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
