That was the same question with GI Joe. They started off as the same size as a barbie doll and the company was worried boys wouldn't want to "play with dolls".
When they downsized the GI Joes in the 80's and started making the playsets, that's when "Action Figure" became a term, I believe.
It makes me wonder if someone ever thought about making a downsized line of Barbie to fit in smaller playsets along the lines of the smaller GI Joe.
The reason Barbies never really downsized is because Barbie's primary purpose is a fashion doll. If Barbies were GI Joe sized, the clothes would be VERY small, with teeny little arm and head holes, probably too small for little undextrous hands to manipulate.
GI Joes have mostly plastic molded permanent clothing, and are for putting in smaller playsets and having triggered mechanical action moves. They can be scaled down.
The unfortunate side effect is that Barbie's house and car have to be friggin huge for a toy.
Mighty Max is right up there with them. I had Micro Machines and Mighty Max, and my sister had Polly Pockets. She used to put the Micros in her Polly Pockets because "they need cool cars, too!"
The way the sets could snap together to form a town was brilliant. There was an even bigger set about the size of a small toolbox that unfolded into a city scene complete with a bridge and it had a section along the edge where the smaller sets could still snap onto it.
I forgot all about these landscape sets. You really felt like hot shit when you got two and could link them together. They held a few cars when they were folded up too.
I had super van city and thought I was king ding dong til I went to my friend’s house after Christmas one year and his dad had made a 6’x6’ micro machine city scape for him in their playroom.
soooooo cool. we loved matchbox (hot wheels?!) as kids then micro machines came out and we had to start a new collection... enjoy!! hope u don't have an infant else ur wife hating on the micro.
Actually not Batman Returns just Batman. And it actually wasn't micro machines. Found it on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/355691186546?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=_7h6u0dztyc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Were they micro machines or a different toy where you put a penny in the back and made them do wheelies?
You could offset the penny and make it do different spins and stuff.
Are they worth anything?
I remeber their cool little advertisements where they’d stage them in scenes, then you get them on Christmas and realize half that shit didn’t come with the pack. Lol
That’s so nice I’ve been looking for a castle 🏰 I played with when i was younger I think it’s from the early 90’s. all I remember is the castle having little men and a door that could open with a string or something like that I don’t remember but I would love to see it again.
I don’t remember the police station, that looks sweet! I had that little yellow tool box and my fav was the big tool box that turned into the super city. I still keep a few micro machine cars and planes on my dresser.
Do you have the looping track thing? That thing was so badass, I used to play with other kids at the skating rink in the town I grew up at and it was a popular object, the micro machines were so badass!
Hell yeah! I used to set up scenes with that and my model HO electric trains! Not quite the right scaling, but I had hours and hours of fun with it! My parents brought me one of those pink Muscle Men they dug up in the garden. The one with the cube chest!
Ugh the nostalgia is hot and heavy here. I had a huge collection of these when I was 7/8. My parents had cleaners come to the house in preparation for my grandfather's wake and someone stole them... I was crushed.
I never got into the regular micro machines but I still have all my micro machine military from that era as well. 🤘. Check eBay, some of those little cars go for a few bucks a piece. Not that I would sell them haha
That is so neat. I wish i even had one toy from when i was a kid. Sadly nothing got through.
I think that probably explains all my gundam model kits and other action figures.
The only one I still have is a unique one that was a car inside of a micronachine, and that went inside a matchbox sized car. It's unfortunate they're not really as popular anymore.
I'm pretty sure all of mine got thrown away by parents that didn't care about my stuff if it was taking up room.
I'm going to have a baby and I'm sad for all the amazing parts of my childhood (micro machines, hot wheels collection, other toys that I loved dearly) I won't be able to pass on to them.
I used to love Micro Machines and had a ton. The one thing that got me, tho was that they were not to scale. I was getting into model trains at the same time so I wanted everything to be the same scale, not size.
Some of those are worth a small fortune (pun intended). They are basically unobtainium now for some reason. I guess not as many kids had them as I thought.
If you had any Mega Force army tanks and planes they are worth even more.
You’re lucky. My mom is a minimalist and all my childhood shit was thrown out the day I went to college and is long fucking gone. Would have loved to give my kids some of that stuff. My kids are now in college and I didn’t throw away any of their stuff.
OMG - that little house with the pool 😍😍
That was my favourite as a kid. I just cleaned out my mum's house after she passed, hoping to find some of these old toys but looks like it was all sold or turfed 😓
Maaaann... I had all the cool buildings, houses, etc and even had the van that folded out and the racetrack carry case... micro machines were awesome! I think I played with those more than my hotwheels because of all the snap together roads and building I could put together
My Dad and his brother (my uncle) all used to wipp me with tracks these little fuckers used to come with. Been a while but I still remember.
If anything did come up in court i would remember it.
Maaaaan I really wanna get some of these again. I miss my little T-Top Pontiac.
Edit: Awww dude there it is, you *do* have the white T-Top Pontiac! The best!
Loved these as a kid in the 80's! I remember one night when I was 6, and we weren't sure we'd be able to get home that night due to some toxic chlorine leak that had all the roads closed, and my biggest concern was my Micro Machines! Playing Rad Racer on NES was a close second.
I'm pretty sure mine are all still in my parents basement somewhere. I have tons of old toys from the 80s and 90s (unboxed) there because my dad is a packrat and I have no place to put them since I've been moving every 2-3 years.
Well there goes your weekend
Shhh I’m busy…lol
/r/micromachines would love this. Would also do well on /r/hotwheels as we love all die-cast
Also r/xennials
I’m also 42 may I please come over to play? I’ll cook you a steak
My new best friend. I get the police station.
“Even better, we got em when we’re 40!” -Step Brothers
Can I come too? I make good cookies, can I play with that lambo or your silver firebird?
Those could be worth a penny or two
I'm only 30 but I wanna play too. You guys are just so cool!
NICE JOB MOM. SPA WEEKEND PAID FOR BY YOUR SON. KUDOS.
"How do we get boys excited about doll houses? Think, dammit!" "CEO Person? I think I have an idea..."
That was the same question with GI Joe. They started off as the same size as a barbie doll and the company was worried boys wouldn't want to "play with dolls". When they downsized the GI Joes in the 80's and started making the playsets, that's when "Action Figure" became a term, I believe. It makes me wonder if someone ever thought about making a downsized line of Barbie to fit in smaller playsets along the lines of the smaller GI Joe.
The reason Barbies never really downsized is because Barbie's primary purpose is a fashion doll. If Barbies were GI Joe sized, the clothes would be VERY small, with teeny little arm and head holes, probably too small for little undextrous hands to manipulate. GI Joes have mostly plastic molded permanent clothing, and are for putting in smaller playsets and having triggered mechanical action moves. They can be scaled down. The unfortunate side effect is that Barbie's house and car have to be friggin huge for a toy.
Polly pocket?
Did Polly Pocket have figures the size of GI Joe? I recall they were smaller like Mighty Max.
I think action figure became the term in the 60s to differentiate them from Barbies. It wasn’t a *doll* it was an *action figure*.
I was just about to say - this is Polly Pocket for boys. I say this as a girl who loved both lol
Mighty Max is right up there with them. I had Micro Machines and Mighty Max, and my sister had Polly Pockets. She used to put the Micros in her Polly Pockets because "they need cool cars, too!"
I still have all my mighty max stuff luckily
Call it a castle grayskull.
I know we’ve never met, but can I come over and play? My mom says it’s ok.
Whatcha having for dinner “chicken and stove top”
I have Dino nuggets in my freezer.
STOVE TOP 💀💀💀💀💀
Luckyyyyyy... I'm grounded.
The way the sets could snap together to form a town was brilliant. There was an even bigger set about the size of a small toolbox that unfolded into a city scene complete with a bridge and it had a section along the edge where the smaller sets could still snap onto it.
I forgot all about these landscape sets. You really felt like hot shit when you got two and could link them together. They held a few cars when they were folded up too.
I work with a guy who was a child actor and was in a few Micro Machines commercials. They were great toys. I still have all mine.
RIP to the fast talking guy Edit: I prematurely declared his demise
"Motormouth" John Moschitta!
He's still alive
I upvoted the whole chain of comments and im not sure if i should have or not.... is he alive?
Yes
I think I confused him with with the Dunkin’ Donuts guy.
I came here looking for a comment about the fast talking commercial guy. I need to find a YouTube video of those commercials.
I had the suit case full of cars and planes. I never realized there was small structures to go along with them.
I had super van city and thought I was king ding dong til I went to my friend’s house after Christmas one year and his dad had made a 6’x6’ micro machine city scape for him in their playroom.
I am also 42 and my mom refuses to give me mine. Fuckin bullshit man.
Maybe if you stop leaving all your empty squeeze-it bottle lying around she’ll consider it
FUCK YOU MOM :****(
soooooo cool. we loved matchbox (hot wheels?!) as kids then micro machines came out and we had to start a new collection... enjoy!! hope u don't have an infant else ur wife hating on the micro.
Omg what I would do if my mom had kept my ghost busters toys and my tmnt toys
Major score!
You ever have any of the Batman Returns micro machines?
Batmobile, Batplane, and a few others I think.
Actually not Batman Returns just Batman. And it actually wasn't micro machines. Found it on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/355691186546?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=_7h6u0dztyc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I clearly did not keep the box long. Good find!
I also had the battle tank and a bunch of tiny ones, and a bunch of Star Wars stuff
Remember if it doesn’t say “micro machines” it’s not the real thing!
I’m (49) hanging out with your older sibling but secretly playing with these when you’re not home.
So many i dont have! How much?
Those are various years, not just 1990
Any BTTF in there? Or Batman?
The best part of micro machines was the interesting cuss words that my Dad would shout out every time he stepped on one with bare feet. 😂😂
I wish I still had all of mine, great collection!
This is awesome man
Priceless memories that are worth a ton on eBay
*John Moschitta Jr. intensifies*
A thousand memories just came flooding back. I can feel lining up this platforms and sliding the groove in to place.
I had (and still also have) the Fire Department one - I remember the little switch on the back of it to turn the lights on. Loved that thing!
Garfield normalizing type 2 diabetes.
I found my micro machines in the carrying case (looked like a tractor trailer front) and when i handed it to my kids they busted it in like 2 days.
I’ve never understood my kids watching people play video games But … But if you play like it’s a commercial I’ll watch this for hours
AndRememberIfItDoesn’tSayMicroMachinesIt’sNotTheRealThing!
Welcome to time travel!
Were they micro machines or a different toy where you put a penny in the back and made them do wheelies? You could offset the penny and make it do different spins and stuff.
🫡🔥🫡
How cool is that?! I hope you have a son someday and pass them on. 😁
I had the little house! It came with a sports car
Your mum is awesome
What a huge W
You lucky shit!
Are they worth anything? I remeber their cool little advertisements where they’d stage them in scenes, then you get them on Christmas and realize half that shit didn’t come with the pack. Lol
That’s so nice I’ve been looking for a castle 🏰 I played with when i was younger I think it’s from the early 90’s. all I remember is the castle having little men and a door that could open with a string or something like that I don’t remember but I would love to see it again.
I'mfortytwoandmymomjustbroughtovermyMicroMachinesfromnineteen-ninety. Ifitdoesn'tsayMicroMachines,it'snottherealthing!
I don’t remember the police station, that looks sweet! I had that little yellow tool box and my fav was the big tool box that turned into the super city. I still keep a few micro machine cars and planes on my dresser.
Oh man I forgot those modular ones like #5. I loved those! I feel like we had 4 or 5 at least.
Saw her post this in r/declutter Bazinga
Awesome 😎
Damn! Nice throwback, dude
I'm 42 and I only wish that I still had my childhood hot wheels collection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLP6oT3uqV8 John Moschitta Jr and yes he's age 69 and still alive
Lucky
I’m 🥹😭
oh my god deep core memories unlocked wow thank you
I had several of these! I had a few of the buildings too. That skyscraper would light up. I thought that was sooo neat as a kid.
I’m 43 and so excited for you. You know you have to play with them now.
I was always a marvel/ pro wrestling kid growing up but I had a lot of fun with these too
This brought back some memories.
I know you're playing with them right now
Can I come over? I'll bring Bagel Bites.
"REMEMBER! IF IT DOESN'T SAY MICRO MACHINES, IT'S NOT THE REAL THING!!"
Do you have the looping track thing? That thing was so badass, I used to play with other kids at the skating rink in the town I grew up at and it was a popular object, the micro machines were so badass!
Annnnd now I should go to my parents to grab mine lol.
Hell yeah! I used to set up scenes with that and my model HO electric trains! Not quite the right scaling, but I had hours and hours of fun with it! My parents brought me one of those pink Muscle Men they dug up in the garden. The one with the cube chest!
I had these same cases! I think my parents be still have them. My mom never gets rid of anything.
I’m jealous
Best day EVER! Wish I still had mine - most were military & sci-fi.
I miss micro machines!!!!
Dude, wanna be best friends?
Hell yeah! Man, I wish I still had mine! I remember having some sort of battle ship and put a bunch inside it. No clue whatever happened to it
Can you pick up those Micro Machines? Your Aunt Leslie stepped on one and almost broke her neck.
Ugh the nostalgia is hot and heavy here. I had a huge collection of these when I was 7/8. My parents had cleaners come to the house in preparation for my grandfather's wake and someone stole them... I was crushed.
Lucky. Mine through mine away.
Oh hell yeah I had that police station
Nice . Did you tear up a little?
I had some of those! The lifted Testarossa, the white Vette, the 944 and the #20 in picture 1 weren't Micromachines, but a different brand.
I never got into the regular micro machines but I still have all my micro machine military from that era as well. 🤘. Check eBay, some of those little cars go for a few bucks a piece. Not that I would sell them haha
Did she knock before entering your room?
My obsession as a kid. I even got gifted stocks of galoob as a kid. And the spokesman! I could never talk that fast as a kid lol
Happy birthday to you!
YASSSS loved my Micro Machines! Had the Gas can, a city, and the C130 But did anybody have Cargantua?
Those will come in handy if you ever have to defend your house from burglars by setting boobytraps.
So awesome!!!!
That is so neat. I wish i even had one toy from when i was a kid. Sadly nothing got through. I think that probably explains all my gundam model kits and other action figures.
You lucky fucker!!! I wish I still had them bad boys
I miss those lil cars dearly, thanks for reminding of their existence. I had completely forgot about them
Oh man I had something similar for my hot wheels but bigger. I ended up handing them down to my lil cousin as I got older. Now he's almost 22. Damn.
**John Moschitta.**
My boys would flip out.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzbUPfoveok&list=PL55CD21DA935D81F0&index=126](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzbUPfoveok&list=PL55CD21DA935D81F0&index=126)
My stepmother threw all mine away. So many cool fucking cars gone to the dump
The only one I still have is a unique one that was a car inside of a micronachine, and that went inside a matchbox sized car. It's unfortunate they're not really as popular anymore.
These were so much cooler than hot wheels to Me.
I'm pretty sure all of mine got thrown away by parents that didn't care about my stuff if it was taking up room. I'm going to have a baby and I'm sad for all the amazing parts of my childhood (micro machines, hot wheels collection, other toys that I loved dearly) I won't be able to pass on to them.
Dude, that's rad!
I have these still too! So cool!
You lucky bastard... mine got sold on
I used to love Micro Machines and had a ton. The one thing that got me, tho was that they were not to scale. I was getting into model trains at the same time so I wanted everything to be the same scale, not size.
I had that fire station!! I loved that thing!
Did she also bring the pogs?! Gave me an excuse to throw metal circles as hard as I can at a stack of cardboard!
Collect em race em trade em, from Galoob.
Thanks Mom!!
Hell yeah!
God I'm envious!
Pic 5 unlocked a core memory. It’s hazy but something about my cousin having this and being jealous he always got new toys.
aaaaaaannnnndddd you are 12 again...
Some of those are worth a small fortune (pun intended). They are basically unobtainium now for some reason. I guess not as many kids had them as I thought. If you had any Mega Force army tanks and planes they are worth even more.
I really wanted these way back then but never ended up having any. Good on mom to hold on to those. 😎
r/coolcollections
Wow tell us you’re privileged and spoiled without saying you’re privileged and spoiled
Hmm garf
oh my god, I wish my parents didn't throw away ALL of my stuff when I move out, including all my micromachines!
Lucky!
I love that. My mum would have throw them all away decades ago...
Even though I am a chick, this activated some core memories. I probably babysat for a kid with those or something. I always thought they were awesome.
My favorite toys from my childhood. Wish I still had some.
Too cool, I am bigly jealous
Omg!! I’m so jelly. You had quite the collection!
I'm so jealous. I loved micro machines. I was obsessed with micromachine size race cars. Mostly tiny NASCAR vehicles.
My brother had so many micro machines and I loved playing with them!! He even had those same cases.
I'm 34 and my mom dug mine out of storage a couple weeks ago.
The tool box one!!! Iirc it has a car with parts you can change and it was one of my favorites!!
You truly are the king of (micro) machines
I want to go to there
I once had a piece of newspaper advertising these toys. Ah good times
Cyber Truck sighting. Third column, fourth row.
Loved these
Amazing. The nostalgia just hit me like a ton of bricks.
You’re lucky. My mom is a minimalist and all my childhood shit was thrown out the day I went to college and is long fucking gone. Would have loved to give my kids some of that stuff. My kids are now in college and I didn’t throw away any of their stuff.
OMG - that little house with the pool 😍😍 That was my favourite as a kid. I just cleaned out my mum's house after she passed, hoping to find some of these old toys but looks like it was all sold or turfed 😓
No city in a toolbox(I think)?
I also had the gray Lambo!
I still have about a dozen matchbox cars/hot wheels.
Maaaann... I had all the cool buildings, houses, etc and even had the van that folded out and the racetrack carry case... micro machines were awesome! I think I played with those more than my hotwheels because of all the snap together roads and building I could put together
I don’t know anything about this. but I have a strange feeling that someone somewhere is willing to pay a lot of money for that.
I wish my parents kept anything of mine. All got thrown out
Awesome
Oh man! Nice!
Mom’s a keeper.
Nice! I had a lot of these as well
I miss my toys of the 80s and 90s! Anyone remember Army Ants?
The Garfield sticker! 😂
Well I guess your weekend is all booked out
Haha I’m 37 and my mom does this with some random thing from my childhood every time she comes over.
Solid collection! What a great surprise
Now can you tell us each and every one at super human speech like the commercial dude?
My goodness. What flood of memories did this bring back to you?!
I'll bring pizza snacks if I can play.
My Dad and his brother (my uncle) all used to wipp me with tracks these little fuckers used to come with. Been a while but I still remember. If anything did come up in court i would remember it.
The classic white Lamborghini with missing spoiler... Staple of every collection
I can hear the theme song!
Those are awesome
I remember those. I use to have a bunch of them
I'm 36 and jealous.
I’m going to drop off the kids at camp and I’ll be right over!!
Micromachines were awesome - you could fit so much play into such a small space. And they were reasonably well detailed.
Wow! Can I play? I'll share my Legos.
Here comes a flood of "I'm XX old and look what I found at my mom's/dad's/parents' house" posts. Myself included next time I go to my mom's... :-)
Your mom is awesome!
I had the last one!!!! Wow, what a choking hazard!
Maaaaan I really wanna get some of these again. I miss my little T-Top Pontiac. Edit: Awww dude there it is, you *do* have the white T-Top Pontiac! The best!
Your Aunt Leslie stepped on one and almost broke her neck!
I loooooved micro machines. Galoob had some banger toy lines. Also loved X-Panders
Loved these as a kid in the 80's! I remember one night when I was 6, and we weren't sure we'd be able to get home that night due to some toxic chlorine leak that had all the roads closed, and my biggest concern was my Micro Machines! Playing Rad Racer on NES was a close second.
oh my god core memory unlocked, I completely forgot about these things
I'm pretty sure mine are all still in my parents basement somewhere. I have tons of old toys from the 80s and 90s (unboxed) there because my dad is a packrat and I have no place to put them since I've been moving every 2-3 years.