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| #6327 Astro Trac Missile Convoy Set Box Front |
The Astro Trac Missile Convoy Set was a Sears exclusive, first available
in Sears Christmas Wishbooks in 1968, continuing in 1969. This was an
unusual playset in that it not only collected several Matt Mason
accessories, but also introduced the Mobile Launch Pad and included a
vinyl play-mat simulating the Moon's surface. Included in the set was an
Astro Trac, 3 Mobile Launch Pads, a Satellite Launch Pak, Space Probe
Pak and Rocket Launch Pak, with all their small-accessory contents.
The set came in an oversized box with extremely colorful graphics.
The play-mat was prominently displayed as an inset in the upper right
corner of the box front, and the initial impression is of a full 3-D
lunar moonscape. This impression was also given in the Sears ad and
perhaps the original intent was to provide something much more detailed
than what was eventually provided - my theory is that to do so would have made the box prohibitively large so Mattel probably went with the mat which is much more manageable as it can be folded or rolled. It's also interesting that the set did not
come with a figure. The vinyl play-mat had three snaps that held the
center of hard Vacuformed craters and measured 40" x 24" with a colorful
patterning of the Moon's surface.
The other unusual items were the Mobile Launch Pads themselves. These
are molded as small tracked platforms that were shaped to accept the
bases of the three launching accessories listed above. Tow hooks and
latches in the front and rear of the MLP allowed the Pads to be
"wagon-trained" together and pulled by the Astro Trac. It is interesting
to note that the Astro Trac with all three pads could only fit on the mat in a semi-circle. For more information on the Astro Trac, MLP, and
accessories, please review the links toward the bottom of this listing.
Mattel Major Matt Mason Astro Trac
MLP Images:
Space Probe | Rocket Launch | Satellite Launch | Gamma Ray Gard
Set-Up Playset Images:
Group Shot | MLP Side | Space Probe Launcher | Rocket Launcher | Satellite Launcher
Packaging:
The box is made of corrugated cardboard printed on all sides (in black, white and blue ink), except two sides which have an applied full-color, process-printed label (top and front). The box measures 14 1/4" by 9" by 7". Copyright is 1967. The box reads: "Mighty, mobile planet explorer!...Universal astro-foam traction wheels...Skims dust dunes...Climbs lunar rocks...Circles volcanic moon craters." |
| #6327 Astro Trac Missile Convoy Set Box Top |
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| #6327 Astro Trac Missile Convoy Set Box Bottom |
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| #6327 Astro Trac Missile Convoy Set Box Back |
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| #6327 Astro Trac Missile Convoy Set Box Ends |
Sticker Sheets:
Instructions:
Mattel #6327-0920 Astro Trac Missile Convoy Set: Front | Back
Mattel Catalog Specifications:
(Not Found in Regular Mattel Retailer Catalogs. First appearance: Sears 1968 Christmas Wishbook Catalog page 504). The set may have been solicited via a tear sheet - I haven't found any MMM item tear-sheets but do own some from other lines.
Astro Trac 4-unit Space Missile Convoy
Astro Trac vehicle travels over any planet terrain. 9-in. plastic, has foam-plastic rear wheels, front wheels that steer. Powered by 1 "D" battery, order 1 pkg. page 505. Hook up 3 launch pad vehicles (rocket, space probe and satellite launchers are on top). Then go on adventures across 40x24-in. molded vinyl moonscape.
79 N 59011C -- Shipping weight 3 pounds........Set $15.77
Variations:
None KnownJohn's Notes:
I actually had this set as a child. I remember that Sears was pretty much the place to find and purchase most of my significant holiday toys. Seeing this set in the Sears Wishbook just about killed me and at some point my parents relented and bought me the set for Christmas. I also remember my dismay when opening the set and realizing that it didn't come with all those figures pictured on the box. The second thing I remember is that the play mat was very disappointing. The catalog ad showed this beautiful 3-D landscape - the reality was this vinyl mat - very dissatisfying! Third memory, trying to get all the pieces to fit on the mat. As shown in the images above, you had to loop the convoy into a crescent to get the whole thing on the mat.This set is extremely difficult to find for the modern-day collector. The mat with craters alone often sells in the $200-300 range. The MLPs have sold for as much as $200 each, loose (recent prices are in the more moderate $75-150 range).
Accessories may also be found in:
- 6302 Astro Trac
- 6302 Tracteur Astral
- 6305 Rocket Launch Pak
- 6306 Satellite Launch Pak
- 6307 Space Probe Pak
- 6327 Mobile Launch Pad
- 8178 Astro Trac Gift Set
All Mattel images and captions are copyright Mattel and used without permission. All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright ©1997-2024 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton.
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