Vintage Star Wars 1979 Kenner Millennium Falcon

45 Years ago, before the original Trilogy was bashed and tarnished by decades of ups and downs (mostly downs) - Kenner made this incredible, epic, and straight-up Legendary toy. This thing required two hands. It could - and still can - store a half dozen action figures. It isn't perfect - but this essential collector's item still has a lot going for it as far as vintage Star Wars vehicles go.
If you are a collector and looking at this - you deserve it. There is a time where you have to go for it - to invest in your dreams. This is one of those times. It's the season of giving. Give to yourself. And if you are looking at this for the special Nerd in your life - perhaps a 40-something seeking a massive adrenaline hit of nostalgia - this is your moment to win all the awards. This is the Caribbean vacation of toy collecting gifts. Knock their socks off.
But that all said - fair warning - this probably won't get there by Christmas unless you want to spend stupid money on shipping, which isn't really worth it. But - you can still print out this posting and wrap it if you want, which if you know your Star Wars history, is 100% Star Wars merchandising canon.
So anyway, overall, this Millennium Falcon is in pretty darned good condition. Are there better ones out there?
(even though that beauty is missing exterior stickers and doesn't have a box). Are there a lot of those? Nope. Perhaps you'll never find a better almost-perfect one that this. You never know. Think about it. Just sayin.
Here's the basic breakdown of the condition as best I can determine and describe it: Sticker Condition

- Pretty solid throughout, including the big interior and rear engine stickers. There is at least one sticker missing on the Top Cover - and perhaps some more on the exterior. Definitely a little sticker wear here and there. I'm not a sticker expert so parse what you can from the photos and use your judgment. It's easy to find reproduce replacements if you're into that sort of thing.

Body Condition

- Pretty solid, but with a few blemishes for sure. A little yellowing in a spot or two. Some nicks. Frankly it's a little dirty and could like look like a cute 40-something if it had a semi-pro cleaning. 

Box Condition and Bonus

- This comes with the original box. It's sound - it's front, back, top, and bottom are all intact. A bit worn, crumpled, and perhaps somewhat dirty - but intact. I am pretty sure all the side flaps on either end are there and in the game, but there is a possibility one of em' might be torn or somehow deficient. The crazy part is that there is this stamp on the box that says "Printed with Pride by Ragon Smith". First off - how dope is the name "Ragon"?! What? Yes. Second, how quirky is it that such a thing is printed on a major consumer product? So I went and Googled around. Found a Ragon Smith from Cincinnati Ohio who

. Guess what company was headquartered in Cincinnati? Kenner! Coincidence? I think not. I bet Ragon worked for Kenner manufacturing and made boxes with style. We may never know for sure, but in my eyes - this odd easter egg makes me value this Millennium Falcon even more. 

Almost All the Parts

- With four exceptions (see below), all the original parts are there, including the Cannon Support, Cockpit Cover, False Floor, Game Table, Light Saber Rod and String (and rare black "Disco Ball"), Radar (Radar Screen + Radar Support + Radar Base), Ramp, Seat, Top Cover, and Window.

Issue 1: The Cannon

: The Cannon consists of two halves that snap together. One has some inward-facing plastic "pins" that insert into the other half, snapping together to form the single cannon. Those pins appear to have snapped off inside the other half, meaning the cannon will not stay together and mount properly. This is a tragedy, and I regret that someone will inherit this flaw on an otherwise very good quality piece. If you're crafty, you could potentially repair it. You could also buy a replacement off of the Information Superhighway - either an original one, or a repro. That's what I would have done at least had I kept this. 

Issue 2: Missing Ramp Strut:

Straight up, there is only one Ramp Strut. There are supposed to be two. I was betrayed by my own ignorance when I bought this and didn't realize the gap until years later. You can buy a replacement, original or repro.

Issue 3: Gimpy Landing Gear:

While both the Landing Gear components are there, one of them is a little weak. There is some mechanism in them - some plastic tab or bump - that allows it to either retract up into the body of the Falcon (for flying) and retract downward, locking into position for landing. One of the landing gear doesn't like to "lock" in the open position. Sometimes to the point where the back-heavy Falcon will list a bit, unable to fully support it's weight on only two legs. It's sometimes an issue, and it annoys me. Perhaps it's repairable.

Issue 4: Defective Buzzer?

: I think like some of these early Kenner ships, there is a battery powered sound effect that was likely a laser or an engine sound or something. There is a slight possibility it works, but I don't think so (or it sounds like isht). Assume it doesn't work.  

So with ALL THAT SAID - This thing is being sold "as is". I've done my best to accurately and exhaustively be as transparent as I can be about the condition of the item. But I'm not a professional collector. I searched around on the Internet, looked at pictures of the original Instruction Manual and pictures of other people's Falcons to try to accurately represent the part list, things I think are missing or janky, etc.  I really do think this is a great piece, which I paid a couple hundred dollars for like 20 years ago. I am sad to see it go, but I've sold most of my toy collection and I've survived. It's time for the last few holdouts to go. Ole!