A MUST HAVE BOOK FOR VINTAGE TOY HUNTERS!

The Stunt Cycle quickly sat at the top of boys Christmas lists all over America and stores across the US had a hard time keeping the sets in stock during the 1974 season. In it’s first two years the toy line generated upwards of 100 million dollars in sales making it just about the most successful toy of it’s time. In fact, the daredevil once claimed that the Evel Knievel toys along with a series of other branded items grossed over $500 million in sales.

Ideal would soon release more stunt motorcycles like the Super Jet Cycle, Canyon Sky Cycle, Silver- High Jumper, Trail Bike, Chopper, Sidewinder Super Cycle and the Strato-Cycle, a rare toy inspired by Knievel’s 1977 motion picture debut, Viva Knievel.

The Stunt Cycle’s success inspired Ideal to create a fleet of Evel Knievel vehicles that went beyond motorcycles like the Crash and Stunt Car, A pinto sized coupe that would shatter to pieces against any obstacle that stood in it’s way. The Formula 1 Dragster came complete with a working parachute just like the real thing. There was also the Fast Tracker car that would perform wheelie's after being launched from its hand-powered energizer.

Ideal also released play sets, some of which did not include a stunt vehicle; they provided an arena for children to create more adventures for the stunt toys. The play sets included a Scramble Van, Road and Trail Adventure Set, Canyon Rig, CB Van, Escape From Skull Mountain and the Stunt Stadium play set. On the following pages you find some great examples of 1970s Evel Knievel toys produced by Ideal.