Mean Dog w/ Wildcard 10.)Silver Mirage

[@captainobvious9233]

Some of my favorites: 1. Cobra Moray Hydrofoil. It floated and when waterlogged it would sink to the bottom. I spent countless hours playing with it in the pool. 2. The Cobra Night Raven was another pool favorite simply because it also sank, but very slowly. I liked to have it crash land and have the pilots escape before it went under. 3. The Dreadnought Thunder Machine - I put that through so much abuse crashing into stuff, jumping it, pushing it off the front steps, etc. 4. The Rolling Thunder - Just because of it's size. It was like having a mobile command center. I Was only 5 when G.I Joe came out, and didn't know/get into it until several years later, so while I had tons of G..I Joe Vehicles and Figures, I only a handful of the early ones.

[@AnalogToys]

Did you not listen to part where said there are no Cobra vehicles on this list?

[@captainobvious9233]

@@AnalogToys Yeah, but was just listing my favorite vehicles :(

[@garybugden9451]

Solid list

[@YT0091]

I respect all of these picks. The GIJoe line made it incredibly easy to pick 10 great vehicles. Picking the top 10, well that's a different story.

[@TheDodgerDog]

I had most of these toys and love to build a collection again!

[@yaboym3247]

Tony does the best videos on Action Force/G.I Joe. Looking forward to the Cobra one.

[@theoneandonlysoslappy]

Had the Ram, Striker, and the Killer Whale. I can still remember in detail the Christmas mornings when I received the latter two. 😊

[@lazydayhobbies1540]

Good list... Mine would be a bit different but I agree with your tastes for this list.

[@danielrowan4716]

You’re doing the Lord’s work, Tony. Love this list.