HCC788 - 1988 SWAMPMASHER - Vintage G.I. Joe toy review!

[@mountainpeakcloud8442]

This was one of my favorite vehicles growing up, and still is. I also owned a killer whale and AWE striker, amongst others, and while they were all great, the Swampmasher always felt more robust with less easy to break parts, and as such I got a ton of play time out of it without the worry of being overly cautious. I was never a strict “GI Joe is a realistic military toy line” type of kid, so I personally love the design and color scheme. I liked the idea of a single manned vehicle going on solo missions, and I liked the somewhat sci-fi quality to it. I actually really liked the wheel design. While I enjoyed playing with my larger wheeled vehicles, I always got frustrated that they largely worked on smooth surfaces, while the Swampmasher could pretty much go anywhere. I feel that the play value of this toy is often overlooked because people coming to this as an adult may be put off my it’s aesthetics. Perhaps my childhood nostalgia for this toy make it hard for me to be completely objective, but I do feel there’s something to the fact that I gravitated to this vehicle more that other larger more elaborate ones as a kid because of how fun it was to play with.

[@Gen1RedAlert]

FINALLY!!! I have always loved this vehicle, and am glad it got the votes. It's really Constructicon colored more than anything else.

[@rtd1409]

I love this rig took me until the Ebay years to get a fleet of them! I imagined the wheels rotating in place on the top that would aid in slicing through foliage.

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

I frickin love this vehicle.

[@devinthunderstrike]

So much disparagement!?! This is one of the best vehicles. As a child playing in the backyard, this was the best for running through all terrain back there. Almost forgot, it was also very inexpensive, I had about four of them.

[@TheBoglin]

Yeah I think if was called the "Dune Masher" and was designed for beaches or something, it would do fine. It's a fine toy vehicle for imaginative play and battles as a kid.

[@KokoandFooFoo]

I actually have vivid memories of buying this vehicle in 1989. My mom had taken me to our local department store Towers (now defunct) during the holiday season and I was looking forward to buying a gi joe toy. I wasn't sure what I wanted but imagine my surprise when the toy shelves were empty (holiday shoppers emptied the entire gi joe section) and this was the only thing they had on the store shelves that wasn't opened. I didnt want to go home empty-handed so i bought this and I wasn't even excited about it.

[@biokido575]

It looks like a Decepticon.

[@G7M9W]

I bought one as a birthday present back in the day, but more importantly I've thought for over 30 years that it was the SwampSmasher, not the SwampMasher. I even thought Hoodie was just saying it wrong. Reading skills, who knew? You learn something new every day.

[@nathantaisto4793]

I also loved this toy but I also love various options too

[@Gripen90]

I love the Swampmasher, both the wheels and the colours 😊

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Oh the Swampmashers definetely got it's fans HCC I love the colours the look of it, looks great with Muskrat driving almost like he was made for this vehicle..what's not to like about the Swampmasher? It's strange wheels?..that just makes it cooler like an extreme off road vehicle these wheels are obviously to drive through rivers and swamps...it's an 88 vehicle too.. 88s IMO one of the best years for GIJoe..One of my golden years as a kid.

[@jolemaire6629]

I loved this vehicule as a kid, it might not for swamps but for the garden is was awsome

[@BrianB77]

I had this when I was a kid and I loved it. I still have the vehicle and maybe it's nostalgia, but I still like it.

[@QUANK321]

Nice last second Easter egg. Thats what imthe swampmasher always reminded me off. "Nothing can stop the claw"

[@JediJunkie247]

"Kermit the Frog-green" It ain't easy being green.

[@STRAKAZulu]

About time!! I actually wanted this vehicle when I was still into GI Joe.

[@ninobrown9600]

I love how you intro the swamp Master like it was going to be promoted in the military.

[@amazonviking]

I always liked this vehicle but mainly on design. Not too married with the color palette they used. I grew up in a very jungly area and always saw it as a better jungle vehicle. Never the less I have always been a big fan of the lighter vehicles. Great review!

[@blissex]

Great review, finally the swamp smasher wins, it's funny the colors remind me of the transformers constructicons, I love seeing the old commercial where shockwave v1 and storm shadow v2 were using the vehicle and it's the only time you will see an animation and the figures together, too bad we didn't get a season 3 of the sunbow gi joe, we would have seen these figures and vehicles, I wouldn't mind getting this vehicle for my shockwave and storm shadow, hey hcc788 if you ever want get rid of your swamp smasher I will buy it off you, just contact extensive enterprises for business arrangements.

[@edaniels240]

I like the Swampmasher, it was one of my favorite vehicles which I still have

[@WWJD85]

Finally it wins a patreon poll

[@thephotoviper]

Finally did the swampmasher... nice...😊

[@evlbstrd1060]

this was my favorite as a kid

[@samfrito]

Great illustration. I've always wanted a Swamp Masher. Pogo pod vs Swamp Masher

[@dal5x5]

Congratulations!

[@nutgocrazy4899]

Thanks I have been waiting for this review for ever now

[@tucostoys1678]

You have a lot of cool shirts! Long live the Ramones!

[@neovegaproductions]

"Wicked-Looking Purple Machine Gun on a Dark Gray Turret" is now the name of my new prog-rock jam band.

[@travis_thompson]

I enjoyed playing with it as a kid, it wasnt the greatest at rolling over the obstacles I put in front of it but I had fun. the colour scheme always made me think it should be cobra though.

[@violagreene4643]

I was kind of hoping that this would become the next to last review on this channel. Right before Rock & Roll v2 from 1989

[@workhardlivefree3818]

My second favorite vehicle! The wheels could have worked had they been airfilled rims, the protrusions would act as paddle wheel blades and at a high rate of speed, they would have maintained lift on the water. I always hated the colors of the later toys, but always thought this one worked.

[@AroundTheSouth327]

1 finally! 2 up until a few months ago i thought this was a cobra vehicle. 3 i do like the color scheme because it reminds me of devastator which was a favorite toy of mine as a kid.

[@sirkowski]

The colors are flashy, but the green and purple is a good match. It does look more like a Cobra or some recreational vehicle. Although I've never had one, I always thought it looked pretty cool. And the animation in the commercial really kicked ass.

[@lo1bo2]

Am I the only loyal viewer who stayed until the very end? Animal Monster Truck!

[@PaoloGuanco]

My cousin had this. We are in the Philippines and we used to think that the wheels are similar to, and would make good harrowing plows for the rice paddies!

[@jeanvonestling7408]

Hasbro to Larry Hama: "OK, we have this stuff, put it in the comic". Larry Hama: "ok" and puts it in issue where Joes do nothings except for observing.

[@JR-yf1ri]

As always, great review and totally loving the humor! I tell you, a revisit of the “big ones” would be great! I.e. the Flagg, Terrordrome, etc.

[@demgutts]

Never picked this up as a kid, favors a constructicon from transformers

[@michaelpytel3280]

Congratulations on 12K !

[@orainpax0430]

Congrats.

[@JamesThames1987]

If this was released in 1993-1994 under the Battle Corps line as a Cobra vehicle and it featured spring assisted forward missiles and a ( rotating mini gun barrel ) I would think of this thing to be awesome! It really should have been released as an all terrain vehicle though, that's how I figure it would have done best.

[@mbsyggd]

Gotta love these figureless vehicles you can toss anyone into like this and the Cobra Invader from Star Brigade. Too bad there's no neon 😄

[@gijoeimmortal1868]

For a long time I thought this was a Dreadnok vehicle or a Zartan alternative to the grasshopper...I would still use it as a Dreadnok vehicle.

[@FoxofMaysville]

Purple is not a good color, I understand, but Hasbro was doing a lot of odd colors by this time in the toy line. But, I sort of liked the Swamp Masher. The way I use it was that it would go out on a mission & become the base of operations. If things started to go bad for the Joe's the Swamp Masher was the fast ground back up. A good driver knew how to use the Swamp Masher.

[@Shockwave-ob2tx]

I suspect that this was originally supposed to be a Cobra/Dreadnoks vehicle, but was decided that it would be a GI Joe vehicle since they didn't have a dedicated swamp vehicle

[@sunflowersandsunsets]

The wheels were based upon a real thing called the Terra Star. The designed must have found a photo of the experimental M101 howitzer fitted with them and thought it would be cool to design a vehicle around them.

[@chadkimmel8957]

Maybe it’s as versatile as an Argo six or eight wheeler atv. The lack of detail on the undercarriage may give the illusion that it’s sealed like the fiberglass body of the Argo which floats using the wheels as propulsion. They pretty cool, I’d suggest looking them up.

[@lefkadapao13]

Congratulations on passing 12000 Subscribers 😊😀

[@ralang999]

The vulcan gun is cool at least

[@TerryTurner]

Finally! 🙌🍺👏👏👏👏👏😂 #YoJoe

[@jamesthompson3023]

congrat hoodie

[@phoenixliger948]

I always wanted to customize this vehicle with a new paint job and some custom wheels maybe use lego tires to give it more of done buggy feel

[@jamesbosquez5669]

This review is so negative. I had fun with this as a kid. That's really all that matters to me!

[@christianhafer9819]

That's all that should matter. Who cares if it's military or not?

[@VarunaChaotic]

Looks like it came from the 1992/1993 vehicle line

[@Warsie-Fan]

You finally did it 😂 I was one of the few waiting for this review. Picked up this vehicle on EBay dirt cheap. I think I paid $10? I was buying something else of interest and I always look to see what else the seller is selling. Not the greatest Joe vehicle, but not the worst either.

[@80sfreak42]

Great deal for 10 bucks...

[@Colonel_Chrome]

It finally won.

[@deadsweetheart1]

I think to make this better a stearing wheel and also moving the Gatling to the middle would’ve made it better

[@jackbalmont]

got to say i do love the vulcan gun

[@edaniels240]

Some of the ninjas especially Jinx can easily fit in the Swampmasher

[@mercedogre]

instead of the triangular wheel configuration, it could have had two wheels on each axle that pivoted, making it an 8-wheeled vehicle, ssimilar to the Iron Grenadiers Razorback

[@bathulk]

I'm pretty sure I saw the Animal at the very end of the video!

[@arsenalxa4421]

I have a theory related to the outlandish designs we started getting in the late eighties and early nineties. It has to do with defense expenditures and the Soviet Union. Pretty much after so e random defense contractor finished ripping a line of defense contract appropriated cocaine they started drawing up weapons designs then showed it to someone at the Pentagon, along with a briefcase full of stacks with big faces, and the design got green lit because 'Murica. That's just my take on why designs got so strange. Cobra had an excuse.

[@MultiverseAsheville]

Are there any customizers who paint up vintage vehicles and figures in “realistic”’colors? It would be neat to see how some of these would look through a “real” lens.

[@drozwalker9]

This is one of the most interesting designed GI Joe vehicles. Nevertheless, the bridesmaid finally won!

[@TheGreatDayne1983]

Well, people have been saying that 2020 is the end of the world. One step closer to Armageddon!

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

Lol, great analogy.

[@Cavillier1970]

I'm beginning to wonder if this was meant be a Dreadknock vehicle and Hasbro had to switch something fast on the fly for whatever reason.

[@johnramey333]

With a repaint I would call it the moon masher. Ha !

[@tntsk868]

Im sure I will find this at goodwill or a flea market.

[@jordel2010]

The color scheme isn't that bad, but as stated, far more suitable for a Cobra and/or Dreadnok vehicle.

[@badape3620]

Hey HCC love the shirt. The Ramones was one of favorite bands ever. As for the swamp masher, it is one those vehicles I can't figure out what Hasbro was thinking

[@dirus3142]

A cross between the vamp, and the ferret would have been a better swamp vehicle for the Joes. Or a zodiac like the Rangers, or SEALS use. Better yet. Give us a PBY.

[@sandraslone6408]

Looks like something the joker would use

[@joemaulerworks]

I am so glad these kind of reviews did not exist during our childhood. Reminds me of much older cousins sh*tting on our cool toys. They were just jealous lol. Shockwave was purple, insecticons and constructicons had plenty of purple… man… what kind of kid were you in the late 80s/early 90s ? Home life okay? These were excellent toys given not all of us could afford a mean dog or other medium sized vehicles. Plenty of play value at very reasonable price, sturdy toys with fresh colors of the era. The name was probably coined by a marketing executive. You seem stuck on the name, for all we know , the toys might have went through several iterations and different names. My friends made it into a space rover vehicle, it could be jungle or desert or what not. It’s just a name. Even the so called “ realistic “ joe vehicles are full of flaws. For us kids It camouflaged pretty well on the grass and between the flowers. There are even brighter colors in nature. These colors really made the vehicle pop out ! Remember the toy aisles of that era? Ninja turtles were denting the joe brand baaad. Doubtful olive drab colors would have helped stand out from the competition back then. Lots of hand and eye candy spinning these wheels. Ok, I need to see a review of a joe vehicle you really really liked as a kid now… great artwork btw 👌

[@leeprice2849]

Change the colors to an olive green with gunmetal grey weapons and put 6 balloon tires on it and you have a Swamp Buggy. I do have one picked it up on clearance cheep I don't hate it it just doesn't look right with the other Joe vehicles.

[@MultiverseAsheville]

Erm- why would you put a *tow hook* on something going somewhere it needs a custom wheel configuration just to go? Would you put those wheels on whatever you’re towing, too?

[@majik4007]

This is one of those odd vehicles like the Buzz Boar that I have no real reason why I like it. I just do and I'm okay with that.

[@robertmitchell2694]

You should have a show on history channel ,

[@torpedo8384]

I'm sorry I can't hear you over BRRRRRRRT the Avenger here. This could have been fun reimagined by the Club as an attendee exclusive. Tiger Force? Slaughterize it for the Marauders? It would have been better than a driver without a vehicle (Headhunters) or a weapons crate (Slaughter's Marauders)

[@LCFC81]

Isn't that front grille supposed to be a winch?

[@Cavillier1970]

Hey HCC boasting that the Swampmasher finally made in the Year of Our Lord 2020 might not be the smartest thing to say cause of the way the year's gone. We got four months left and I'm expecting Godzilla & Company or an alien attack.

[@reginaldchesterfield8110]

You’re hilarious

[@YoJoeBanjo]

Great review HCC, professional and humorous, like always. With those whirling wheels and easy-clean surface, it's more like a SPUDMASHER.

[@impossiblepie]

It's ok, would've been cool if it was a small hovercraft or boat.

[@Toybountyhunter1974]

Had one as a kid but it got MASHed by a car....in the desert. Shoulda stayed in your lane. Anyways, when I finally get around to re-adding this to my collection I'm gonna get two. One to keep original and another to repaint with a much more swamp like camo.

[@MCDJACDC]

Finally! Lol

[@christianhafer9819]

Hmmm. Maybe for cheap, I'd get it.

[@jasontompkins8180]

Looks like a dreadnok vehicle

[@jasontompkins8180]

Lol. 5 seconds later you said it looks like a dreadnok vehicle.

[@tycondrius23]

I love this vehicle but as a swamp vehicle it is totally out of place. it would look sweet in a jungle or mountain sorta camo scheme.

[@oldschooltommyim]

RAMONES

[@squirrelkilla7371]

Where has formbx257 been? Its been 5 months since his last video

[@christianhafer9819]

I think covid got him.

[@Mecha82]

At last Swampmasher got to be bride instead of brides maid so to speak. You really hate purple do you.

[@beach7694]

Was it worth the wait? Ha ha ha ha NO!

[@niklas2378]

i wanna get sedated, nothing to do etc,,

[@DasNordlicht91]

purple and green don't seem like G.I. Joe colors, to be honest.

[@ZBR_ProXP]

Terrible name!

[@milanondrak5564]

A truly awful looking vehicle with no practical military use.

[@christianhafer9819]

So?