The Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote MPC model kits. 1972. US.
MPC was established in 1963 by George A. Toteff Jr. and Dick Branstner. As well as producing high-quality, detailed versions of road cars, MPC produced many TV tie-in vehicles from shows such as The Monkees, Happy Days, Space: 1999, The Fall Guy, Knight Rider and The Dukes of Hazzard. Some notable film tie-ins include Star Wars, Alien, The Black Hole and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
TVTA is pleased to present a selection of print adverts as featured in comic books during the 1970s and 1980s. Enjoy!
Star Wars MPC models. 1981. US.
Star Wars MPC models. 1983. US.
The Black Hole by MPC. 1980. US.
Disney’s Haunted Mansion by MPC. US. 1974.
1974. Disney’s Haunted Mansion by MPC. US.
Disney’s Haunted Mansion by MPC. US. 1974.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons by MPC. The Defenders. 1983. US.
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- MPC sweepstakes. Alpha Flight N°5. 1983. US.
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- MPC Wheels. The Invincible Iron Man N°129. 1979. US.
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- MPC models. Ghosts. 1981. US.
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- MPC Fast IIIs. Weird War Tales. 1981. US.
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- MPC Body Builder. Daredevil. 1987. US.
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- MPC Body Builder (variation). The Young All-Stars N°9. 1988. US.
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- MPC Build a Reputation. Codename Spitfire. 1987. US.
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- MPC Golden Opportunity. Amethyst. 1982. US.
MPC Zingers. Weird War Tales. 1975. US.
MPC Coca Cola Vending Machine. Teen Titans. 1971. US.
As always, thanks for looking!
The Vintage Toy Advertiser 
Your archives must be the world’s largest.
Way to go! xx
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Lol, so much stuff stored in boxes over the years now, that even the boxes are becoming vintage! But it’s always a pleasure and a treat for me to scan and digitally archive these things.
Thanks Resa
x😍x
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Hi TVTA, I think I may have mentioned this before but my father bought the Artoo-Detoo and C-3PO models from MPC and wow were they complex! The Artoo model had opening compartments complete with moveable arms inside…not to mention the articulated legs (and retractable front middle leg). C-3PO was also fully articulated so you had to assemble all his joint. One particularly detailed part was his abdomen with the exposed wiring. Awesome models and awesome ads, thanks!
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Thanks FT. I was always a bit drooling whenever I saw a collector showing off the MPC droids and other Star Wars models back when I was editor of one of the big Star Wars online sites. I think MPC’s quality for sure helped them secure the license. You were so lucky to get to build some of their models!
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They were fantastic kits but the tolerances were microscopic to get parts to fit. The front leg of Artoo for example, had to be assembled, including building the “ankle” joint, and glued together so the leg would still slide up and down a set of runners – without anything catching. Then there were the manipulator arms! Still great fun.
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Kudos for persisting FT.
Not sure I would have had the patience or skills to see those Star Wars MPC models through. My memories of childhood modelling are limited to balsa wood projects at school, then a handful of Airfix kits like the Spitfire and Messesrschmitt planes, and a Sherman tank – which I enjoyed building but stopped short of painting with probably Humbrol paints – which seemed the go-to choice of painting back then.
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Wonderful adverts. I remember seeing this one’s for Advanced D&D and the Haunted mansion in a catalogue or something as a kid. Always wanted those, they looked so cool. I didi have the Yoda Dogobah model kit as a kid. Was so much fun to build and paint it. 🙂
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Hi Paul. That’s so cool you had the Dagobah model as a kid! It’s one of my fave MPC ads and I would have loved to have had a go at building that one 😎
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Fantastic time-traveling collection, Ford!
(Did I mention I hate Road Runner?
Man, if only for once, just once, Willie to have his day!😆)
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Thanks Nick.
Lolol! Another common point between us then, as I too hated that meep-meeping roadrunner, and would have loved old Wile Coyote and his ACME purchases to win just the once!
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Great ads! I have some of these in some of my old Marvel comics 🙂
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Thanks Toydust. Yep, those old Marvel and DC comics are just a goldmine for vintage toy ads!
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