BIG TRAK (US) or Bigtrak (Europe) was a computerised toy vehicle created by Milton Bradley in 1979. This six-wheeled tank-like monster came with attractive decals, a front-mounted blue photon beam headlamp and an integrated programmable keypad that remembered up to 16 commands which it then executed in sequence. The US version was moulded in grey plastic while the European version was white. A companion unit was sold separately – the Big Trak Transporter – a trailer which could be attached to the rear that carried and dumped loads in response to Big Trak’s pre-programmed commands. Big Trak was relaunched in 2010 by Zeon Ltd who produced replicas of the original.
Tag Archives: retro toy adverts
Toy soldiers, model kits, baseball, and a cool E.T. watch
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Wonderful Waterfuls Water Games
In the 1970s Tomy manufactured a range of puzzle games contained within a plastic see-through tank filled with water. The object was to complete challenges against the physical behaviours of water. I remember the ones we had as being difficult to play but very satisfying once completed. Titles included Triangles, Ring Toss, Starball, Soccer, Basketball and even well-known games adapted especially such as Hungry Hippos and Pac-Man.
The 1979 French advert below shows four examples of the ‘Faszination’ range which were licensed by Tomy in many parts of Europe.

France. Pif Gadget. 1979.
Shoot… 1970s football goal-scoring action with added facial hair!
This football game released by the Meccano company during the late 1970s in France required you to take control of an Adidas-clad toy footballer who tried to scored goals against your opponent who operated a (less-than-impressive) goalkeeper.
Our goal-scoring hero – with his Errol Flynn / Clark Gable-esque pencil moustache – certainly makes for a stylish presence on the penalty spot. His flocked hair makes you think immediately of Action Man / G.I. Joe, as well as his football strip done out in full Adidas style. Alternative coloured jerseys were available made in the colours of French teams. There’s no way this goal scorer can fail to rock!
The same cannot be said for the poor goalkeeper who has to make do being a cardboard cutout. He does get a funky moustache though.