Toys Transformers Toys (Generation One)

Transformers was undoubtedly one of the most popular cartoons of the 1980’s. The show lasted for 4 seasons, starting in 1984 and finishing in 1987. The Transformers toys however lasted far longer than the TV show. The first wave of Transformers toys hit shelves in 1984 and would continue to do so until the early 1990’s, more than five years after the show had finished!

Every Transformers fan will know that the Transformers are split between Autobots and Decepticons. In total Transformers Generation One had 349 toys released across nine waves of toys. It was among the largest of any toy-lines released in the 1980’s. Take a look below and see how many you recognise!

Transformers Toys (Generation One)

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 1 1984

AUTOBOTS

The first wave of Transformers toys saw the release of eighteen Autobots. This included some of the most popular characters such as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ironhide and Jazz.

Optimus Prime Brawn Bumblebee Cliffjumper Gears Huffer Windchanger Bluestreak Hound Ironhide Jazz Mirage Prowl Ratchet Sideswipe Sunstreaker Trailbreaker Wheeljack

Full list: Optimus Prime, Brawn, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Gears, Huffer, Windcharger, Bluestreak, Hound, Ironhide, Jazz, Mirage, Prowl, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack.

DECEPTICONS

The first wave of Decepticon toys featured only ten figures. Around half of what was released for the Autobots. However it included many popular Decepticon characters such as Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave.

Megatron Soundwave Buzzsaw Frenzy Laserbeak Ravage Rumble Skywarp Starscream Thundercracker

Full list: Megatron, Soundwave, Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble, Skywarp, Starscream, Thundercracker.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 2 1985

AUTOBOTS

The second wave of Transformers toys was far larger than the first wave the year before. This wave featured the incredibly popular Dinobots, lead by Grimlock. Who of course would feature in the live action movie ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ in 2014.

Blaster Jetfire Omega Supreme Perceptor Beachcomber Cosmos Powerglide Seaspray Warpath Volk Grapple Hoist Red Alert Skids Inferno Smokescreen Tracks Top Spin Twin Twist Roadbuster Whirl Grimlock Slag Sludge Snarl Swoop

Full List: Blaster, Jetfire, Omega Supreme, Perceptor, Beachcomber, Cosmos, Powerglide, Seaspray, Warpath, Volks, Grapple, Hoist, Red Alert, Skids, Inferno, Smokescreen, Tracks, Topspin, Twin Twist, Road Buster, Whirl, Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop.

DECEPTICONS

The second wave of Decpeticons featured the awesome Constructicons. This was six Decepticons that combined to make one large robot called ‘Devastator’.

Devestator Bonecrusher Hook Long Haul Mixmaster Scavenger Scrapper Shockwave Bombshell Kickback Shrapnel Astrotrain Blitzwing Barrage Chop Shop Ransack Venom Dirge Ramjet Thrust

Full List: Devestator, Bonecrusher, Hook, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Scavenger, Scrapper, Shockwave, Bombshell, Kickback, Shrapnel, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Barrage, Chop Shop, Ransack, Venom, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 3 1986

AUTOBOTS

The third series of Transformers toys saw a major change, many of the toys were conceived as futuristic vehicles that didn’t really resemble modern-day machinery. This was due to the TV series and animated movie released that year jumping ahead 20-years and taking place in the year 2005.

This wave did however feature Hot Rod, a Cybertronian sports car, and one of the most popular Transformers characters of all time.

Defensor Metroplex Sky Lynx Superion Ultra Magnus Hubcap Outback Pipes Swerve Tailgate Wheelie Air Raid Blades Fireflight First Aid Groove Skydive Slingshot Streetwise Ramhorn Eject Rewind Steeljaw Blurr Hot Rod Kup Broadside Sandstorm Springer Hotspot Silverbolt Rodimus Prime Wreck Gar

Full List: Defensor, Metroplex, Sky Lynx, Superion, Ultra Magnus, Hubcap, Outback, Pipes, Swerve, Tailgate, Wheelie, Air Raid, Blades, Fireflight, First Aid, Groove, Skydive, Slingshot, Streetwise, Ramhorn, Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw, Blurr, Hor Rod, Kup, Broadside, Sandstorm, Springer, Hot Spot, Silverbolt, Rodimus Prime, Wreck-Gar.

DECEPTICONS

The third wave of Decepticons featured the ‘Combaticons’, five separate Decepticons that combined to make ‘Bruticus’. It also featured Galvatron, who was later revealed to be Megatron in a different body created by Unicron.

Bruticus Galvatron Mensaor Reflector Trypticon Blast Off Brawl Breakdown Deadend Dragstrip Swindle Vortex Wildrider Ratbat Frenzy Runabout Runamuck Octane Motormaster Onslaught Divebomb Gnaw Headstrong Rampage Razorclaw Tantrum Cyclonus Scourge

Full List: Bruticus, Galvatron, Menasor, Reflector, Tyripticon, Blast Off, Brawl, Breakdown, Dead End, Drag Strip, Swindle, Vortex, Wildrider, Ratboy, Frenzy, Runabout, Runamuck, Octane, Motormaster, Onslaught, Divebomb, Gnaw, Headstrong, Rampage, Rzorclaw, Tantrum, Cyclonus, Scourge.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 4 1987

AUTOBOTS

By the fourth wave of toys in 1987 more radical ideas were being introduced. This included the ‘Headmasters’ which came with a partner who transformed into the head, and the ‘Targetmasters’, who’s partners transformed into a weapon.

Fortress Maximus Chase Freeway Goldbug Rollbar Searchlight Wideload Afterburner Lightspeed Nosecone Strafe Blurr Crosshairs Hot Rod Kup Pointblank Computron Hardhead Highbrow Sureshot Scattershot Brainstorm Chromedome Fastlane and Cloudbreaker Counterpunch Doublecross Grotusque Repugnus

Full List: Fortress Maximus, Chase, Freeway, Goldbug, Rollbar, Searchlight, Wideload, Afterburner, Lightspeed, Nosecone, Strafe, Blurr, Crosshairs, Hot Rod, Kup, Pointblank, Sureshot, Scattershot, Fastlane, Punch/Counterpunch, Doublecross, Grotesque, Repugnus, Brainstorm, Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow, Computron.

DECEPTICONS

As with the Autobots, the 1987 Decepticon Transformers toys featured Headmasters and Targetmasters. This wave also featured Scorponok, the largest toy in the the entire toy-line. It had three modes, robot mode, beast-mode which looked like a scorpion and base mode, which featured ramps for smaller Transformers to use.

Scorponok Sixshot Blot Cutthroat Rippersnapper Sinnertwin Slugfest Overkill Battletrap Flywheels Hun-Gurrr Pounce and Wingspan Cyclonus Misfire Scourge Slugslinger Triggerhappy Mindwipe Skullcruncher Weirdwolf Apeface Snapdragon Abominus Punch

Full List: Scorponok, Sixshot, Blot, Cutthroat, Rippersnapper, Sinnertwin, Slugfest, Battletrap, Flywheels, Hun-Gurrr, Pounce, Cycolnus, Misfire, Scourge, Slugslinger, Triggerhappy, Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf, Apeface, Snapdragon, Abominus.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 5 1988

AUTOBOTS

In 1988 the introduction of the most controversial line was released. The ‘Pretenders’ consisted of a Transformer contained inside an action figure shell who could “pretend” to be either a human or a monster.

Complaints with this line were numerous, including the lack of articulation of the figures and their increasing lack of resemblance to any sort of recognisable vehicle

Doubledealer Optimus Prime Quickswitch Fizzle Guzzle Sizzle Backstreet Dogfight Override Slamdance Landfill Quickmix Scoop Hosehead Nightbeat Siren Getaway Joyride Slapdash Cloudburst-Phoenix Landmine-Lander Waverider-Diver Groundbreaker Sky High Splashdown Catilla Chainclaw Gunrunner

Full List: Optimus Prime, Quickswitch, Fizzle, Guzzle, Sizzle, Backstreet, Dogfight, Override, Slamdance, Landfill, Quickmix, Scoop, Hosehead, Nightbeat, Siren, Getaway, Joyride, Slapdash, Cloudburst, Landmine, Waverider, Groundbreaker, Sky High, Splashdown, Catilla, Chainclaw, Gunrunner.

DECEPTICONS

The fifth wave of Decepticons featured numerous ‘Pretenders’. As with the Autobots, the articulation on these toys were poor. However, it also featured Piranacon, a combiner made up of various different Decepticons that created a far larger robot. This made up somewhat for the lower quality Transformers released in 1988.

Piranacon Cindersaur Flamefeather Sparkstalker Nautilator Overbite Seawing Skalor Tentakil Crankcase Ruckus Windsweeper Needlenose Squawkbox Quake Spinister Fangry Horribull Squeezeplay Snaptrap Darkwings Dreadwing Skullgrin Submarauder Bomb Burst Bugly Finback 2 Iguanus Carnivac Snarler Roadgrabber

Full List: Doubledealer, Piranacon, Cindersaur, Flamefeather, Sparkstalker, Nautilator, Overbite, Seawing, Skalor, Tentakil, Crankcase, Ruckus, Windsweeper, Squawkbox, Needlenose, Quake, Spinister, Fangry, Horri-bull, Squeezeplay, Snaptrap, Darkwing, Dreadwing, Bomb-Burst, Skullgrin, Submarauder, Bugly, Finback, Iguanus, Carnivac, Snarler, Roadgrabber.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 6 1989

AUTOBOTS

By 1989 it was becoming apparent that Transformers was coming to an end. The TV show was no longer in production, and the previous years Transformers toys hadn’t gone down to well with fans. And yet the entire 1989 toy line was nothing but more unwanted ‘Pretenders’ and ‘Micromasters’. Micromasters were far smaller robots created to compete with Micro Machines, another popular toy-line at the time.

Countdown Powertrain High Jump Mudslinger Big Shot Tote Free Wheeler Road Handler Swindler Tailspin Flak Sidetrack Sunrunner Fixit Redhot Bumblebee Double Header Erector Grimlock Hot House Ironworks Jazz Longtooth Overlord Pincher Seawatch Stakeout Crossblades Vroom Groundshaker Skyhammer

Full List: Countdown, Power Train, Highjump, Mudslinger, Tote, Free Wheeler, Roadhammer, Swindler, Tailspin, Big Shot, Flak, Sidetrack, Sunrunner, Fixit, Red Hot, Seawatch, Stakeout, Erector, Overload, Hot House, Ironworks, Doubleheader, Longtooth, Pincher, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Jazz, Crossblades, Vroom, Groundshaker, Skyhammer.

DECEPTICONS

As with the Autobots, the Decpeticon released in 1989 were filled with Micromasters. These small Transformers did very little transforming due to their small size.

Skystalker Birdbrain Bristleback Icepick Scowl Slog Wildfly Monstructor Nightflight Storm Cloud Tailwind Whisper Blackjack Detour Hyperdrive Road Hugger Flattop Roughstuff Airwave Greasepit Bludgeon Octopunch Stranglehold Starscream Thunderwing Skyhopper Roadblock

Full List: Skystalker, Birdbrain, Bristleback, Icepick, Scowl, Slog, Wildfly, Nightflight, Storm Cloud, Tailwind, Whisper, Blackjack, Detour, Hyperdrive, Road Hugger, Flattop, Roughstuff, Airwave, Greasepit, Bludgeon, Octopunch, Stranglehold, Starscream, Thunderwing, Skyhopper, Roadblock.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 7 1990

AUTOBOTS

The seventh wave of Transformers toys in 1990 would be the last into the American market. The release saw more Micromasters and the new Action Masters, non-transforming action figures who came with Transforming companions.

Battlefield HQ Optimus Prime Blasemaster Eagle Eye Sky High Tred Bolt Crumble Groundpounder Neutro Takedown Big Daddy Greaser Hubs Trip Up Big Hauler Heavy Tread Hydraulic Slow Poke Grimlock Jazz Rad Rollout Blaster Bumblebee Jackpot Mainframe Inferno Kick-Off Skyfall Snarl Barrage Heave Blast Master Phaser Moonrock Missile Master Power Run Strikedown Oiler Slide Roadburner Wheel Blaze Retro Surge Pipeline Gusher Overrun Prowl Sprocket Wheeljack

Full List: Battlefield Headquarters, Optimus Prime, Blaze Master, Eagle Eye, Sky High, Tred Bolt, Crumble, Groundpounder, Neutro, Takedown, Big Daddy, Greaser, Hubs, Trip-Up, Big Hauler, Heavy Tread, Hydraulic, Slow Poke, Grimlock, Jazz, Rad, Rollout, Blaster, Bumblebee, Jackpot, Mainframe, Inferno, Kick-Off, Skyfall, Snarl, Barrage, Heave, Phaser, Blast Master, Moonrock, Missile Master, Power Run, Strikedown, Oiler, Slide, Roadburner, Wheel Blaze, Retro, Surge, Pipeline, Gusher, Over-Run, Prowl, Sprocket, Wheeljack.

DECEPTICONS

As with the Autobots, the seventh wave of Decepticons were all Micromasters and Action Masters. By now Transformers toys had really become desperate, and it was no surprise that this was the final wave of Generation One Transformers toys in the USA.

Anti Aircraft Base Barricade Ground Hog Roller Force Roller Head Bombshock Dropshot Growl Tracer Soundwave Treadshot Devestator Krok Banzai-Tron Shockwave Direct Hit Power Punch Melt-Down Half Track Fireshot Vanquish Sledge Excavator Grit Stonecruncher Hammer Cannon Transport Cement Head Terror Tread Axer Starscream Knockout Gutcruncher Megatron Missile Launcher

Full List: Anti-Aircraft Base, Barricade, Ground Hog, Motorhead, Roller Force, Bombshock, Dropshot, Growl, Tracer, Soundwave, Treadshot, Devestator, Krok, Banzai-Tron, Shockwave, Direct-Hit, Power Punch, Meltdown, Half-Track, Fireshot, Vanquish, Stonecruncher, Excavator, Grit, Knockout, Sledge, Hammer, Cement Head, Terror Tread, Axer, Starscream, Gutcrucnher, Megatron.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 8 1991

AUTOBOTS

While Transformers had come to an end in the USA, the UK, Canada and Japan was not quite finished. More Transformers toys were released over the next couple of years, however the numbers of toys released was far lower than in previous years.

Because of the limited released, the toys below released between 1991 and 1992 are often known as Generation 1.5.

Powerflash and Roadrocket Sideswipe and Vanguard Tracks with Basher Omega Spreem Windmill Circuit Rumbler

Full List: Powerflash, Sideswipe, Tracks, Omega Spreem, Windmill, Circuit, Rumbler.

DECEPTICONS

Bombshell with Needler Charger with Fire Beast Take-Off and Screech Double Punch Turbo Master Slicer Thundercracker

Full List: Bombshell, Charger, Take-Off, Double Punch, Turbo Master, Slicer, Thundercracker.

TRANSFORMERS SERIES 9 1992

AUTOBOTS

Rescue Force One Rescue Force Two Resce Force Three Rescue Force Four Rescue Force Combined Boss Flash Hurricane Scorch Rotorstorm Thunderclash

Full List: Rescue Force 1, Rescue Force 2, Rescue Force 3, Rescue Force 4, Boss, Flash, Hurricane, Scorch, Rotorstorm, Thunderclash.

DECEPTICONS

Falcon Skydive Snare Talon Stalker Skyquake

Full List: Falcon, Skydive, Snare, Talon, Stalker, Skyquake.

After 349 toys spanning almost a decade, you may have assumed that was it for the Transformers toy line. However, in 1992 as Generation One was ending in Europe, having stopped in the USA two years earlier, production on Transformers: Generation Two began.