#514 M.A.S.K. – IGUANA with LESTER SLEDGE/ MUD SLINGER (1987)

The Iguana is probably the most common M.A.S.K. vehicle, I have seen it hundreds of times for sale and it is always relatively cheap. The M.A.S.K. toyline was in 1987 maybe most popular as any other time and this vehicle was one of the smaller boxes available. I can guess it was one of the best-selling vehicles in the 3rd series, whose main theme was racing. I have never seen quad races, but who cares?

The vehicle is quite sturdy, and has a very big size compared to the figure, I would say it is most suitable for a figure in the size of a G.I.Joe: ARAH, that’s 3¾ inches instead of 2 inches. If we skip this detail, the toy is great, it has gum tires (and great grip), and the transformation is simple and nice. The front size reveals a sawblade and the back part another one, although the really impressive one is the one in the front.

The quad or 4-Wheel ATV is made in black and red, and was originally decorated with some stickers. I think mine was never applied any, otherwise there might be rests of glue.

The vehicle belongs to the terror organization V.E.N.O.M. and its driver is Lester Sledge. The figure itself is quite dark, only the red hair brings a bit of colour to it. The mask’s name is Mud Slinger and pretends to fling mud. The masks in this Kenner colletion tend to have functions that are not violent, or that do not kill other people, in order to relax a little bit the violent component of the game, and be accepted more easily in Central European markets, and maybe also a way to make some distance between them and other competitors from the late 80s.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: IGUANA with LESTER SLEDGE/ MUD SLINGER
• Toy Line: M.A.S.K. (Wave 3)
• Year: 1987
• Company: Kenner (U.S.A.)
• Size of the vehicle: 5’’ or 13 cm
• Size of the figures: 2½’’ or 6,5 cm