Remco Space Ship Control Panel

First produced as a standard "Firebird 99" car dashboard in 1958-1962 by Remco, this toy was then re-purposed/redesigned for use as Batman's Batmobile, Green Hornet's Black Beauty and as this spaceship control panel from "Land Of The Giants." The three character versions of this toy are all very rare, w/the Green Hornet version selling in our last auction for $14,000. 11x15.5x9" deep cardboard box w/photo illustrated label on front of box and toy illustration on back contains 8x13x6.75" deep (9.75" tall w/cardboard insert backdrop in place) hard plastic battery-operated control panel w/cardboard back having printed instructions. Remco, (c)1968 Twentieth Century-Fox Television, Inc./Kent Productions, Inc. Box label features photos of the cast as well as control panel. Bottom of box has Milwaukee, WI toy store stamp and box has lt. even aging. Both top inner flaps have 1.75" to 2" tears and top of box has some small punctures and scattered creases. Label has two small areas of surface paper lift, likely from price sticker/tape removal. Fine overall. Control panel is designed w/moving steering wheel, corresponding moving speedometer, "Electric Directional Space Signals, Working Countdown & Blast Off Indicator, Working Space Horn, Space License, On-Off Ignition Switch With Key" and glove compartment w/"Galaxy Map." Control panel also features turning windshield wiper knob, cigarette lighter, fuel gauge and some sort of monitor. Top of control panel fits die-cut cardboard header display w/"Land Of The Giants" show logo and images of various gauges and dials. Only battery-operated feature is lights; one is missing bulb and we could not get the other bulb to light. Set is only missing the red plastic keychain that, unlike the Green Hornet key (which was in the green plastic and unique to that toy), this set's key was identical red plastic as seen in Firebird set and is easily replaceable. Set is o/w complete, including plastic clips for cardboard attachment, which shows moderate wear w/heavy 2-3/8" crease at left that breaks surface paper. VG/Fine. Unique piece to this set is the star chart "Galaxy Map," which has some handling wear w/creases and inking/marker. Fine. Plastic over speedometer has 1.25" crack and cardboard backing of control panel has 5.75" vertical crease w/slight surface paper break. Thin plastic horn has been pushed in. Control panel sticker label has some creasing, but overall control panel is VF. Not only considered the Holy Grail of "Land Of The Giants" merchandise but one of the rarest and most sought after of all 1960s character toys. First we've offered in our 49 years and the only example we know of. Gary Keller Collection.

Sold for $2,530 (includes 15% Buyer's Premium) at the Hakes auction #217 on 17 March 2016.