An Introduction

For me it all started back in 1984, when I purchased my first Transformer Bumblebee (the yellow Voltswagon) for a grand sum of £1.59. The reason I purchased Bumblebee, is that I just seen an advert on TV for Transformers and wow, didn't they look amazing. Cars that transformed in to robots and back, a voice stating "more than meets the eye". Then to see these all on display in the shop with the picture on the front and information on the back, about the robots. Forget Star Wars toys, Transformers were to be my new toys and what a good choice that turned out to be.

After Bumblebee I purchased the rest over the following weeks, these were the mini cars released that year (Series One) and there were 7 in all. After then other Transformers released in that year were Optimus Prime, Megatron, Autobot Cars, Decepticon Plane, Soundwave and his cassettes.

This toy range ran from '84-'89 & 91, this was later labelled the name Generation One. Some of the lines introduced in that time scale; Insecticons, Triple Changers, Dinobots, Combiners, Headmasters, Targetmasters, Powermasters, Pretenders, Micromasters, then finally Action Masters and what a dissapointing end to the series they were.

These toys were so popular, that many of them toys sold out in shops in '84-'85. Marvel launched a comic book that ran for over 300 issues in the UK and over 80 in the US. A cartoon series which ran for 99 episodes, and who could ever forget Transformers: The Movie, which launched a new range of Transformers and of course killed off Optimus Prime. Until he returned in the cartoon series. :-)

Transformers had all these aspects which made them really desirable, plus they had super boxes and cardbacks, with wonderful art work and information about the robots, these are called Tech Specs. Sadly many a box was cut up to free a Tech Spec and of course the Robot Points, you could use them to purchase other Transformer merchandise.

Toy Range

All Series One Transformers where available in the UK to buy in 1984. But when new ranges came out in 1985, many popular Transformers where not released in the UK officially (see Checklists). I say offically, because I remember a shop which imported the Constructicon Giftset from abroad, this was then removed later, because of the lead contained in the toys was above the UK limit.

Minispies (US only) were included free with the Mini Car Transformers, there are 4 Designs which came in yellow, blue and white. You could only tell there alliance; either Autobot or Decepitcon by rubbing the sticker on the front. They are small and pretty basic, with Takara '83 printed on them.

Mail-aways (US only). If you Collected the Robot Points on the back of the boxes or cardbacks in the US, you could send them off with the leaflet from the box to purchase Transformers not available in the toy stores. These toys were know as Mail-aways, the most important one is Reflector, 3 robots that join to make a Camera and commands higher prices than the other Mail-aways, basically because the Powerdashers are a bit naff. I should know, I have all three and confirm they are a poor quality Transformer. They are did not have names, but each one transformed in to something different, either a Car,Drill or Jet. Other Mail-aways available in the US were the Omnibots - Camshaft, Downshift and Overdrive

UK Transformer collectors did not have to these toy options, instead they could send off for glow in the dark merchandise, a watch (AKA Time Warrior), Special Teams Audio Adventure, read by Don Henderson and a cut out base called S.T.A.R.S.

Please click on the Checklist you wish view below.

Transformers G1 1984 Checklist

Transformers G1 1985 Checklist

Transformers G1 1986 Checklist

Transformers G1 1987 Checklist

Transformers G1 1988 Checklist

Transformers G1 1989 Checklist

Transformers G1 1990 Checklist

Transformers G1 1991 Checklist