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1960 1961 Tonka Standard Oil Private Label Tankeri

Tonka manufactured this tanker, based on Tonka model #145 Tonka Tanker, for the Standard Oil Company in 1960. There is an interesting story behind this featured truck. Per Patrick O'Neil, "this truck was ordered directly from Tonka by a Standard Oil station owner and shipped to customer, Minnesota HiWay patrolman Joe Boley, to be given as a gift to his two month old son, James. I purchsed the truck from James, who's also a Minnesota HiWay patrolman, 46 years later (2006). It has never been played with." From the Patrick O'Neil collection.

NOTE: The Standard Oil tanker is one of the very few private label trucks that prominently displays the Tonka logo on the cab doors. With few exceptions, other private label trucks display the Tonka logo in a less conspicuous location. Example locations are on the bottom of the cab wrap or the bottom of the trailer floor (if steel) or the dolly wheels bracket (if wood).

Value: A clean original, 1960 unretouched tanker, no hoses, missing paint with surface rust on the cab and roof, decals on the tanker not perfect but very nice, no box, was bid to $163 USD on eBay but did not sell, failing to meet the seller's reserve in late August 2007.

Value: A clean original, unretouched tanker, both hoses, minimal paint scratching, decals on the tanker excellent plus, no box, sold on eBay for $285 USD in late October 2007.

Value: A clean original, 1960 unretouched tanker, both hoses but one missing an end, minimal paint scratching, surface rust on some hardware, decals on the tanker excellent with some scratching, no box, sold on eBay for $285 USD in early November 2007.

The tanker was normally sold at Standard Oil service stations directly to the customer

Value: The clean original, unretouched tanker featured below with both hoses, bright paint with minimal loss, decals on the tanker good at best, no box, sold on eBay for $508 USD in mid August 2010.

Value: A clean original, unretouched tanker, with both hoses, excellent paint with some chipping, decals on the tanker very good, sold on eBay for $809 USD in early September 2011.

A variation of the Standard Oil tanker was manufactured in 1961. Yes...the Tonka "T" is
on the front bumper

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