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Pony Talk => Off Topic => Toy Box & Games Cupboard => Topic started by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 01, 2017, 05:01:07 AM

Title: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 01, 2017, 05:01:07 AM
Who else here used to collect 'Grand Champions'?

As a child I had a huge herd of them, now I just have one left, but they were really special to me and I always keep an eye out for them. I was doing some browsing on the 'ol net and came across something quite surprising:

http://buyusatoys.com/product-category/grand-champion/ (http://buyusatoys.com/product-category/grand-champion/)

New Grand Champions that look very much like these models when they were in their prime owned by Marchon/Empire/Revell. Anyone who knows a lot about these models will be aware that they got sold off to another company, repackaged, some *terrible* new poses were made that looked anatomically awful, and the whole line went down the pan. This was several years ago and I never dreamed they'd make a come back, so I'm very excited!

Some of these models look really lovely and I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a few. Has anyone in the US seen these in the shops yet (I'm in the UK) - I emailed the company asking where they can be bought but haven't heard back.

I hope this excites anyone else who has a soft spot for Grand Champions  :)
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Brightglowpony on September 01, 2017, 07:54:40 AM
I used to love those and the new ones do very much look like the originals :D  Some of my favs were the "feed n' nuzzle" sets.  I'm in the USA and I have not seen them yet, though I have not been in a toy aisle recently so it's possible they are out already :)  Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: alaskaallie on September 01, 2017, 08:34:30 AM
Oh I had SO many of those as a kid, I especially loved the small ones... some of them had such pretty moulds. Oh no, now I'm regretting losing them/giving them away  :cry: The new ones really do look like the old ones! I have not seen them anywhere but I doubt I would, it seems like nothing shows up here. I may have to look for them when I go back to the US next year, as I could definitely do with a package of the super tiny ones- the foals look like the same moulds! I also remember the "feed n' nuzzle" set... I'm definitely excited and never would have thought to look this brand up, so thanks  ^.^
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 01, 2017, 09:17:31 AM
I loved the FNN sets too, Brightglowpony! My first GC was an appaloosa FNN called 'Moon Rising', I got him for my 10th or 11th birthday I believe.

Alaskaallie, I hope that GCs do come back to Europe, but I'm not sure because they're owned by an American brand now. When they were owned by Revell there were so many in UK toy shops :( I hope that they do distribute them outside of the US because I'd love to own a few myself. I keep an eye out for the second hand but they are pretty hard to come by these days actually :/
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: alaskaallie on September 01, 2017, 09:28:55 AM
I don't think I ever saw them second hand either.... well I fully expect to be ordering some of the microminis online/getting my parents to send them to me. I can't resist the nostalgia or the pretty light purple packaging. I will certainly keep an eye out anyway! :biggrin:
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 01, 2017, 09:31:01 AM
I still collect.

I don't know. I'd be thrilled if they did make a comeback. :frolic: I haven't seen these.  Although some of them do look awfully familiar.


 Are you sure this isn't just someone who is selling off extras? Its been a long time since the company sunk their own ship after all. Is this an online toy company? Or a private one? Has a defunct toy company ever come back and resurrected their own brand before?  :wonder:
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 01, 2017, 10:50:38 AM
Leave a Whisper, I'm pretty sure it's legit, but I might be wrong. If you look on the 'Our Brands' page they also have Empire Toys, Gearbox, Big Wheel and Classic Thoroughbreds, which I believe were all brands under the same company years ago. So maybe they've bought them all out.

Also if you look on the packaging of the GCs, it says '20th Anniversary' as if they're re-launching the brand. I've looked through all of the models several time and none of them are copies of past models, but they are using the same poses and editions such as FNN, Sound 'n Action etc.

I hope they are coming back because they look a lot better that the last dregs and some of these models look very nice :)
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 01, 2017, 11:10:51 AM
I sure hope your right! I'm so excited! I may hafta try and get one soon. :heart: Can their website be ordered from?
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 01, 2017, 11:39:17 AM
At the moment it doesn't seem like you can, but there is a cart button so I wonder if it's under construction? If they're serious about it though I'm sure they'll turn up in chain toy shops. Fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Ponyfan on September 01, 2017, 11:54:41 AM
I had three Grand Champions growing up. Two foals and one full size. I know I had Maple Sugar and a white foal that started with an M maybe Mischief? I can't remember my full size Grand Champions name but I remember his card mentioned fox hunting.  I gave them away to someone that liked horses though. If I found these new Grand Champions I'd buy them again. :)


Ponyfan
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 01, 2017, 01:44:56 PM
I had three Grand Champions growing up. Two foals and one full size. I know I had Maple Sugar and a white foal that started with an M maybe Mischief? I can't remember my full size Grand Champions name but I remember his card mentioned fox hunting.  I gave them away to someone that liked horses though. If I found these new Grand Champions I'd buy them again. :)


Ponyfan

Fox Croft? Was he a fleabit gray?

Post Merge: September 01, 2017, 01:45:47 PM

At the moment it doesn't seem like you can, but there is a cart button so I wonder if it's under construction? If they're serious about it though I'm sure they'll turn up in chain toy shops. Fingers crossed!


Thanks for letting us know about this. They're my favorite model horse brand ever!
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Ponyfan on September 01, 2017, 02:00:52 PM
Thanks Leave a Whisper. :)  :frolic: It was Fox Croft. For some reason I can never remember his name.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 01, 2017, 02:03:16 PM
Thanks Leave a Whisper. :)  :frolic: It was Fox Croft. For some reason I can never remember his name.


Ponyfan

Welcome. I used to own him as a child. He and his family are good looking horses.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Ponyfan on September 01, 2017, 03:19:51 PM
I didn't Fox Croft had a family. :) I don't think I've ever seen them.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 01, 2017, 04:42:55 PM
I didn't Fox Croft had a family. :) I don't think I've ever seen them.


Ponyfan

I don't remember what his foal's name is atm, but his mare is Wild Alice.

The Mini Pinto and western rider has really caught my eye. I do remember my GC Minis having awful hair. Is there any you guys are after?
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: nessa16 on September 01, 2017, 05:17:54 PM
So many fond memories of GCs! Along with MLP and LPS, those are what we played with the most, my cousin and I. I still have my regular sized ones and quite a few that I have found second hand. I still remember getting them for birthdays and Christmas.  Did anyone else have the GC pets? I found a birthday picture of me holding one that was a collie. I wish I still had all of the micro minis. I loved those and don't know why I don't have them especially since I kept the others.

It's neat if they bring them back! I would love getting the micros and possibly some of the others.  I like the packaging too.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Ponyfan on September 02, 2017, 01:12:35 AM
Thanks again Leave a Whisper. I'll have to took for Wild Alice now as well as Fox Croft. :)

I was disappointed that I couldn't do anything with my colts hair because it was too short to really brush.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 03, 2017, 10:36:46 AM
I sent them a message asking if it was possible to purchase directly from their site and if they were a repro retailer, or a private seller. I'm curious to see the answers.

Post Merge: September 03, 2017, 10:40:04 AM

I see that they brought back that awful trotting Horse Country Mould. Yuck!
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 03, 2017, 10:40:05 AM
I sent them a message too Leave a Whisper, please let me know if you hear from them as I haven't.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 03, 2017, 10:43:44 AM
I sent them a message too Leave a Whisper, please let me know if you hear from them as I haven't.

Will do.

Post Merge: September 03, 2017, 11:01:28 AM

The Micro Minis and FNN look super familiar.
 The Grand Stable looks like a dead ringer for the original. But some of the horses look new. I'm really confused and cautiously hopeful.


I also noticed they brought back the Horse Country rearing mould instead of the GC rearing or Levade mould. Ick!
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: kestral_kitsune on September 03, 2017, 01:25:09 PM
oh man if they're releasing them I hope to god they don't use the horse country models those things were horrible D:
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 03, 2017, 02:23:48 PM
Kestral_kitsune, I have seen some pictures of Horse Country models and they don't look great, surprise surprise! but most of them are old GC poses thankfully...
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 03, 2017, 04:49:54 PM
oh man if they're releasing them I hope to god they don't use the horse country models those things were horrible D:

Too late.  :facepalm:



The sorrel family is nice and I like the bay Arabian family, but the shading is awful. I'd love to pick up the palomino foal.

Do these horses have names?
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Shy Violet on September 05, 2017, 11:38:54 PM
How exciting! I really hope they are coming back, I love GC's. I still have most of my childhood herd and I've been finding quite a few at thrift stores.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 06, 2017, 07:12:00 AM
I haven't heard back from these people and I swear that pinto mini is Patchwork. I'm feeling a little suspicious.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on September 07, 2017, 08:25:49 AM
I think their site is under construction - on a google search it says 'coming soon' under their site heading. I think it would be hard to fake as it were because they're photographed 3D objects. I'm gonna give it a few months and keep checking back :)
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on October 08, 2017, 09:49:07 AM
Any news?
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Stiletto on October 09, 2017, 04:16:06 PM
If anyone is looking to purchase any vintage Grand Champions I'm trying to sell my childhood collection.  I LOVED them, and took very good care of them.  There are a few I planned on sending to eBay, but if anyone is interested please message me.  Willing to make a sweet deal!

Here are some pics:
(Happy to take more for anyone interested)

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Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Haruna on October 09, 2017, 06:49:13 PM
^Your collection is lovely, Stiletto! I'm not looking to buy but I'm sure someone will. They're hard to find in the wild.

So many fond memories of GCs! Along with MLP and LPS, those are what we played with the most . . . .
Same for me and my sister! I also still have my childhood collection. Two of my first and favorites were the velvet versions of Velvet Twilight and Shadow, and then my beloved Tennessee Walker family.

I'd love to see Grand Champions in stores again. I'm not sure what to make of the ones on this website! They say 20th anniversary on their boxes, but as far as I know, the original line started around 1994; 2017 should be the 23rd anniversary, then?
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Stormness_1 on November 14, 2017, 03:20:32 AM
I'm pretty sure the pinto FNNs are Painter's Palette and Rainbow's End, just rehaired.

Ugh those HC moulds kill my eyes... they look so broken! I'd love to see GCs back on shelves though, there's definitely a few there I'd buy, I was always a huge sucker for the foals in particular.

I'm guessing they have names, as the bio cards are back according to the description.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: xTic_Tac_Toex on November 14, 2017, 02:55:59 PM
Yeah I think you're right Storminess_1, they have the same rugs and everything. It's interesting that they seem to be giving the new GCs less realistic very long manes and tails, similar to Barbie horses, but I think it does suit some of them.

It is still mysterious when/whether these will actually be made available, because I've tried emailing them so many times seeking information and haven't heard back at all  :pout:
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on November 14, 2017, 05:34:19 PM
Yeah I think you're right Storminess_1, they have the same rugs and everything. It's interesting that they seem to be giving the new GCs less realistic very long manes and tails, similar to Barbie horses, but I think it does suit some of them.

It is still mysterious when/whether these will actually be made available, because I've tried emailing them so many times seeking information and haven't heard back at all  :pout:

Same here. Not a peep.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on February 01, 2018, 07:42:28 AM
I was browsing Grand Champions on ebay and I came across some horses titled 2017 Preproduction Grand Champions. They have the GC logo on them, but they're on moulds I've never seen before. The legs are disproportionately short and some of them don't even have hair. (Plus the prices are outrageous!)

What do you guys make of that? I'm equal parts suspicious, confused and hopeful.

Of course defunct and older versions of toylines have been making a comeback. Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: ringwraith10 on February 04, 2018, 09:46:38 PM
The "Feed N' Groom Stable" looks just like the stable I still have from childhood, except that it's different colors. I'm not sure if I have the grey horse that's with it, though. But that indicates to me that maybe they're re-releasing stuff?
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on February 17, 2018, 11:38:54 AM
The "Feed N' Groom Stable" looks just like the stable I still have from childhood, except that it's different colors. I'm not sure if I have the grey horse that's with it, though. But that indicates to me that maybe they're re-releasing stuff?

Perhaps?
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: achab1984 on February 24, 2018, 11:35:45 AM
Oh yes I loved these horses! I stated to collect them after G1 Ponies stopped showing up in the stores. 
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on February 27, 2018, 06:13:28 AM
I was looking on ebay for Grand Champions. And found four 2017 Preproduction horses with names and hair. The colors are kinda strange and the markings are large and faded.

Black Shadow-black with grayish white hair.

Mystery-Gray with white hair. Most normal looking and kinda generic.

Wildfire-Palomino going gray? Champagne wanna-be?

Free Spirit-Flaxen liver chestnut? Silver bay?

They kinda look more like Kid Kore horses then GC. Although 3 of the 4 have the GC brand on them. Perhaps some of the old Kid Kore designers are working on these?

No moulds actually associated with the brand yet like we've seen on the website. Thankfully I don't see any Horse Country moulds either. No mares or foals yet. I kinda like Free Spirit's colors. I guess I could put up with the stubby legs and thick, weirdly arched neck.

Has anyone seen anything else?

Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: BubbleTea on June 10, 2018, 05:29:41 PM
I was looking on ebay for Grand Champions. And found four 2017 Preproduction horses with names and hair. The colors are kinda strange and the markings are large and faded.

Black Shadow-black with grayish white hair.

Mystery-Gray with white hair. Most normal looking and kinda generic.

Wildfire-Palomino going gray? Champagne wanna-be?

Free Spirit-Flaxen liver chestnut? Silver bay?

They kinda look more like Kid Kore horses then GC. Although 3 of the 4 have the GC brand on them. Perhaps some of the old Kid Kore designers are working on these?

No moulds actually associated with the brand yet like we've seen on the website. Thankfully I don't see any Horse Country moulds either. No mares or foals yet. I kinda like Free Spirit's colors. I guess I could put up with the stubby legs and thick, weirdly arched neck.

Has anyone seen anything else?


I saw these! I wonder if they'll actually make these. If they do my life will be complete. :angel:
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Stellaluna on June 24, 2018, 06:43:12 AM
I would love to see Grand Champions back! I had several as a kid, with most being the mom and foal poses in different colors. They were the first time I was told by my parents that I wasn't allowed to have any toy that did an action, because I'm supposed to use my imagination with toys. So I couldn't have any of the horses with moving parts. I had one that made galloping sounds, but it was dirty with cut hair so I think I found it on the ground or got it in a thrift store away from my mother's watchful eye, haha. Her policy on this toy ideology was very on-an-off anyway, since I received stuff like Barbies and Lion King stuff for Christmas which I'm sure often times had motion or sound. It was just the Grand Champions I remember her being very militant about for some reason?

However, something about this website seems awfully fishy to me. You can't buy anything and all the social media links lead nowhere. Even if the website was still under construction, you'd think they would have set up all their social media outlets first to drum up interest in their new company on other platforms. I'm willing to bet that's what most startups do. But I looked and there's nothing on twitter or facebook about this. Secondly, some of the photos and packaging for these toys looks rather dated. The hairstyles and clothing of the kids on some of the package photography gives it away. Not to mention these images are often low-quality and grainy which is not something you'll see in a modern toy sales site.

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It would be so fun to see the Grand Champions back, but I'm thinking this website is just some budding web designer's mock-up to potential design clients.
Title: Re: Are Grand Champion Horses Back?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on June 24, 2018, 07:21:48 AM
I agree Stellaluna. It's very fishy.
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