Box Top (click to enlarge)
Box Top (click to enlarge)
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Catalog Description:
STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI New high speed flying transport vehicle used by the EMPIRE in the new movie, RETURN OF THE JEDI! This highly detailed replica features automatic rear brake flaps, a seat for one STAR WARS Action Figure, movable handle bars and an exciting "blow apart battle damage" feature enabling a child to create exciting crash scenes and explosions. Action Figures sold separately. Ages 4 and up.
Image Source: 1985 European POTF Promo Booklet |
Description:
The incredibly fast speeder bike chase through the forests of the moon of Endor was one of the most thrilling segments of Return of the Jedi. As the official Star Wars toy licensee, Kenner must have loved it. After all, it allowed them to produce a fairly cheap action figure toy based on what was a key vehicle in the film.
If you were a kid who was into Star Wars, you had to love this toy. Not only was it authentically detailed, it featured the virtually patented Kenner "blow apart" feature. Press a button on the toy's rear end and its entire top portion flipped forward, along with any action figure that might have been sitting on top of it. Speaking of figures, Kenner gave kids three that served as perfect Speeder Bike pilots: the Biker Scout (1983), Leia in Combat Poncho (1984) and Luke in Battle Poncho (1985).
The Speeder Bike has always been fairly easy to find in unused, boxed condition. Thus, it isn't worth a whole lot. Collectors in search of a loose example of this toy should be aware that the two small flaps that clip onto its back are often missing. During the '90s, Hasbro issued three new Speeder Bike toys, all of which were based on the Kenner original. They can be distinguished from their vintage counterparts by their complicated paint schemes, decals and modified handle bars.
First Issued: 1983 (ROTJ packaging)
Re-issues: None
