We recently acquired a 1972 Bally El Toro machine that is in pretty good shape considering it's 45 years old. It's not a particularly challenging machine to play and the theme is not very exciting. My son and I have wanted to re-theme a machine for a long time, so this one seems like a perfect candidate for our first effort.

The most appealing feature of the machine is the wooden components are all in excellent condition. Wherever this machine has been, it was dry and the handlers never dropped it. The machine plays pretty good, although the previous owner replaced the flipper rubbers with regular rubbers (not sure why someone would do this?) and the flippers are a little weak. The playfield and plastics are in very nice shape also and will eventually go to someone who could use them.

So, the plan is to strip the machine, decide upon a re-theme, and start the rebuild. Sounds easy, but time will tell. Speaking of time, our goal is to follow this through, no matter how long it takes. We would like to have it completed by Labor Day, but this is competing with other projects and activities, so let's just say our goal is the end of the year......some year We will post any updates as we move along and appreciate any tips or suggestions.

Here's some pics of when the machine arrived a few days ago.

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Thanks! Lots of great ideas on there!

We have awhile before we lock in a theme, but we have a list underway;

1968 Detroit Tigers World Champs

1967 Camaro

The movie "Sandlot"

Jeeps

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Good point. The cabinet is extremely solid and the price was right. We want to try re-theming a machine and this should be a relatively easy project. Once it is completed, the new theme may make it more fun, but if not, other than time, we shouldn't have much invested in it.

Oh man, "El Boro"

Thanks for the advice guys! Going to shop the shop the machine and play it while we decide our next move.