Transformers Toys

We buy Transformers Toys

Transformers toys were made from 1984 to 1990 by Hasbro and Takara. It was a toy that could transform from a vehicle to a robot (later creatures such as dinosaurs and animals)

In 1983 Hasbro sent reps to the Tokyo toy show in search of toys to bring to the American market. Japanese manufacturer Takara were showcasing transforming robot toys. Hasbro bought the rights to produce the toys.

When the toy line came out it was supported by a comic and animated series. And a movie followed that generated 5.7m at the box office.

The Transformers has the good guys (the Autobots) and the bad guys (the Decepticons). The first series features twenty-eight characters in all; eighteen Autobots and ten Decepticons.

Optimus Prime is the Autobot Commander and transforms into a tractor trailer truck. While in its robot form, the toy consists of three separate parts: the main figure, which transforms into the cabin of the truck; an Autobot Headquarters, which transforms into the tractor trailer, serves as a combat deck, and includes a mechanic/artillery robot; and a small scout car named Roller, which launches from the Autobot Headquarters.

The eleven Autobot cars consist of Bluestreak, Hound, Ironhide, Jazz, Mirage, Prowl, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, and Wheeljack. Bluestreak, the gunner, transforms into a Datsun Fairlady 280ZX; Hound, the scout, transforms into a Mitsubishi J59 Jeep; Ironhide, who serves as security, transforms into a 1980 Nissan Onebox Cherry Vanette; Jazz, the special operations expert, transforms into a 1981 Porsche 935 Turbo; Mirage, the spy, transforms into a Ligier JS11 Formula 1 Racer;Prowl, the military strategist, transforms into a Datsun Fairlady 280ZX Police Cruiser; Ratchet, the medic, transforms into a Nissan Onebox Ambulance Vanette; Sideswipe, a warrior, transforms into a Lamborghini Countach prototype crafted from the LP500S model; Sunstreaker, who is Sideswipe’s twin brother, and is also a warrior, transforms into a Lamborghini Countach LP500S;Trailbreaker, the defence strategist, transforms into a Toyota Hi-Lux 4WD; and Wheeljack, the mechanical engineer, transforms into a Lancia Stratos Turbo #539 “Alitalia”.

The six Autobot minicars consist of Brawn, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Gears, Huffer, and Windcharger. Brawn, who serves in demolitions, transforms into a Land Rover Defender 4×4;Bumblebee transforms into a Classic Volkswagen Beetle; Cliffjumper, a warrior, transforms into a Porsche Turbo 924; Gears, who serves as a transport and in reconnaissance, transforms into a 4WD off-road truck; Huffer, the construction engineer, transforms into the cabin of a semi truck; and Windcharger, a warrior, transforms into a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

A yellow Familia 1500XG minicar dubbed “Bumblejumper” and later known as Bumper was released on Cliffjumper backer cards. No carded examples have been found with the minicar on a Bumblebee backer card.

Megatron is the Decepticon Leader and can transform into three different types of guns; a Walther P38 handgun, a particle beam cannon, and a telescopic laser cannon.

Soundwave is the Decepticon Communicator and transforms into a microcassette recorder modeled after a 1980s Sony Walkman. The five Decepticon microcassettes are Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Ravage, and Rumble.Buzzsaw, the spy, resembles a condor while in robot form and came packaged with Soundwave. Laserbeak, who serves in interrogation, also resembles a condor while in robot form and was sold with Frenzy, who is a warrior. Ravage, the saboteur, resembles a jaguar while in robot form and was sold with Rumble, who serves in demolitions.

The three Decepticon planes are Skywarp, Starscream, and Thundercracker. All three of them transform into F-15 Eagles. Skywarp and Thundercracker are both warriors, while Starscream is the Aerospace Commander.

To save production costs in developing separate chassis for multiple toys, many of the G1 Transformers are simply re-painted or re-accessorized clones of one another. The physical actions to transform one or the other between modes was identical. For example:

• Ironhide and Ratchet are functionally identical to one another.
• Cliffjumper, Bumblebee, Hubcap and Bumblejumper aka Bumper are all functionally identical to one another.
• Prowl, Bluestreak, and Smokescreen are functionally identical to one another.
• Trailbreaker and Hoist are functionally identical to one another.
• Grapple and Inferno are functionally identical to one another.
• Rumble and Frenzy are functionally identical to one another.
• Laserbeak and Buzzsaw are functionally identical to one another.
• Sideswipe and Red Alert are functionally identical to one another.
• Optimus Prime’s and Ultra Magnus’ cab section are functionally identical to one another.
• Pipes and Huffer are functionally identical to one another.

Finally, Thundercracker, Starscream, and Skywarp are functionally identical to one another. The Series 2 Decepticon jets (Thrust, Dirge, and Ramjet) all share the same robot centerline of the Series 1 jets with different attachable wing accessories (Thrust’s have moulded (non-functional) vertical turbofans in them, Dirge’s are elongated like a hyper-performance flyer, and Ramjet’s have ramjets… obviously).

As the series moved farther along beyond the first two series and new characters were introduced, this replication became fewer and farther between. The newer toys tended to share thematic processes (such as the Headmaster and Targetmaster lines) but the physical manipulation of the toy to transform it between modes was generally unique to that character.