Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a body supporting a pair of rear wheels and a pivotally secured lower jaw portion supporting a pair of front wheels. The vehicle further includes a pair of pivotally secured pincers movable between a rearward or closed position and a forwardly extending or open position. Each pincer is coupled to a gear portion which in turn is coupled to one side of a two-sided gear rack movable within the vehicle body in response to a pivoting actuator. As the actuator is pivoted, the gear rack is driven forwardly or rearwardly to cause pivotal motion of the pincers. A resilient body is secured to the vehicle body and includes a plurality of flexible tubular tentacles which extend from the resilient body and are coupled to each of the pincers. As a result, the toy vehicle is configured in a relatively standard appearance closed position or a monster-like alternate configuration as the actuator is moved between alternative positions.