Evel Knievel Action Figures Identification Tool with Pictures

The history of Evel Knievel

Evel Knieval was born as Robert Craig Knieval in 1938. However, when he began performing motorcycle stunts, he took on the stage name Evel Knievel. This name supposedly came from a night spent in jail for reckless driving. This name suited him well, for he successfully branded himself with it.

Even though Evel Knieval first attempted to take on a regular job at a mining company, he always felt like such tasks were unimportant. Thus, by his late 20s, he dropped any pretenses and began his professional career as a daredevil stuntman. In 1965, he successfully jumped 40 feet over two rattlesnakes and a mountain lion in Moses Lake, Washington, his first recorded jump.

From that moment on, Evel Knievel performed larger and more extravagant jumps. His most noteworthy jump occurred in 1968 when he jumped over the fountains in front of Las Vegas’s Ceasar’s Palace fountain. This jump was the longest of his career, around 141 feet long. However, like many of his prior stunts, he did not walk away unscathed from the crash at the end of the jump. Evel Knievel spent nearly a month in the hospital recovering from his broken ribs and hip. Moreover, his pelvis had been crushed by the jump.

By the 1970s, he made multiple jumps per year across the United States and Canada. However, none of these jumps were as death-defying as the one from 1968. Still, his active jumping career made him the most well-known stunt motorcycle driver. Even non-biking enthusiasts knew his name.

IDEAL Toy Company creates the Evel Knievel action figure toy line

Evel Knievel’s success and fame made him a tempting choice for a toy line, especially for Ideal Toy. This American toy company made a name for itself by creating dolls like Betsy Wetsy and Shirley Temple. However, by the 1970s, they made splashes with action figure toy lines like Captain Action. So, they were ready to create even more exciting action figures.

Ideal’s first Evel Knievel toys hit the market in 1972. From the beginning, they offered basic six-inch flexible action figures in the likeness of the stuntman. These action figures had cloth outfits, which could be swapped out. For instance, fans could buy an Evel Knievel in a white outfit with a star-spangled blue and red V stripe. A version also wore a mostly red outfit with a blue motorcycle emblem. A third basic figure wore a light blue outfit with a patriotic 1 on the chest.

Later, Evel Knievel action figures came on blister card packaging that were advertised as racing sets. One of these new toys wore a mostly red outfit with a few star-spangled blue stripes. It also came with accessories like a toolbox with tools.

Stunt vehicle play sets and more

It quickly picked up momentum when Ideal introduced Stunt Vehicle play sets in 1973. These playsets gave fans the chance to reenact Evel Knievel’s famous stunts. The toy line naturally included a Stunt Cycle set that lets players send the stuntman on a jump off a red ramp. Otherwise, they could use the Evel Knievel Dragster in exciting high-speed play. There was also the Evel Knievel Scramble Van, which acted as a changing room and stanging ground. The van included multiple accessories, including a blue ramp.

Ideal offered an Evel Knievel Precision Miniatures subline along with the basic action figures and play sets.  These die-cast toys offered players scaled-down yet still exciting play. This part of the toy line featured vehicles like the motorcycle, a white race car, a sky cycle, and much more.

These were only a few examples of the Ideal Evel Knievel toy line. Ideal continued to create these toys for five years. Before it was discontinued in 1977, they also experimented with adding new characters to the toy line. For instance, they created an action figure for Evel’s son, Robbie Knievel, who performed stunts alongside his father. To attract a female demographic, Ideal introduced another new character: Derry Daring. She had both a Trick Cycle and a Wheelie Car.

The Evel Knievel legacy and modern toy lines

Even though Evel Knievel ended his stunt career in 1980, he remained an iconic part of American culture. Thus, reissues of the Super Stunt Cycle Set emerged around 2006. Poof Slinky created the new version of the Dare Devil Stunt Set, which used the original Ideal toy molds. It included over 40 pieces that fans could use to relive the excitement of Knievel’s stunts.

California Creations currently offers more remakes of Ideal’s Evel Knievel toy line online. For instance, one could find the Trailbike Edition of the Stunt Cycle Set. There is also a current black-colored Pro series and other toys listed. Like the prior remakes, these feature the Ideal Toy stamp on the toys.