Heritage Auctions is currently auctioning a rare collection of 1990s Predator Micro Machines. These miniature toys, originally released by Galoob, are now highly prized by collectors due to their limited production.
The 1996 Galoob gamble on R-rated miniatures
In 1996, Galoob attempted to bring the intense Predator franchise to a miniature scale through its Micro Machines line. This was a departure from the previous Kenner toy line, which had focused on "toyetic" character designs rather than strict adherence to the films. According to the report, Galoob’s approach was much more movie-accurate, producing detailed vehicles and playsets, including one that recreated the famous chest-burster scene.
Galoob had previously revolutionized the toy market in 1987 by reducing the scale of Micro Machines, allowing for competitive pricing and highly detailed, small-scale playsets.. However, this attempt to market R-rated horror elements to children was not a commercial success. The line faced significant pressure from parental groups and suffered from poor retail sales, leading to its discontinuation by 1997.
A lineup featuring Dutch, Anna, and the Transforming Action Set
The auction collection includes three distinct sets. The first set features Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character Dutch, Jesse Ventura’s Blaine, a cloaked Predator, a Guerrilla Troop Truck, and a black helicopter. The second collection contains Carl Weathers’ Dillon, Sonny Landham’s Billy, a Predator, a helicopter, and a 4x4. The third set includes a thermal-vision version of Dutch, Elpidia Carrillo’s Anna, a third Predator, the Predator ship, and a Guerrilla truck.
A larger-scale Predator ship from the Action Fleet line is also part of the offering, designed to accommodate two micro-figures in its cockpit. Most notably, the Transforming Action Set—a design reminiscent of 1990s Polly Pocket playsets—is included. This set features a Predator head exterior that opens to reveal a guerrilla camp,complete with a holographic sticker of a cloaked Predator and a push-button mechanism to simulate explosions .
The $100 value of carded 1990s miniatures
Collector demand for these items has transformed them from retail failures into high-value assets. As the report notes, carded samples of the individual figure and vehicle sets can now fetch between $75 and $100. The Transforming Action Set is even more elusive, with values reaching into the hundreds of dollars. This surge in value is driven by a combination of nostalgia and the extremely limited number of units that survived the 1997 discontinuation of the Galoob line.
What is the starting bid for the Transforming Action Set?
Several specific details regarding the Heritage Auctions listing remain unverified. It is currntly unknown what the exact starting bids will be for the Transforming Action Set or the individual vehicle collections. Additionally, the report does not specify the physical condition of the items—whether they are mint-in-box or have been handled—which will heavily influence the final sale prices.
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