In a promotion that coincided with the release of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Taco Bell released a set of four collectible glasses in 1984. Upon learning of their existence I immediately went about purchasing the one I coveted the most … “Enterprise Destroyed”.
Over the years I have actually purchased “Enterprise Destroyed” on eBay on three separate occasions. I do find a bit of “redshirt” humor being that the glass that kept on breaking just so happened to feature the destruction of everyone’s favorite Constitution-class ship.
The third time around I snapped up the “Spock Lives” glass for next to nothing (I think the eBay seller was feeling bad for me at that point). For collectible glasses that are 29 years old
they hold up remarkably well in terms of paint (definitely lead based). Even with regular use and washing they remain some of my favorite Star Trek collectibles.
Unlike other collectible glasses these are actually based on glassware actually seen on screen during Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. There is even one in the Captain’s quarters off the U.S.S. Excelsior.
One side of “Enterprise Destroyed” features the explosion and break up of the NCC-1701. The reverse is a depiction of the scene in which Kirk asks Bones “My God … what have I done”. To which Bones replies, “What you had to do. What you always do: turn death into a fighting chance to live”
This reverse side does a tremendous job of conveying the likenesses of the actors along with the text:
“Scotty, Kirk, and McCoy of the U.S.S. Enterprise watch in safety as the great starship, their home for the last 20 years, self-destructs in the skies above them”.
And for comparison here is a picture of the actual glass versus that emotional scene from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
My God What Have I Done?