Hot Rod (G1)

''Hot Rod is an Autobot in the Generation 1 continuity. He has also been known as Rodimus Prime, Rodimus, and Rodimus Major.''



His Targetmaster partner is Firebolt.

Japanese names: Hot Rodimus, Rodimus Convoy French-Canadian name: Météorite

=Fiction=

Animated continuity
Voice actors: Judd Nelson, Dick Gautier; ? (Japan)

Universe: The Wreckers
=Toys=

Generation 1

 * Hot Rod (Autobot Car, 1986/2000/2002)


 * Hot Rod was one of the first toys designed specifically for the Transformers toyline, versus being an imported pre-existing toy. Designer Floro Dery created Hot Rod for the animated film and then the toy was created from his model sheet.  (The model sheet would be altered further after the toy was completed.)  Hot Rod transforms from a robot into a "futuristic" hot rod sportscar.  The toy comes with two rifles. There are two versions of this toy; initial releases have die-cast (unpainted) metal feet, while later shipments use black plastic.


 * In 2000, Takara re-released the Hot Rod toy, having had to retro-retool it from the Targetmaster release. In 2002, Hasbro released it as part of the Toys 'R' Us exclusive Commemorative Series line as Rodimus Major. Both versions use die-cast metal for his feet.


 * The same mold is used by Black Rodimus.


 * Rodimus Prime (Autobot Hero, 1986/2004)


 * Rodimus Prime was designed in much the same way as Hot Rod. Rodimus transforms from a robot and battle platform into a futuristicky Winnebago camper.  The toy comes with a "Photon eliminator" rifle and two blast shields to attach to either side of his battle platform's cannon.  (The yellow spoiler was also to be removed and replaced during transformation.) Like Hot Rod, there are materials variations; initial releases have metal toes with rubber tires, while latter shipments replaced both with black plastic.


 * The metal-toes/rubber-ties version of the toy saw re-release in both Japan and the US in 2004.


 * This mold is also used by Primus.


 * Hot Rod w/ Firebolt (Targetmaster, 1987/2004)
 * Hot Rod was re-released with his new Nebulan Targetmaster partner Firebolt a year after the original release. The toy was retooled to have larger pegholes in his fists and his engine block so the Targetmaster gun would fit. Latter versions of this toy retooled his lower legs to minimize the scraping of his thigh decals.


 * Takara reissued Targetmaster Hot Rod in 2004 as sort of an "ultimate" version, with metal toes (the original versions all used plastic) and the twin rifles from the non-Targetmaster version.


 * Crystal Rodimus (Autobot Car, 2001)


 * One of the earliest e-Hobby exclusives, "Crystal" Rodimus uses the reissue Hot Rod mold, but cast almost entirely in transparent plastics. He was availbale only in a set with the evil clone Black Rodimus.

Battlestars

 * Star Convoy w/ Hot Rodimus (Autobot, 1991/2005)

Classics
* Rodimus (Deluxe, 2006)
 * Rodimus comes out in fall 2006.

Merchandise
=External links=
 * Hot Rod at TFU.info
 * Hot Rod's Universe profile at NTFA.net
 * Rodimus Prime's profile at NTFA.net