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1972 Tonka Gas Turbine Trucks

The big news for the Tonka Gas Turbine product line had to do with tires. The wide whites were replaced with what Tonka called their lifetime billboard flotation tire. Car guys and gals know it as raised white letter. The flotation tire carried over from 1971 with the billboard side wall replacing the white side wall.

1972 Tonka Gas Turbine models were #2465 Dump, #2585 Hydraulic Dump, #2620 Cement Mixer, #2690 Sanitary Service, #2850 Car Carrier, #2950 Snorkel Pumper, the new for 1972 #2960 Aerial Ladder and the #3109 Construction Set. Tonka deleted model #2820 Snorkel Pumper and model #2998 Aerial Ladder. However, a new one piece unit replaced the old two piece aerial ladder as model #2960 Aerial Ladder.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2960 Aerial Ladder as photographed for the 1972 Tonka dealer catalog (see below) has a hose connection just in front of the rear wheels on the driver's right side. And therein is the opportunity for the collector. At some point during the 1972 production run, Tonka deleted the hose connection and modified the steel stamping die that made the left side of the Aerial Ladder to put a "closed door" where the hose connection was. So why was there a hose connection to begin with? The #2960 was sold without hoses or a hydrant. And if little Johnny had a Pumper or Snorkel from which to borrow the hoses and hydrant, where did the water go and how was it expelled? Was the hose connection even functional? If you know, email me please.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: The two auxiliary side ladders on the #2960 Aerial Ladder are white plastic. Steel was just a little to expensive.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: The load on the #2850 Car Carrier changed from one red Mustang and one blue Ranchero in 1971 to one red Mustang and one aqua Ranchero in 1972.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: The pour chute on the back of mixer drum on the #2620 Cement Mixer was painted black in 1972. In 1971, the pour chute was ocher in color.