I would later come to realize that my apathy toward my mother’s repeated attempts to have me move my stuff had cost me dearly. Within a few years, the internet had become mainstream. Groups of people from all over the world with common interests were able to connect with each other. Suddenly the answers to all those questions you had as a kid were at your fingertips. Was there ever a Unicron toy? Who was the guy that voiced those awesome commercials? Why are the colors of my toys different from the ones shown in the instructions and toy catalogs? The spark for collecting Transformers was rekindled and continues even today for this forty-something-year-old man.

Vintage Generation 1 Transformers Decepticon – Barrage, Function – Gunner, Alt Mode – Rhinoceros Beetle, Circa 1985 | Source: Joe Haupt via Flickr with CC License

Transformers Facts

Here are some interesting Transformer facts I picked up along the way you may not know:

Transformers toys are worth money
There are sites where you can sell Transformers. Old Transformers toys have become quite the hot commodity in recent years. If you think you might still have some of those childhood goodies, it’s worth the effort to clean out those attics and basements and dig up some old relics. Like most collectible toys, the value is dependent on several factors including: condition, accessories, and packaging.

Transformers are still being made

Since its inception in the 80s, not a year has gone by without an official Transformers toy release. While the first generation of Transformers officially ended in 1990 in North America, it continued on in other areas of the globe. In 1996, Hasbro took drastic action to reinvigorate the franchise in North America, when Beast Wars made its debut. Together with a new CGI-animated TV series, Beast Wars became wildly successful. This brought the Transformers all the way to the new millennium. The ensuing decades saw more new toy lines, a blockbuster movie series, and hordes of reissues of the 80s toys. Some of these can still be found at Walmart, branded as “Vintage G1” complete with retro-style artwork.

Most of the iconic transformers were copies of other toys

In 1980, Takara, a Japanese toy company, had been riding a wave of popularity from its Microman line. They made the decision to reduce the scale of their figures and instead focus on vehicles and robots. Thus, they gave them one-inch tall drivers. This concept eventually led to the formation of a fully separate universe of fiction called Diaclone. The popular figures Optimus Prime, the Dinobots, and Sunstreaker were taken from this. Later, Hasbro acquired the rights to many of Takara’s transforming toys, and the rest is history.

Megatron could shoot bullets in Japan, and had a sword!

At the tail end of 1978, tragedy struck when a projectile from a Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper became lodged in the larynx of a four-year-old boy from Georgia, leading to his death. This model, and others that had firing missiles, were recalled. Many toy companies including Mattel and Hasbro altered or scrapped designs that used the gimmick. In 1984, Hasbro distributed the realistic Walther P38 pistol branded as Megatron, leader of the evil Decepticons. However, It lacked the sharp-tipped sword and firing bullets of its Takara predecessor. One year later, after seeing Hasbro’s success in the west, Takara introduced Japan to the Transformers. The Megatron that was available in the Japanese market retained the plastic bullets that Hasbro had omitted.

What are your Transformer memories?

Do you have any fond childhood memories of epic toy clashes between good (you) and evil (your friends or siblings)? Did you have a different toy indulgence from back in the day?

Vintage Generation 1 Transformers Decepticon – Barrage (Transformed), Function – Gunner, Alt Mode – Rhinoceros Beetle, Circa 1985 | Source: Joe Haupt via Flickr with CC License

Matthew Camaratta is the owner and operator of transformerland, a PhD in materials engineering, and a doting father of three brilliant children. Transformerland is recommended by MensHealth Magazine and Tomart’s Action Figure Digest as the place to cash in on 80s toys. It was developed by Matthew as a way to reconnect grown-up kids with their childhood memories.

Photos by Joe Haupt via Flickr with CC License