What’s the value of Geoffrey the Giraffe? That’s a question many were pondering at Toy Fair New York as Geoffrey made the rounds to promote the recently-launched Tru Kids Brands (see The Toy Book‘s Q&A with CEO Richard Barry here) and the Geoffrey’s Toy Box wholesale endeavor, both following the collapse of Toys “R” Us in the U.S. last year. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, but when it comes to the value of the giraffe, it might not be as big as some would expect. At least not when it comes to the vehicle once piloted by the Giraffe and his family to promote the late Charles Lazarus’ iconic toy store.
The Geoffreymobile, designed by legendary “King of Kustoms,” George Barris (creator of the 1966 Adam West Batmobile), originally scheduled to be auctioned Feb. 12, hit the block yesterday, just as Toy Fair was coming to a close. Originally estimated to fetch between $50,000 to $200,000, the vehicle, complete with its custom trailer, fetched just $22,500.
Despite interest in the vehicle, it’s likely that a string of overhauls were harmful to the value, as much of the Barris Kustoms work had been erased over the strange, nearly four-decade life of the Geoffreymobile.
Created as a parade vehicle that would debut on Nov. 28, 1980, at the National Rod, Custom, and Van Show at the New York Coliseum, the Geoffreymobile would serve as a family ride for Geoffrey the Giraffe, wife Gigi, son Geoffrey Jr., and daughter Baby Gee.
Discovered in a custom trailer after the entire contents of the Toys “R” Us distribution center in Mount Olive, N.J., were sold as-is to a single buyer last summer, the Geoffreymobile was quickly flipped to Robert Teel of Teel Auctions in Mt. Bethel, Pa. No word yet on the new owner.
