Camshaft (G1)

The name or term Camshaft refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Camshaft (disambiguation).

Camshaft
Continuity:	The Transformers
Affiliation:	Autobots

Camshaft is a member of the Autobots' Omnibot team, serving as their scout.

Note: While Camshaft was given no bio at the time of his release, he has since received two distinct and somewhat contradictory personalities. See individual entries below.

Japanese name: Downshift

Fiction

The Transformers manga

Camshaft is on the right, which is left in Japan.

During a massive battle on Feminia, Galvatron introduced his latest combining warrior, Predaking. Predaking simultaneously took out Defensor, Omega Supreme, and Superion with a single punch, causing much worry for the Autobots, as Sky Lynx was already engaged in battle on Earth!

From out of nowhere came Camshaft, Downshift and Overdrive. They swiftly shifted into vehicle mode(s) and circled Predaking, tying up his legs with cable. Predaking swatted at them to no avail!

This looks much cooler in the manga than it does on the toy.

Then the Omnibots transformed into their battle modes and...drove at Predaking, which caused him to topple backwards onto Bruticus, Devastator, and Menasor, taking them all out.

The assembled Autobots cheered for these three mighty warriors of great justice, who were subsequently never seen or heard of again.

Dreamwave Generation One comics

In this reality, Camshaft would never be accused of battlefield heroics. Though he strongly believed the Decepticons must be stopped, he had no intention of dying for the cause. (Oops.) Highly intelligent, he used his smarts to avoid risk and danger whenever possible.

When Starscream released Menasor from containment within the detention banks, the combiner attacked Iacon, leaving a crumpled pile of Camshaft and the other two Omnibots in its wake. Passive Aggression

Universe toy bio

Camshaft is still a scout, but is also a daring Spy Changer stuntman for Optimus Prime, who calls him a "grim shadow warrior."

Note: Being part of the "Universe" line, it is conceivable that this is some "alternate reality" version of Camshaft. Who knows?

Toys

Generation One

• Camshaft (Omnibot mailaway, 1985)

My name is a lie!

A re-release of one of the three "Double Changers" from Takara's pre-Transformers Diaclone line, Camshaft transforms into a Mazda Savannah RX-7. He also has a third "assault mode" which compacts his car's length and flips out his spring-loaded missile launcher from his rear window. He was only available in both the US and Japanese markets as a mail-order item. In the US, he cost $5 and four robot points, while in Japan he cost 980 yen and only 2 robot points.

Camshaft and Downshift had their names swapped for their Japanese Transformers mail-away releases (which were also available in 1985), presumably because the RX-7 featured a rotary engine and therefore did not incorporate a camshaft. The Takara versions also had tech specs, unlike the Hasbro versions.

Alternators

• Autobot Camshaft (2006)

Alternators ID number: 23

Bluestreak's brother from another mother.

A retool of the Alternators Prowl toy, Camshaft transforms into a 1:24-scale licensed Acura RSX, complete with opening doors, hood, trunk, and an open passenger compartment. His engine becomes a non-firing cannon, plus he carries a clear-plastic nightstick. His rear spoiler and hubcaps are also changed from Prowl's; however, they are the same as those of the blue "civilian" Prowl from Takara's Binaltech version of the line.

Like the other late-series Alternators, Camshaft has a state-specific license plate; specifically, Camshaft appears to be registered in Rhode Island (home of Hasbro).

Universe

• Autobot Camshaft (Spy Changer, 2006)
  • Accessories: Rifle

Tell me everything you know about Witchaloks.

For Universe, Camshaft is identical to the last Kay-Bee exclusive redeco of W.A.R.S., transforming into a clear-purple Ford Thunderbird stock car. He features through-axle consturction that allows him to zip along quickly on smooth surfaces, plus he is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" racetracks. He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.

This mold was also used to make Gearhead and the Generation 2 Go-Bot Soundwave. It was planned to be used to make Generation 2 Greasepit, but that toy was ultimately unreleased.

Universe Camshaft's new "grim shadow warrior" portrayal doesn't mesh well with his more timid portrayal in Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye profile, but in both he is a scout. Given the reality-hopping theme of Universe, they may or may not really be the same being. For simplicity's sake, though, he's listed here.

Notes

• Like all Omnibots, Camshaft has been given three conflicting bios over the years, with none of those bios' writers apparently being aware of the other ones: An unpublished Marvel bio, the Japanese tech spec and Dreamwave's More Than Meets the Eye profile.

• In later years, toys sporting the name "Camshaft" require an additional "Autobot" prefix for trademark reasons, hence making the official name "Autobot Camshaft".

• The Alternators Mazda RX-8 (which ultimately ended up as Meister) was originally intended to be named "Camshaft", according to various early store listings and a premature reply from Hasbro's customer service. This would also fit with the early idea of making the Alternators toys "direct updates" of their characters' Generation One predecessors. A prototype was leaked to the public in early 2004 sporting the same basic colors as the later Alternators "Autobot Camshaft" toy (the Acura RSX), although it's uncertain whether the prototype colors for the RX-8 were supposed to be indicative of the proposed colors for Camshaft (since the Acura redeco was originally intended as a Bluestreak homage before being renamed into "Autobot Camshaft"). The reason why the RX-8 Alternator was ultimately not named "Camshaft" was apparently because the real-life Mazda RX-8 car doesn't have a camshaft. Of course, the original Camshaft's RX-7 mode didn't have a camshaft either, but it's unlikely anyone gave a damn (except very few rotary fans that got a good laugh) since that wasn't a licensed toy.

• The deco for Hasbro's redeco of the Alternators Acura RSX mold was originally designed with Bluestreak in mind—specifically, the original Diaclone deco for the Generation One toy depicted in early catalogs and the toy's instructions. Early leaked packaging samples even sported an abbreviated form of the name "Bluestreak" on their license plates. Ultimately, however, Hasbro decided to rename the toy and release it as "Autobot Camshaft" instead, possibly because they already had a representation of the G1 Bluestreak character in the Alternators line as a Subaru WRX, named "Silverstreak" for trademark reasons. An image from the mini-catalog that came with the Diaclone predecessors of the Omnibots depicted the toy that would become Camshaft with a Bluestreak-esque head, which some fans believe may have been one of the inspirations for the Alternators Autobot Camshaft toy — but this seems highly unlikely.

External links

• Camshaft at TFU.info
• Camshaft's unused Universe profile, thanks to Jim S of the Allspark