Fisher-Price Adventure People: Set #356 Cycle Racing Team (1977-1984)

Fisher-Price Adventure People "Cycle Racing Team" set #356.
My childhood set still looks pretty good after many years of adventures!

The Fisher-Price Adventure People were first available in 1975.  They some of the earliest 3.75" action figures on the market.  In fact, they were used as the base figure for many of the prototypes for the Star Wars action figure line.  The Adventure People toy line ran from 1975 all the way through 1985, a very impressive run for a line of toys that wasn't supported by a movie, TV show, or comic book!  They were extremely well constructed compared to other 3.75" action figures.  In fact, it was much less likely that their heads would snap off (or that they would lose a limb) when compared to many of their counterparts.  As a result, there are a lot of adventure people still around today.
The Cycle Racing Team taking a break from their adventures!

Many popular sets were created for the Adventure People throughout their run.  One of the most popular sets was the Cycle Racing Team - Set #356.  This set was available from 1977 through 1984! The set consisted of two motorcycle riders wearing orange shirts with white sleeves & yellow helmets, a motorcycle with a black frame, brown seat & green highlights, and a green side car.  The motorcycle was a "dirt bike" style off-road motorcycle.
Vince and Dean from the Fisher-Price Adventure People "Cycle Racing Team!"

The two figures were named "Dean" (the driver) and "Vince" (the passenger).  Both Dean and Vince had the same head & torso which were both painted with the same checkerboard patterns on the chest.  The arms were the same as well, white sleeves with orange checkerboard on the shoulder.  However, Dean had black hands to represent gloves and Vince had flesh colored hands.  Their legs were different.  Dean had legs with extra points of articulation at the knees so that he could fit on the motorcycle while Vince had straight legs and would not fit on the motorcycle comfortably.  Dean's legs were orange while Vince wore brown pants.  They both had black boots.

Each Cycle Racing Team set came with one of two different motorcycles

There were a couple of variations with this set.  First of all, the set was available both in a box and on a blister card.  Second, the set was available with some small differences in the motorcycle.  One version of the motorcycle had a yellow and black checkerboard plate on the front of the bike while the other one had the set number, 356, on the plate.  The bike with the checkerboard plate had a silver plate below the seat with a lightning bold while the 356 plate bike had a silver plate with the numbers 356.  Also, the 356 plate bike had a silver outline on each side of the gas tank while the checkerboard plate had a solid green gas tank.

Do you collect Fisher-Price Adventure People?  Which sets and figures are your favorites?  Have you ever owned the Cycle Racing Team set?  Tell me in the comments!

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