Matchbox Mobile Action Command (1974)

BY Todd Coopee July 28, 2022 Filed to: Vintage Advertising

In 1974, Matchbox introduced the toy world to Mobile Action Command (MAC), an elite, international rescue team of anonymous agents equipped with quasi-futuristic vehicles, accessories, and outfits.

MAC Action Figures were approximately 3-inches tall with poseable limbs. While Matchbox shipped MAC Commanders in multiple colours, they all had similar facial features, giving them an automatonic appearance.

This two-page advertisement from a dealer catalog showcases three of the larger and more expensive pieces in the line.

The MAC Mountain Rescue Center stood 17-inches tall and was used as the base of operations for the team. It featured 5 secret passages, multiple floors, and even a working elevator. The Rescue Center was also equipped with 3 smaller vehicles: an Air Rescue Unit, Emergency Medical Unit, and ATV Unit. Five MAC Commanders and three accessory backpacks completed the set.

The 13-inch MAC Rescue Van allowed the team to take their talents on the road. The van featured a working loading ramp that could store a smaller vehicle for transport, and an operational cherry picker. Living quarters, a driving control area, and onboard storage were also onboard.

The MAC team could hit the high seas with the 13-inch MAC Oceana Sea Rescue Unit. An operating landing ramp offered storage for a smaller vehicle. The ship’s Quarter Deck included a ladder, a command bridge with a captain’s chair, and an operating stun-gun to fend off the included shark that menaced the team.

Mobile Action Command enjoyed a somewhat obscure 5-year run on store shelves and remains popular with collectors today.

Remember the toys and games of years past through vintage advertising – for better and for worse!