My White Whale (aka how I found a childhood toy)

[CB2001]

Before I begin, I'd like to say hello. Since this is my first time posting an actual topic at the forums, I figured I'd share a story. It's a personal story, I suppose, as I'm sure that many others here know the same feelings I have and had, trying to find that one item of their childhood or the one item they wanted from their childhood but never had. So, Mr. Peabody, let's set the Wayback Machine to the 1980s.

I am a child of the 1980s. I was born in 1982. I share the same year as many classic Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. One of them, which I have been a long-time fan of, is Knight Rider. And one of the toys I wanted when I was younger, but my parents weren't able to afford at the time, was the Kenner Knight Rider Knight Industries Two Thousand with Michael Knight action figure.

So, around 13 years of age, I started to try to find one for myself. I tried everywhere possible to find one. eBay, whenever I could check, had some of them listed for $50 or more, including shipping and handling. Of course, this was eBay back before they had the "Buy It Now" option, and bidding was literally a roll of the dice, and anything greater than $40 was out of my reach at the time on my allowance. And as each year passed, even after I grew out of the toys I used to play with, I continued to search, even though I knew finding it at a thrift store or a flea market was impossible. Eventually, I bought the Joyride 1/18 scale diecast KITT in 2005. I felt it was a worthy compromise, though not the toy I wanted ever since I was little. So, I stopped trying to find it.

So, no more than two days past my 29th birthday and on a whim, my dad and I decided to go over to Valdosta, Georgia to bum around the thrift stores to see if we could snag some retro-gaming items. After we had lunch, my dad and I went to the first thrift shop. At 11:01, there it was. It was sitting on the shelf, the first item my eye caught after entering the store. And with the price tag of $30 and Michael Knight sitting in the driver seat looking straight at me, I wasn't going to pass it up.

As we continued on with our tour of the local thrift shops, I sat with it in my lap. I even had to ask my dad, "Dad, am I dreaming?" I asked because it seemed so surreal, and I was expecting to wake up in bed only to realize that it was a dream. But, it wasn't a dream. I had found what I had long since dubbed my White Whale. Thanks to my dad, we repaired the voice box to work and cleaned the car. If you saw it in person, you'd swear it came out of the box and off the shelf.

Even now, it seems so surreal. But, here it is. Sixteen years of searching, over 20 years of wanting. $30 and a chance of random browsing at a thrift store that hadn't been open until some time late last year.

Here are the photos, taken by me. Ladies and gentlemen... This Ahab presents his White Whale.

Thank you for your time. :*)

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/codebreaker2001/KRToy/

[therapist]

If you were born in 1982 then you couldnt have been checking ebay around 13 years old. Ebay didnt go public until 1998 that would make you around 16. Far cry from around 13

Anyway enough teasing aside. Congrats on the purchase. Sometimes the universe deals you a gift like that. I always wanna go thrift shop/flea market shopping but more often then not I find it to not be worth it I got my white whale about last year as a gift from my brother. I love my Dragonzord.

[CB2001]

If you were born in 1982 then you couldnt have been checking ebay around 13 years old. Ebay didnt go public until 1998 that would make you around 16. Far cry from around 13

Anyway enough teasing aside. Congrats on the purchase. Sometimes the universe deals you a gift like that. I always wanna go thrift shop/flea market shopping but more often then not I find it to not be worth it I got my white whale about last year as a gift from my brother. I love my Dragonzord.

To clarify: I meant I began looking for the toy when I was 13 years old. I checked eBay much later when the site became available to the public. I apologize for any confusion on my end.

Thanks. I'm glad you got your white whale too. There's nothing greater than receiving your white whale as a gift from a family member. For me, it's just been one of the few most awesome finds that occurred when I was with my dad this year (so far, and yes, there have been others we've encountered). I agree with you about the universe deals you a gift like that sometimes. I actually wonder if maybe it was a bit of karma (when I went to eat with my dad, I put some change into one of those charity boxes near the cash register), but either way, the universe decided to grant me this one small item in the grand scheme of things. Honestly, I kind of wish I had grown up with it, but I rather have finally got it than to never have it at all.

And to anyone who are still looking for your white whale, don't ever give up. You never know where it may be. It may be in that bargain bin at an antique store, it may be on the shelf behind the football helmet at your local Goodwill, or even sitting in plain view at that toy collector's booth at the flea market. You never know when you may find it.

[Darththomas]

I have two white whales at the mo, they're both fairly easy to get via ebay and such, and one of them I'm getting soon. The Vintage Last 17 R2D2 with pop up saber. The other one which I'm less likely to afford and may just end up customizing one is the elusive Blue Snaggletooth who's generally super expensive. These are my white whales as they would finally complete my vintage Starwars collection that I've been working on for over 10 years (Figures anyway).

[CB2001]

I have two white whales at the mo, they're both fairly easy to get via ebay and such, and one of them I'm getting soon. The Vintage Last 17 R2D2 with pop up saber. The other one which I'm less likely to afford and may just end up customizing one is the elusive Blue Snaggletooth who's generally super expensive. These are my white whales as they would finally complete my vintage Starwars collection that I've been working on for over 10 years (Figures anyway).

I wish you the best if luck on snagging them if you can get them.

[Wesr]

Mine is a Fortress Maximus but with the price between 500-2000.00 it isn't happening soon.

[CB2001]

Mine is a Fortress Maximus but with the price between 500-2000.00 it isn't happening soon.

You never know, you may get your hands on it somewhere for a lot less. Normally, KITT is roughly around $150, loose, in the poorest condition (that includes tons of scratches or even a cracked windshield), I just had the luck of the draw at getting it in a really good condition at $30. You never know, it could stumble across it at a yard sale or a flea market for something less than that. Never give up on hope.

[PerV]

Well My problem is a little more complicated because saddly I don't know the name of my white whale. This happens because is a robot that my father bough for me when I was 1 year old (now I'm 33) so it's really hard to find.

Only clue I have is: A big blue, white and black robot, that walks and moves his arms and head, and all in a blurry memory.

[CB2001]

Well My problem is a little more complicated because saddly I don't know the name of my white whale. This happens because is a robot that my father bough for me when I was 1 year old (now I'm 33) so it's really hard to find.

Only clue I have is: A big blue, white and black robot, that walks and moves his arms and head, and all in a blurry memory.

First off, I apologize for taking so long to reply of this.

Second of all, Perv, I do wish you the best of luck in trying to identify and finding your white whale. I'm sure there's someone knows about it. Don't give up. You never know when or where you'll find it.