Review – Star Wars MTV-7 Mini-Rig
Can you believe that it has been over a month since we last looked at a vintage Star Wars mini-rig? I know I find it hard to believe, especially since today’s mini-rig — the MTV-7 — has already appeared in several photos here at battlegrip.com.
Look at that box, boys!
That’s one seriously abused box; hell, even the top flap is missing. Still, for a toy from 1981 I’m shocked that I managed to even score the box, regardless of the shape. And since the box was abused this guy was still a little under $10, which is the perfect price for these tiny Star Wars vehicles. I love how the front of the box shows a trio of these mini-rigs in action with Snowtroopers and one lonely AT-AT Driver. I guess most AT-AT Drivers are too good to waste their time driving an MTV-7. (Hell, if I was an AT-AT Driver I wouldn’t drive this thing around when the AT-AT was waiting for someone to take her out for a spin.)
And inside the box I found the sticker application instructions. Awesome! I love old instructions and inserts, since they always take me back to those fun days playing on the floor or out in the yard. According to this sheet I’m missing a single sticker on my MTV-7, which isn’t bad at all for a toy that’s growing close to 31 years old.
The Multi-Terrain Vehicle
About 4-inches tall, 4-inches long, and 2.5-inches wide, the MTV-7 is just barely taller than most vintage Star Wars action figures. I’m not sure how well these would really perform in the snow — they look like one strong wind would knock them over (and wouldn’t the driver get cold?) — but this is one of those toys that has such a goofy look to it that you can’t help but love it. With two massive wheels and a laser cannon, riding this off-road monster can’t help but make your stormtroopers look cool.
Springy Wheels!
The photo below shows my thumb (hey, look, my thumbnail has a little spray paint on it) pushing down on the rear section of the MTV-7. When pressure is applied to the front or back of the vehicle the wheel section folds up which allows the vehicle to hug the ground. These are some pretty strong springs. As the guys at Action Figure of the Day point out:
” If you pushed it down and let go fast you could make it jump a little bit.”
Yep. In my day we had toys that jumped a little (if you let go real fast).
A Lot of Fun for a Low Price
At right around the price of two action figures (when it was first released, that is), the MTV-7 was a fantastic buy in the early eighties. And since there were so many of these sold back then it’s easy to find these cheap online (at eBay, for example) or even out in the wild at flea markets and antique stores. With patience and careful hunting you can find these for less than the cost of a new Star Wars action figure. Now that’s a low price toy!
Closing Thoughts
The MTV-7 has a great design, a rotating cannon, and a silly feature. How can you go wrong with one of these? This may not be my favorite Star Wars mini-rig, but it’s in the top three.
Imagine how awesome it would look to have a dozen of these all lined up on the toy shelf.
If you would like another look at the MTV-7 — and why wouldn’t you? — jump over to this page at the Star Wars Archive Database. They’ve got more words, more photos, and even some shots of boxes that haven’t been horribly abused.
Philip Reed is ready for his next Mini-Rig. Come on, eBay, and show us a fantastic deal on a chunk of cheap plastic.
One of my friends in grade schooll had one of these. I always wanted the shuttle and the one with legs that looked like a scuba exo suit. I wanna say it had suction cups… maybe I’m crazy. Anyways… it had a bubble top. Bubble tops rock. And the box had Bossk driving it. Adding Bossk to anything made it better for me back in the day.