Future GI Joe Classified Series HasLab Ground Vehicle Possibilities Leaked

We got some hot news incoming from the one and only It’s Chad, the man the myth who said the Kup Triple T and Optimus Prime MOBAT was coming! He’s got wind of some future GI Joe HasLab coming in 2026 that being shopped around in focus groups to see what the next GI Joe Classified Series HasLab should be! Be aware that Hasbro’s business model has changed several times over the last year and they now have a mandate to be risk averse. Things at Hasbro often change, especially after the lackluster financials the company has been reporting over the last 5 quarters. This is the latest information we have, from It’s Chad, and, as always, this information is subject to change but we hope you enjoy the news and please support It’s Chad by subscribing to his YouTube Channel and following him on Instagram. Also, we wanted to send a special thanks to 3DJoes.com as we used their images from their website! We also want to hear from you! Given the choices presented here, which one would you like as the next GI Joe HasLab? Take our poll here!

Check out the video It’s Chad dropped on his YouTube channel below:

Hammer

The Hammer was first released boxed in U.S. toy stores in 1990 and is a pretty nondescript vehicle that can carry lots of Joes! This is an interesting option for a HasLab as this vehicle came out later in the line but would make an awesome troop transport that would go nicely alongside the HasLab HISS! Here are some details of what the Hammer HasLab could be:

• One caveat that is mentioned in the video is the only way that this vehicle is being made is they get the licensing for the Hummer
  • The gun placements would remain the same but it would have more of a Humvee aestheitc
• The Hammer option was shown in 3 different colors: Night Force, Original, and Camouflage

It is described as a high-tech attack jeep (although is resembles more of the Humvee design aesthetic. The vintage vheicle had some cool play features, especially how it was packed with missiles and guns. Plus, the functional trunk and opening hood were awesome. One of my favorite parts was how you could set up the turret machine gun on its own tripod out in the field! It even had a nice nod to the VAMP with a removable gas canister. It could hold up to 9 figures in total. Best of all, there were no bright orange missiles—everything was in realistic colors.

Mauler M.B.T. Tank

According to It’s Chad, the Mauler has been in the running at the same time Dragonfly was being considered and we know who won that battle! The here are the proposed features and figures:

• Interchangeable armor that you can replace. For example, explosive reactive armor
• Heavy Metal and Steeler are reported to both be coming with the Mauler
• Also discussed was a heavy weapons GI Joe army builder

The Mauler M.B.T. Tank (Manned Battle Tank) was first released boxed in U.S. toy stores in 1985 and is an iconic vehicle in the GI Joe line!

The lower half of the tank seems to have relatively few parts. Aside from the mudflaps, which are an important part of the tank’s design but don’t serve much of a functional purpose in play, there’s the tow rope. The tow rope is one of the more crucial parts of the tank, as it’s often broken or missing. The Mauler’s standout feature is its sleekness. The tank isn’t very tall, or at least it appears that way because of the low profile of both the body and turret. It’s a far cry from the blocky design of the MOBAT, and that makes it much more visually appealing. The base is essentially a simple rectangle with the turret sitting on top, but Hasbro made the most of that basic shape, so you hardly notice the simplicity of the design. The turret and base fit together flawlessly, and the removable side panels that cover the treads not only conceal the inner mechanics but also add depth to the tank’s overall look.

Heavy Metal was introduced in 1985 as part of the fourth series, packaged with the Mauler M.B.T. He was also sold in 1986 but discontinued domestically in 1987. In 1989, he was available as a mail-in offer from Hasbro Direct. Leftover stock of the figure, with new accessories, was later sold at an early G.I. Joe Convention.

Here is a very cool custom GI Joe Classified Series Heavy Metal concept from yo_joeARAH, one of our favorite customizers! The figure is dressed in a green button-up shirt beneath a black leather jacket, paired with olive-green cargo pants, brown boots, and gloves. A brown holster is strapped across the chest and at the figure’s feet lie an array of accessories: a helmet with goggles, a silver submachine gun with an accompanying magazine, and two handguns.

H.A.V.O.C. (Heavy Articulated Vehicle Ordnance Carrier)

The H.A.V.O.C. was first released boxed in U.S. toy stores in 1986. It included the driver, Cross Country. The H.A.V.O.C. was also sold in 1987 and was discontinued domestically in 1988. Here are the notes on the HasLab version of the H.A.V.O.C.

• This would be the most costliest GI Joe HasLab, clocking in at $300 or more
• The design changes from the vintage vehicle include
  • No articulated seat with the twin canon. Instead, it would have a single canon akin to the Crows II
• The vehicle would also come with a drone
• Like the Hammer, option was shown in 3 different colors: Night Force, Original, and Camouflage
• The back would be reconfigured to hold troops, like the Hiya toys Aliens APC, that has seats and a drop down ramp
• The figure shown coming with the vehicle is Cross Country, which is a dead on vintage version of him!

The best thing about the HAVOC is its abundance of play features. The worst thing is that none of them work particularly well. There are several design quirks, and like many Joe vehicles, you tend to overlook the potential dangers to its crew in favor of enjoying a fun toy with plenty of cool features. The HAVOC includes a deployable hovercraft, an adjustable turret, turning tracks, and an opening canopy, with space for four figures inside (or twelve, if you count the foot pegs on the outside).

The vehicle design leaves the gunner in plain sight with no protection whatsoever. Even the main driver’s area is crummy. Why does the driver and co-pilot operate the thing with their faces planted in a monitor, laying on their bellies? It’s almost as bad as the SHARC. Less obvious feature is that it can not aim left or right without turning the entire vehicle. Even less obvious, is that the turret can not be in it’s lowered position and still allow for the vehicle’s main canopy to be opened. Every time you want to get a figure in and out, you have to jack this ratcheted turret way up, just to get the canopy open. The back half of the vehicle is mostly taken up by it’s hovercraft bay. On the outside of it, there’s some guns and orange missiles.

The recon craft is decent. It features two guns, some well-sculpted engine details, and pivoting fans on the underside, which presumably help it turn or maneuver. It’s enjoyable, but overall, a bit underwhelming.

Cross-Country was introduced in the fifth series (1986), packaged exclusively with the H.A.V.O.C. He was also available in 1987 but was discontinued domestically in 1988.

Snow Cat

The Snow Cat is another possibility and it was sold as part of the vehicle set of the 1985 GI Joe line of A Real American Hero toys. It included Frostbite as the action figure pack-in. Here are some notes for the HasLab version:

• There are two possibilties for the vehcile.
  • 1. Retro version that would have lights and look pretty much like the vintage Snow Cat
  • 2. An updated version with a retro front end with a much larger backend to house troops with a pop up missile pod like the 2004 Ice Sabre
• One of the figures being kicked around as a stretch goal is Snow Bunny Baroness

Being a global force, GI Joe is expected to be able to deploy in any number of environments from, plains to deserts to jungles and even to the arctic. As such they were in need of a vehicle that was easy to maintain, easy to transport, and effective. The Snow Cat meets all of these things quite well. It’s half-track allows it traverse most arctic type terrain with little issue. It’s missile armament allows it to hit above it’s class and it’s speed allows for relatively quick deployment. All in all it is a very effective arctic environment machine.

Frostbite was released as part of the fourth series in 1985. He was sold with the Snow Cat arctic assault half-track vehicle and was also sold in 1986. Frostbite’s bio reads:

Frostbite was born in a place where summer is a myth and a crowd consists of two people standing on the same acre. He worked briefly as lineman on the pipeline but found the job unchallenging despite the 40° below zero temperatures and hazardous conditions. The army promised to give him a challenge whenever he wanted one. Frostbite graduated from transportation school, Fort Eustis and armored school, Fort Knox. Qualified expert: M-16, M1911A1 Auto Pistol, M-250 cal. MG, and M-607 7.62mm MG.

“Frostbite has to be cool. The environment he works in is too unforgiving. If his Snow Cat throws a piston, he’s got to step out into weather that’ll freeze a hex-wrench to bare skin in five seconds and carry through a repair job that would be taxing under ideal conditions. He can’t afford to panic. Not if he wants to stay alive.”

Snow Cat and Frostbite GI Joe Classified Series Concept

We’ve featured the amazing customs of YoeJoeARAH and this custom GI Joe Classified Series scale Snow Cat is off the charts spectacular! The Snow Cat was designed and modeled by Steve’s Toys @s3d_toys and he sourced decals by Sean Cho @misterxero and yojoearah applied his signature amazeballs paint pp!

It’s amazing to think we are getting a Classified scaled vehicle like the Snow Cat in the line and this custom is most lily what this vehicle will look like.

You can also see Frostbite climbing into the Snow Cat, which will give you a sense of scale for the vehicle.

Inside the cockpit, there is room for two figures so Frostbite can ride around with a buddy!

Looking at some of the finer details, you can see the engine and also the back of the Snow Cat and it has plenty of room for other Joes to ride securely on the foot pegs.

With the impending release of a Snow Cat, we hope we get a version of Frostbite like yojoearah created!