Unused Vehicle Concept Art- GI Joe Armored Transporter

When I started this blog, I mentioned that I would be showcasing some of the rarer items in my collection, like prototypes or pre-production artwork. Here is the first such entry, some presentation artwork for an unused vehicle concept, a GI Joe Armored Transporter. It was vehicle that would have been used to transport equipment, like tanks, etc.

Presentation Artwork was a stage in the design process of GI Joe toys where new ideas were shown at line meetings in the form of artwork or sketches. A designer would "present" the idea for discussion and approval by assorted department heads, marketing, etc. While we got many great figures and vehicles out of the vintage GI Joe line, there were many, many more things that didn't make it past the initial stages of art or prototyping, and only exist as rough representations of the designer's concept. This is the case with the Armored Transporter.

It was first designed and presented in 1985, for potential release in 1986. When it wasn't used, the designer pitched the idea again at a later meeting, but again, it didn't make the cut. As such, there are two finished renderings that exist for the concept, both of which I have here. This is the earlier piece, dated 1985, with most of the original Hasbro Confidential logo intact. Please bear with me as far as the pictures go, I am still working on my photography skills, and had a tough time with the flash on these. The art is pencil and marker on vellum, taped to presentation board, with a decal for the GI Joe logo.

The second image shows the full piece, with the title and Hasbro logo. In 1985, the GI Joe line still had a somewhat realistic military feel, and this concept was a definite extension of that. It had a very real world feel to it, a common sense, articulated military transport, with a cab and a trailer, that could defend itself via hidden cannons and rockets inside the flatbed if needed. It is shown hauling a Mauler tank, which gives us a good idea of the size that this would have been.

The smaller sketch at the bottom shows what the transport would have looked like in "deployed" mode.

This is the title and logo, I find it amusing that Hasbro kept a supply of the Viper and falcon glider stickers on hand for uses like this.

This is a close up of the Hasbro Confidential logo. The top of it was torn off, unfortunately, but you can clearly see the date and the in house identification numbers. Each piece of art was normally signed by a designer and a witness.

Here are a few more shots, like I said, I was having a tough time getting a good pic so I took several angles and close ups.

The second piece of art is basically the same, the color had changed and there were some subtle differences, but the main concept was unchanged. There is not a Hasbro logo on this one, possibly because there was already an established project number for it? I don't know.

Here is an angled shot, you can see the rocket launcher is much larger on this one.

One thing I find interesting is the reversal of the representation of modes in this second piece, showing the more action oriented "weapons deployed mode" in color with the secondary sketch illustrating the more practical "transportation mode". Perhaps marketing didn't appreciate the transport aspect over the combat mode? The increased size of the rocket launcher could have been a marketing suggestion, as well. designers were frequently told to make things "bristling with guns and missiles" for greater action and playability.

Regardless, I think we really missed out on a cool piece here. It would have fit nicely in with the 1985-86 line of vehicles, interacted with the established Mauler, as well as providing a practical military vehicle in the same vein as the Bridgelayer or APC.

I've never shown this on line, and not many people outside of a close circle of friends have seen it. This is my first real "reveal" on this site, and as such, I would greatly appreciate no one stealing the pics (yes, I am asking nicely, and I am hoping I won't be sorry later for not watermarking everything before posting). But please, feel free to link to this blog. I am really trying to get something going here, and I have a lot more stuff I can show if things go smoothly.