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1978 Tonka Gas Turbine Trucks

1978 marked the second year of the second generation Gas Turbine truck. After the major design change in 1977, all 1977 models rolled into 1978. The models were the #2585 Hydraulic Dump, #2635 Shell Tanker, #2831 Lowboy & Dozer, #2845 Car Carrier, #2950 Snorkel Pumper, #2960 Aerial Ladder, #2970 Material Handling Set and model #2971 Sanitary Truck. New for '78 was the #2958 Northwoods Log Truck. There were no models deleted.

OBSERVATION: In 1977, the plastic grille/front bumper/headlight component was color matched to the painted cab. That began to change in 1978 when a contrasting color was used for the plastic nose.

OBSERVATION: Continued from 1977, the grille/front bumper/headlight component will be referred to as "NOSE"

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: In 1977, the plastic nose was color matched to the painted cab. That began to change in 1978 when a contrasting color was used for the plastic nose.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2635 changed from Super Tanker graphics to Shell graphics. The cab changed from red to yellow. The tank changed from yellow to a one year only "chrome" look. The look was in reality created using the vacuum metalizing process. An article written by Tonka historian Lloyd Laumann mentions that approximately 10,000 "chrome" tankers were manufactured.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2585 Hydraulic Dump changed from a lime green cab and dump bed to a red cab with yellow dump bed. The plastic nose changed from lime green to yellow. The modular style wheels changed from white to yellow.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2831 Lowboy and Dozer changed from a red cab with red plastic nose, red lowboy, white modular style wheels and hauling an orange model #2300 dozer to a John Deere green cab with yellow plastic nose, JD green lowboy, yellow modular style wheels hauling a model #2961 yellow dozer.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2845 Car Carrier changed from a red cab with red plastic nose, yellow trailer, white modular style wheels, hauling one red and one blue Ranchero to a deep bronze/brown cab with a dark tan nose, dark tan trailer, light tan modular style wheels hauling 1 yellow and 1 blue Ranchero.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2950 Snorkel Pumper changed from a red body with red nose, white boom & bucket, white modular style wheels and a white ladder to an unchanged red body with an equally unchanged red nose, yellow boom & bucket, yellow modular style wheels and a yellow ladder.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2960 Aerial Ladder changed from a red body, red nose, white extension ladder boom & red extension ladder, white modular style wheels and two white auxiliary ladders to an unchanged red body with equally unchanged red nose, yellow extension ladder boom & red extension, yellow modular style wheels with two yellow auxiliary ladders.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR: Model #2971 Sanitary Service Truck changed from a light blue cab to a dark blue cab. Except for the cab decals, all other components are the same as 1977.