Transformers

Well with the recent release of the Transformers Movie, eBay has been flooded with the popular action figure. People who have been holding on to these guys for the past 20 years are finally parting with their collections. The older 1984-1985 collections are going for thousands! BUT not many of us regular folks will have each and every G1 Transformer in mint condition still in the original box, right?

So let me show you a couple that you might stumble upon at a garage sale or thrift store....

Here is a FORTRESS MAXIMUS - he is almost 2 feet tall and was the biggest ever and is circa 1987.

Our friend here sold for $381 just the other day.

Here are 5 Dinobots from 1985 in played with condition.

These guys just sold for $458.

Here's a little background info on these guys....

The Transformers TV show began in 1984 and was one of the first programs to take advantage of recently relaxed FCC bans on toy companies producing television programs. Hasbro worked with Japanese toy manufacturer Takara and Marvel comics to create a multimedia phenomenon. Transformers quickly became a favorite among children, and much of that enthusiasm continues in collectors to this day.

• 1984 Transformers: The Autobots and Decepticons made their first appearances in cartoons, comics, and on toy store shelves. Popular figures include Autobot leader Optimus Prime and three Decepticons: Megatron, Star Scream, and Soundwave. The Autobots were robots that took the form of various cars and trucks, while the Decepticons mostly took the form of planes; a Walkman; and Megatron, a very real-looking handgun.
• 1985 Transformers: The success of Transformers continued with the release of Constructicons and Dinobots. The Transformers mail order program also began, where children clipped “robot points” and mailed them in for special offers. In 1985, the1984 models reappeared with rub stickers that revealed whether the robot was an Autobot or a Decepticon. Also new in 1985 were Mini-Spys, Deluxe Autobots, Power Dashers, Jump Starters, Omnibots, Constructicons (which could combine to form a larger robot), Insecticons, Triple-Changers, and Dinobots.
• 1986 Transformers: More than 50 new figures hit toy shelves while Transformers: The Movie hit theaters, introducing Rodimus Prime, Ultramagnus, and Galvatron. 1986 saw another re-release of original figures, this time with some glow-in-the-dark accessories or parts. Released lines included Mini-vehicles, Protectobots, Stunticons, Combaticons, Battle Chargers, Predacons, and Decepticon Reflector.
• 1987 Transformers: Throttlebots, Technobots, Targetmasters, Headmasters, Double Spy, Terrorcons, Duocons, and Sixchangers joined the fray, including Fortress Maximus, a Headmaster toy that stands 2 feet tall. The Generation 1 Transformers television series ends.
• 1988 Transformers: Even without the television series, Hasbro introduces two new toy lines: Powermasters and Pretenders. Sparkabots, Triggerbots, Beast Pretenders, Vehicle Pretenders, Firecons, Seacons, and Triggercons were also released.
• 1989 Transformers: Hasbro released Micromasters, a line of miniature Transformers, and the Pretenders Classic line, including favorites like Jazz and Grimlock, Mega Pretenders, and Ultra Pretenders. K-Mart released a Legends series that featured Bumblebee, Grimlock, Jazz, and Star Scream. This year also marked the beginning of the end for the original Transformers line as Hasbro began to produce fewer toys.
• 1990 Transformers: 1990 marked the final year of production for the first generation of Transformers toys. Hasbro attempted to revitalize the line with Actionmasters, Transformers that have a high degree of articulation, but cannot transform. It also introduced the Micromaster Combiner Squads, Actionmaster Blasters, and Actionmaster Attack Vehicles.
• 1992-1999 Transformers: The early ‘90s saw the re-release of many popular figures in the Generation 2 Transformers line, often giving the figures new paint jobs or different accessories. Along with the re-release, the original series is also back on the airwaves with new computer graphics. But it wasn’t until the late ‘90s that the Transformers line was revitalized with Beast Wars.
• 2000-2002 Transformers: The Beast Machine line of toys became increasingly popular, ringing in a new era of Transformers. Coupled with a new story line, the Maximals battled the evil Vehicons for the future of Cybertron. The conclusion marked a return to form for the Transformers as the series brought back figures that transformed into cars again. A new 52-episode series launched along with many new action figure lines such as the Mini-cons and the Transformers Armada.
• 2003-present Transformers: Many classic Transformers came back in high detail with the Transformers Alternators line. Also, a 20th anniversary Optimus Prime figure appeared, and Transformers: Energon had a Unicron figure that transformed from a robot into a planet.

Transformer toys fall into seven major categories: Generation 1, Generation 2, Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Robots in Disguise, Transformers Armada, and Generation 1 Commemorative Series.

• Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers ran for six years, between 1984 and 1990. The category encompasses everything from the earliest Transformers such as Optimus Prime and Star Scream to the Micromaster and Pretender lines.
• Generation 2 Transformers: Generation 2 Transformers appeared from 1992 to 1995. The toys released during this period were mostly re-releases of classic Generation 1 figures with either new paint or new accessories. Some new lines emerged during this period, including the Rotor Force, Laser Cycles, Auto Rollers, and Cyberjets.
• Beast Wars: Beast Wars revitalized the Transformers brand with the battle between the Maximals and the Predacons. Beast Wars also saw the return to the multimedia approach that made the original Transformers so popular. A television series that featured computer-animated Transformers told the story of the Maximals and the Predacons. 1995 saw the release of only nine different figures, but that changed in 1996 with the addition of 16 more models, including two exclusive figures: Bot Con and Onyx Primal. The Beast Wars line continued through 1999 and included variations like Fuzor and Transmetal.
• Beast Machines: Beast Machines ran between 2000 and 2001 and continued the storyline started in Beast Wars. But despite its short run, 60 new Transformers action figures launched, including new Maximal and Predacon assortments, as well as Transmetal Classics.
• Robots in Disguise: Debuting in 2001, Robots in Disguise was a return to the original struggle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. It also had a television series, this one running for 39 episodes. The figures were re-envisioned versions of older characters like Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus (and of course Megatron). The Heroes of Cybertron line came out in 2002 and contained figures that did not transform. Instead they were more like classic action figures with articulated joints.
• Transformers Armada: Transformers Armada ran between 2002 and 2003 and added a new wrinkle to the classic Autobot Decepticon battle. A newly discovered race of transformers called Mini-Cons had the power to sway the balance, and both sides tried to utilize their power. Mini-Con toys were arranged in teams of three, each with its own focus. Everything from Air Defense teams to Emergency Mini-Con teams were available, as well as a large assortment of both Autobots and Decepticons.
• Generation 1 Commemorative Series: A Toys ”R” Us exclusive, the Commemorative Series consisted of high-quality reissues of favorite Transformers characters from the first generation of toys. Many were made of die-cast metal and had rubber tires.

Have a great time searching for these popular toys at your next treasure hunt!!!