The Waltons (1972-81) was a US TV series about a boy, growing up on a farm in Virginia during the Depression years of the 1930s. The family included John Boy, his siblings, parents, and grandparents.
For transport the family had an old truck - which was a Ford Model AA pick-up. This short documentary, hosted by Judy Norton who was one of the actresses in the series, looks at the different vehicles used, including the truck.
L.J.N. Toys Ltd, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, was a US toy company, who made a line of die-cast models based on various 1970s TV shows. The series was called Road Stars. The models themselves are marked Hong Kong.
Included in the series was a model of the truck from The Waltons. This was in the correct colours for the TV vehicle -green body and black mudguards; with chrome on the radiator, headlights, and front bumper.
The cab windows were glazed with clear plastic, but the wheels do not look very convincing. The base is marked © 1975 Roumac Prod. Inc - L.J.N. Toys Hong Kong.
Like most of the Road Stars line, this model has a rather square look to it. The cab seems very short, as does the truck bed. From Plaid Stallions, here is a look at the entire Road Stars line-up.
The front of the card had a colour photograph showing the entire Walton family posed in front of the actual truck in the series, but you can hardly see the vehicle. A copyright notice says 1975 Lorimar Productions, Item No.2000.
The model is identified only by the name of the show, The Waltons, with no mention of the actual vehicle type. It also states 'Die-cast Metal - This Car Will Perform On Any Fast Track'.
The back of the card lists the 12 models in the Road Stars series. Oddly, the vehicle is described as Walton's Old Car - even though it is a truck.
Four photographs from Worthpoint.
Did you like the Waltons?
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Thanks for this Paul, I loved the Waltons and regularly shouted G'Night Johnboy when I was a kid going to bed! I'm impressed with LJN's range of vehicles and they must make for a fabulous display, all those great TV vehicles together.
ReplyDeleteThe Waltons was my childhood favourite too. Thanks for bringing this vehicle to my attention.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Space: 1999, the Road Stars line included also Moonbuggy and Zantor's Ship as seen here
https://catacombs.space1999.net/main/merc/vmmother.html#RoadstarMoonbuggy
Ah! Thanks for that, Arto!
DeleteThe Space 1999 reference piqued my interest. Odd to see that although the Road Stars' Hawk pack contains a photo of the studio filming model (before the additional orange accents were added to differentiate it from the Eagles) the actual product is an Eagle! Doubly odd that the rear engine assembly is included as a separate piece. -I've never seen that before!
Thanks Lewis. The way LJN took liberties in naming the Space: 1999 fleet is very intriguing. The three Road Stars toys were issued also as a tri-pack, which re-named the Eagle as Hawk, Moonbuggy as Space Rover, and Zantor's Ship as Space Bowl!
Deletehttps://catacombs.space1999.net/main/merc/vmmbuggy.html
Never saw the show, but that diecast truck is terrific! I vaguely recall the Road Stars series, but I want to see that Flash Gordon's Space Ship! SFZ
ReplyDeletePretty sure it was featured on this very blog, a few weeks ago!
DeleteYou're right Looey. It was Ed's Flash Gordon ship https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2024/01/eds-flash-gordon.html?m=1
Delete