Hot Rod (G1)/toys

Hot Rod is a bot of many toys!

Generation 1



 * Hot Rod (Autobot Car, 1986/2000/2002)
 * Japanese ID number: C-78


 * 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 based on the Nissan Dome Zero racecar designed in 1978.  His robot mode bears some resemblance to Bandai's Super Robot Zanbo Ace and may have been partially inspired by it.  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)
 * Japanese ID number: C-77


 * 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)
 * Japanese ID number: C-110, TFC-13


 * 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)
 * Japanese ID number: C-78C


 * 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)
 * Japanese ID number: C-372


 * Available only with Star Convoy, Hot Rod's Micromaster form is a simplified version of his original toy, transforming into the same futuristic race car. In 2005, Star Convoy was re-released with several deco changes; among them, the decals used on Hot Rod were changed to paint applications.

Classics

 * Rodimus (Deluxe, 2006)


 * Classics Rodimus is a sleeker, more streamlined version of the original, now transforming into a heavily-altered Dome Zero, a futuristic race car from 1978. His rear-mounted thruster engine becomes a hand-held weapon in robot mode, launching a spring-loaded missile.  His left arm also hides a flip-out "comm unit" that is clearly supposed to be the buzzsaw he used for a brief period in the Movie.


 * In a twist of delicious buttery fandom irony, Classics Rodimus has elements that were introduced in his Energon namesake, making him a somewhat backwards-homage. His face also appears to take visual cues from how he was drawn by Derek Yaniger in the Generation 2 comic book.

Titanium Series

 * Rodimus (3-inch Robot Masters, 2006)


 * Titanium Rodimus is a 3 inch tall, non-transforming, die-cast metal figuerine. He has limited articulation, localized in his head, shoulders and waist. His gun (which looks an awful lot like Firebolt) is also removable. Excitement!


 * Rodimus Prime (6-inch Cybertron Heroes, 2007)


 * Titanium Cybertron Heroes Rodimus Prime is a mostly die-cast metal transforming toy based loosely upon the original Generation 1 Rodimus Prime toy. He features much greater articulation and bulkier body proportions.


 * Unlike the original toy which separated into a robot and a battle station, the entire vehicle mode of the 6-inch Titanium version transforms into the robot mode. As with Classics Rodimus, Titanium Rodimus Prime takes some visual cues from the Energon version of the character in addition to the original toy and the animation model... and the actual Classics Rodimus toy, such as the engine-block dickie.

Kiss Players

 * Hot Rodimus X SyaoSyao (Kiss Players, 2006)


 * Kiss Players Hot Rodimus is a retool and redeco of the Alternators Mirage toy, transforming into a red Ford GT. His engine becomes a pair of pistols that double as tonfa weapons, and his fishing rod can be taken apart and reassembled to create a triple-barreled arm-mounted blaster reminiscent of the original Hot Rod's exhaust pipe weapons. His new head sculpt includes a retractable visor patterned after the one used in the movie.


 * The toy also included a PVC figurine of the character's "Kiss Player" partner Shaoshao Li and a bamboo dumpling steamer.

Alternators

 * Rodimus (Alternators, 2007)


 * Alternators Rodimus is an exclusive figure, confirmed for SDCC in July 2007. It is a repaint of Kiss Players Hot Rodimus, which itself is a remold of Alternators Mirage. The figure uses the head mold introduced in the Kiss Players figure, and appears to retain the visor. The deco has been altered by changing the side striping from white to yellow, while the stripes over the hood, roof and trunk have been eliminated altogether, with a Hot Rod-style flame graphic now adorning the hood and front guards. Most of the Kiss Player deco remain in robot mode, including the yellow hands and flame graphics on the forearms, however promotional images show the license plates (located at the knees in robot mode) have been changed to read "TOO HOT". Rodimus' weapons are the dual pistols/tonfa seen with both Mirage and Hot Rodimus, however it is currently not known whether Rodimus will include his Kiss Player counterpart's fishing rod/eliminator.

Merchandise

 * Rodimus Convoy (Super Collection Figure, 2002)


 * Rodimus Convoy (Mega Super Collection Figure, 2002)
 * Japanese ID number: Mega SCF-06



Mega SCF Rodimus Convoy is a 5 inch tall non-transforming, articulated PVC action figure based upon the cartoon model. He comes with four sets of hands and a 'Photon Eliminator' rifle.


 * Hot Rodimus (Mega Super Collection Figure, 2002)


 * Rodimus Prime (Heroes of Cybertron, 2003)

Trivia



 * The original Hot Rod toy was initially cast in a pinker plastic similar to the color of his animation model. For unknown reasons, this was later changed to a decidedly less show-accurate red before release, but the earlier version of the toy is visible in the original 1986 Hasbro toy catalogue, and the televised Sharkticon toy advert.




 * A new Rodimus Prime was devised for the 1991-1992 lineup, however this one did not leave the drawing board. He was to be a fire truck, apparently with a design in the spirit of Star Convoy and with transformation scheme similar to Inferno.