UPDATE (8/10/13): I originally thought the skateboard was from 1977, despite the Phantom Menace C-3PO design. In fact, the board is an intentional throwback to the banana boards of the 1970s. ‘Retro’ wasn’t hip in 1999, so I’m still a little boggled at the concept, but it is what it is.
Many thanks to Troy Yeary for solving the mystery via this shot at the Star Wars Collectors Archive.
Props to Hobgoblin238, who called it from the beginning.
(Images via eBay)
2 Warps to Neptune 
That’s possibly the only artwork from before the Phantom Menace I’ve seen with C-3PO with all the exposed wiring. I’m love to know more about the manufacturer and artist…
Unfortunately, I can’t find that info. I went through several close-ups of the back of the board. Nothing.
It cannot be from 77…As Jason said that is the PM 3po
This board is from the 70s. Check out more shots here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Star-Wars-Skateboard-/171080555433?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d5321ba9
I don’t doubt it’s from ’77, I was just really curious about how Threepio was drawn. A google image search for “star wars skateboard” turns up some other images, but no details.
It’s a really good point. I can’t find this design on any of the original concept art. To Facebook!
All the link proves is that the original seller thinks it is a vintage. It IS from Phantom Menace.
I still think it’s from ’77. First, who was still making plastic skateboards like that around ’99? Second, if it were Phantom Menace, it would SAY Phantom Menace. They’re very particular about their branding, and a simple Star Wars alone would not do. Also, if you notice, the Star Wars font isn’t *quite* right. It’s angled and shortened, not the “official” Star Wars logo, which is something else I haven’t seen since Lucas was at the beginning of his marketing empire. Heck, this might not even have been authorized merch – there was a fair amount of that going on when Star Wars came out.
http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/sports/skateboards.htm
About halfway down, there’s a listing for one, claiming it’s late 1980s. But there are some pictures, including a closeup of one of the trucks. That looks like vintage hardware to me.
Great topic! Looks like this is indeed a vintage 1999 Episode I skateboard, though. Here is boxed:
Wow! Wait, there’s no link. Come back, Troy!
Troy emailed me the link from the SWCA:
http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=16003
Hobby was right (sorry, man)! Totally boggles the mind, as “retro” wasn’t hip in 1999.
That is ok. That is what we are here for! To learn from one another. That C3PO was definetly from episode one though. I just knew it.
Wow. This whole thread totally blew me away. And it’s funny how little time it takes these days to investigate. I never would’ve thought they’d make that type of skateboard in ’99.
The only thing that made me question the actual year of manufacture were the wheels. In ’77 wheels were wider, softer and square-lipped.
Yeah, they fooled the heck out of me. Definitely a good job on the retro feel. Good point on the wheels, I guess I was looking too closely at the deck and trucks, haha!
And no markings on the board? Just weird.
Hi i’d like to say that my father bought me a board exactly like this around 1999 from a wallmart.
Thanks for confirming!