1955 1956 Tonka Minute Maid Private Label Box Van

The Minute Maid box van is another toy that falls into the gray area of private label trucks, much the same as the Carnation metro. Tonka manufactured this truck for two years, 1955 and 1956. Tonka assigned model #725-5 to the 1955 version and model #725-6 to the 1956 issue. The 1955 version sold at typical toy outlets for $4.98. Most examples of this truck show a lot of wear and tear.


1955 Minute Maid Box Van With Its Box

1955 Minute Maid box van with its near mint box. From the Patrick ONeil collection.


Minute Maid Box Van

Wood floor. There are no graphics on the outside of the rear doors
Minute Maid Box Van

1955 was the first year this Minute Maid box van was issued. Tonka used real rubber mud flaps. Note the duals on the rear. Tonka also manufactured this truck in 1956 but with single rear tires.

Value: An original, complete, unretouched 1955 box van in very good plus condition, numerous scratches on the roof of the box, not so much on the cab, decals in excellent condition, no box, sold on eBay for $394 USD in Mid June 2013.

Value: An original, complete, unretouched 1955 box van in excellent condition, few paint scratches, decals in excellent plus condition, no box, sold on eBay for $856 USD in late January 2014.

Value: An original, unretouched 1955 box van in very good plus condition, missing mud flaps & bracket, several plus paint scratches on the cab and box, decals in very good plus condition, no box, sold on eBay for $382 USD in mid November 2014.

Value: An original, unretouched 1955 box van in very good plus condition, missing mud flaps, several paint scratches on the cab and box, decals in very good plus condition, no box, sold on eBay for $321 USD in late January 2015.

Value: An original, unretouched 1955 box van in very good plus condition, missing mud flaps, numerous paint scratches on the cab and box, decals in very good plus condition, no box, sold on eBay for $256 USD in late November 2015.

Value: An original, complete, unretouched 1955 box van in near mint condition, minimal paint loss on rear doors only, decals are neat mint, no box, sold on eBay for $1075 USD in mid December 2015. NOTE: The nicest 1955 Minute Maid box van to be auctioned on eBay since 2007.

Value: An original, complete, unretouched 1955 box van (featured above)in near mint condition, a nick here and there, decals are near mint, with its box, sold on eBay for $1850 USD in mid September 2016. NOTE: This box van and the one sold in December 2015 are in a dead heat for the title of best 1955 Minute Maid box van ever sold on eBay.

Value: An original, unretouched 1955 box van in very good condition, missing 1 wheel cover and both rear door handles, paint appears tired with numerous paint scratches on the cab and box, decals in very good plus condition, no box, sold on eBay for $181 USD in early June 2017.

Value: An original, complete, unretouched 1955 box van in very good plus condition, numerous paint nicks on the cab and box,decals in very good plus condition, no box, sold on eBay for $203 USD in early June 2017.

Value: An original, complete, unretouched 1955 box van in excellent plus condition, minimal paint loss (chips) on the cab and box. Decals are excellent. No box. Sold on eBay for $330 USD in early July 2017.


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Just like the 1955 version, the 1956 Minute Maid box van falls into the same gray area of private label trucks. Tonka assigned model #725-6 to the 1956 Minute Maid version. The truck sold at typical toy outlets. This example is a mint, unretouched original with its original packaging. If you look closely at the graphics of the truck on the carton, you will notice dual rear tires on each side. However, the truck consumers purchased in 1956 had a single rear tire on each side. It should also be noted that the floor of the box was steel in 1956.


1956 Minute Maid Box Van

The orange juice can in the graphics on the box was based on the can consumers found in the frozen
food section of their favorite A & P or Piggly Wiggly grocery store in 1956. From the Patrick O'Neil
collection.


Value: A 1956 truck, in original, complete, unretouched, excellent plus condition, with minimal paint nicks, near mint decals with no carton, was bid to $510 USD on eBay but failed to meet the seller's reserve in late September 2007.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, complete, unretouched, very good condition with minimal paint nicks, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $250 plus a 22% buyer's premium or $305 USD total on eBay in early December 2007.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, good condition with several paint scratches, missing one rear door handle and grille, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $305 USD on eBay in early February 2008.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, very good condition with numerous paint nicks on the cab and box, both mud flaps appear to be reproduction, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $450 USD on eBay in early June 2008.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, excellent condition with paint nicks on the front of the cab and few on the box, missing one rear door, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $510 USD on eBay in late August 2008.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, good condition with numerous paint nicks on the cab and numerous nicks and scratches on the box, missing both rear doors and both mud flaps, very good decals with no carton, sold for $258 USD on eBay in mid January 2009.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, excellent condition with paint nicks on the front of the cab, some on the box, missing both mud flaps, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $490 USD on eBay in late January 2009.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, very good condition with numerous paint nicks on the cab and nicks and scratches on the box, missing both mud flaps, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $350 USD on eBay in mid February 2009.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, excellent condition with minimal paint nicks on the cab and box, missing both mud flaps, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $405 USD on eBay in mid April 2009.

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, excellent condition with minimal paint nicks and scratches on the cab and box, missing both mud flaps and one rear door handle, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $317 USD on eBay in mid March 2013

Value: A 1956 truck, in complete, original, unretouched, excellent condition with minimal paint nicks and scratches on the cab and box, excellent decals with no carton, sold for $494 USD on eBay in late October 2014

Value: A 1956 truck, in original, unretouched, very good condition with numerous scratches on the box roof and minimal paint nicks and scratches on the cab and box, missing 1 door handle and 1 mud flap, very good decals with no carton, sold for $240 USD on eBay in mid March 2016.



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