What is the exact year when this variation of the attacking martian was made?

[Yubby]

What is the exact year when this variation of the attacking martian was made?

[Joe K.]

It turns up in a 1972 Horikawa catalog where it is listed as "NEW":

 

[Golddalek]

I notice another Robot with a wheel barrel.....

 

I recall an old windup Robot moving around something like that.

[robothut]

 

[Brian..]

Gilbert tells me that this specific model with its gold chest was listed as new in the 1977 catalogue. Since he doesn't have the 1976 catalogue he can't be sure it isn't earlier.

 

 

 

[Morbius]

1972 seems about right IMHO.  I'd read articles while learning about them in the mid '70s in antique magazines that is wasn't unusual for a toy to be marketed/sold for up to around 5 years if stock remained available making the appearance in a 1977 catalogue quite logical.