Imperial Shuttle Vehicle public |
Introduction
This listing is for an extremely vibrant and clean, 100% authentic, original vintage Imperial Shuttle Vehicle (#93650). This loose Kenner Star Wars vehicle comes from the original Return of the Jedi (ROTJ) line.
The ship's color is really white, bright, and fresh. The vehicle has no broken parts and no yellow discoloring which is extremely common for this particular toy which is four decades old. In fact, the hard plastic parts blend perfectly just like when the ship was released 40 years ago! The battery compartment is fully intact with zero battery residue, and the "battle alert" sound works great.
This item is partially complete as it does not include the battery door cover, cannons (front and rear), cockpit canopy, glass windshield, ramp, and side door hatch. However, as a special bonus, I've included two (2) vintage action figures to ride in the ship: The Emperor and Emperor's Royal Guard.
The country of origin (COO) for this original vintage Kenner Star Wars vehicle is the United States. |
Toy Review
The Imperial Shuttle was one of the greatest vintage Star Wars vehicles ever designed and produced by Kenner. Standing 22 inches tall and with a wingspan of 3 feet, the Imperial Shuttle was the largest ship that Kenner offered during its run of Star Wars toys. The ship debuted in 1984, the sophomore year of the ROTJ line; and was the most expensive vehicle ever released retailing at $37.99 in the 1984 J.C. Penney Christmas Catalog. This epic piece wasn't just big, but it also had great play value. It was fabulously detailed and loaded with neat features.
The Imperial Shuttle's most notable feature was its trigger-activated wings which were connected via an internal ratchet system that allowed both wings to open simultaneously and slowly lower to flying position. While in the up position, the wings should remain locked until the trigger is pressed. If the wings move independently, the ratchet mechanism may be broken which is a common problem found with this vehicle. The ship also had other cool features such as electronic "laser battle sounds," an extendable ramp, and rotating side wing cannons.
The Imperial Shuttle, along with the B-Wing Fighter and TIE Interceptor, were part of the last line of toy ships that Kenner produced in Return of the Jedi packaging. And, as a result, is one of the harder ships to find. The ship did not sell particularly well because it was released at a time when Star Wars mania was dying down; and as previously mentioned, was a very expensive toy. Nevertheless, collectors have always admired it. Finding a complete working example in good condition without discolored plastic and worn stickers and including the often missing and sometimes broken battery door cover, cockpit canopy, glass windshield, laser cannons, ramp, side door hatch, and vertical stabilizer isn't the easiest of tasks. However, finding one in unused, packaged condition can get downright pricey. |
Packaging Variations
The Imperial Shuttle Vehicle came in a huge cube-shaped box measuring 17" long x 14.5" wide x 19.5" tall. The top, bottom, back, and left sides of the box had black and white line art of the Imperial Shuttle which differed slightly from the full color photos on the front and right sides. Line art was regularly done on the boxes of U.S. releases in order to save money on production costs.
Regarding packaging variations, this vehicle can be found in just one style of U.S. packaging:
In 1984, the front of the Kenner box featured a Return of the Jedi logo and a photo of an Imperial Shuttle toy docked in a lighted hangar bay on the second Death Star. A Darth Vader and an Emperor's Royal Guard action figure can be seen in the cockpit while a vast army of Emperor's Royal Guard and Imperial Stormtrooper action figures are lined up for The Emperor as he exits the shuttle via the ramp. Also included on the front of the packaging was a round red label with yellow border which stated the following: "Imperial Shuttle Comes with Laser Battle Sounds." Last of all, the right (color photo) and left (line art) sides of the box mentioned the following six toy features (from left to right): "Open Imperial Shuttle cockpit, adjust wing laser cannons, Imperial Shuttle wings automatically move into flying position, Imperial Shuttle ramp lowers so action figures can come on board, side panels pop off for inside play, and rear landing gear is retractable."
Although the Imperial Shuttle was featured in Kenner's 1985 Toy Fair catalog in a mock-up Power of the Force (POTF) box, it was never released in non- Return of the Jedi packaging. |
International Releases
As a result of being the largest and most expensive ship to manufacture in the Kenner Star Wars fleet, there were no international releases for the Imperial Shuttle Vehicle. |
Closing Remarks
The Imperial Shuttle is one of Kenner's best vehicles in the Star Wars vintage line. Every self-respecting Star Wars collection should definitely reserve a prominent place for this particular toy vehicle which was made by Kenner in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1984.
Buy this vintage Kenner Star Wars item to acquire a really clean ship, or to get its premium parts. This vehicle and its parts are 100% original and authentic. Please carefully examine my photos for specific details as the pictures are a substantial part of the description, and contact me if you have any questions. You will receive the same exact item as shown in the photos. This loose vehicle comes from a non-smoking environment and pet-free home; and has a fresh, neutral smell. There are no musty, moldy, cigarette, or perfume odors present. Build your loose vehicle collection by getting this handy Star Wars spaceship. It's an amazing find! | | |