Tonka: Trucks Prototypes and Preproduction Toys

Tonka: Trucks Prototypes and Preproduction Toys
Wooden mock-up prototype
Ground Pounders wooden mock-up’s.

We recently received a collection of vintage Tonka Trucks prototypes and memorabilia from a former Executive! The collection included some Tonka Trucks. The collection also included pre-production mock-ups, hardcopies, first shots, test shots, engineering pilots, unproduced & unreleased prototype toys, and more!

The pictures present in this article are just a small sampling of the collection, not all of the prototypes are pictured here. So, do not be disappointed if you do not see a prototype here.

Tonka Trucks Prototype Toys for Sale

Clutch Poppers Fabricated Hardcopy
Clutch Poppers working Fabricated Hardcopy from Tonka Toys.

If you would like to sign up to be notified when our Tonka Trucks prototypes go up for sale click here.  This includes wooden unpainted mock-ups and painted wooden mock-ups of various cars and trucks.  Also, included are fabricated hardcopies of the Clutch Poppers Fast Tracks and Play People Pumper Fire Team Engine.  First shot and test shots of numerous items including the Cheat-N-Cheetah.  Finally, many final engineering pilots both loose and bagged samples.

Tonka Trucks Prototype Process

Play People Prototype R&D Fabricated Hardcopy
Play People Pumper Team Fire Engine Prototype R&D Fabricated Hardcopy Tonka Trucks.

If you are like us, you want to know more about the process that Tonka used to create these prototypes. So, check out the article I wrote with the former Director of R&D and Engineering at Tonka. If you would like to read about the prototype process at Tonka, click here.

About Tonka Trucks Toys

Prototype Illustrations Drawings
Tonka Trucks Prototype Illustration.
Tonka Prototype Engineering Drawing
Tonka Trucks Prototype Engineering Drawing.

Lynn Everett Baker, Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch founded Tonka in 1946 in Mound, Minnesota. Tonka produced high-quality trucks ever since, even though they were acquired by Hasbro in 1991.

Tonka also produced a variety of dolls including Star Fairies, Bathing Beauties, Maple Town, and Hollywoods.  As well as other toys aimed at girls like Keypers, Pound Puppies and Pound Purries. They also made many other toys aimed at boys like GoBots, Super Naturals, Rock Lords, Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, Willow, Spiral Zone, and Steel Monsters.

Vintage Tonka Trucks Prototype Toy Buyers

Maniacs prototype package sample.

If you’re looking to sell vintage prototype toys Wheeljack’s Lab is a vintage toy buyer.  We would love to buy or take a look at your old toy collection. Wheeljack’s Lab been buying and selling used toys for three decades. We offer immediate communications, advance payment, and prepaid shipping. If the collection warrants, we will even pick up your collection! Toy quotes are given the same day. We will be certain to give your old toys new homes with people who greatly appreciate them as you did. Sell vintage toys.

Prototype bagged final engineering pilot sample
TNT Racers bagged final engineering pilot sample.

Author: Chris Ingledue

Contact: email

Bio: I’m the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys, triggering fond memories and reigniting their imaginations. Every day I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year; scouring the internet – like we did the Sears Catalog of yesteryear – for the next great treasure, awaiting the arrival of the postman as if he was Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!

Winnebago Rescue Ambulance School Bus Driver Family Kids Tonka
Winnebago camper people Tonka trucks figurines.

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