AllSpark staff member and friend of TFW2005, Might Gaine, is now in possession of an extremely rare piece of Transformers history. The item itself is a gold Generation One Hot Rod figure. The story behind the figure is very similar to the Gold Convoy Statue from Takara. The Gold Hot Rod was created and given to staff members as anniversary gifts. This is quite possibly the first and only time that a gold Hot Rod figure has ever shown up. To check out the gallery, simply click here.
Thanks to 2005 Boards Member Might Gaine for the news.
Bryan
I kinda figured. I was actually hoping that you or one of the other history types had done just that.
Might Gaine
Probably the only way to get 100% confirmation is to find a Takara employee from the 1980's and ask him whether he remembers this toy being given out to Takara staff.
Bryan
Hate to bump a thread, but did anyone ever get confirmation on this one way or the other?
Backstop
Well MG beat me to the correction in terms of movie release.But just as a note I usally do not say much but when I do it is in areas that I do have some knowledge.So in the future please confirm your facts as the internet is full of great tools
Might Gaine
They only came out a few months later, actually. But it's still enough of a time gap to account for Japanese packaging not yet being ready.
diablien
The movie toys came out a year or two late in Japan, because the movie came out later. The Japanese had to play catch-up in regards to their 2010 series (3rd season here in the US)
so they most likely WEREN'T done at the same time.
maximus prime3
ooooooooooooooooooooh…..Shiney
Backstop
Well I am aware of all this as you could say I know a little in terms of "prototypes" and the process from start to finish including the packaging.What I am getting at is why do you think that they would make the Hasbro package before the Takara and both not at the same time?They were both set to be sold in both markets?I am looking at this from a view of facts and not who owns it.is ts great you guys all like MG as im sure he is a great guy but just because he owns it does not mean its real.I am not saying its fake but the feeling I get is you guys are leaning more towards real cause of MG not the toy.And KA I tend to not agree with if it came with Jap box,paperwork ect….it would make it more less beleavable.This is my view so please no haters
Orodruin
If memory serves, there was an error version of Hot Rod's tech spec. I'm not sure how, but would the box having that version or not help in any way?
KA
anyways, it makes no sense if this was japanese in origin and this guy was trying to fabricate all this. itd have make more sense for him to package with japanese packaging/insert/catalogue to make it look more legit.
its just too random to be a con job.
ckhtiger
yojoe.com it was probably a year ago, but maybe two. I'm sure searching for words like defiant, designer, paperwork, and auction all at once might bring it up.
diablien
You have to realize that back int he 80's, packaging wasn't done on computers. It was all done by hand and by photographic means. Lots of transparancies and ORIGINAL artwork. I can hardly imagine doing that stuff today… ha!
So it would've taken a month or two to get packaging samples. So if the packaging wasn't ready, the threshold of time it would've taken to get a few japanese versions printed up would've been substantial. If the US packaging was ready, and maybe a few boxflat samples were all ready in the Takara office, it makes sense that they would've used them.
I can at least add this testimony from a print designer's point of view. The toy looks awesome.
fschuler
Nice score, MG…'nuff said!!
Backstop
This could be possible but I would think the packaging design for different markets by 86 would have been done at the same time?The one thing I am having trouble understanding is why a U.S box would have a U.K leflet?it is a U.S box correct?Also is the instruction book a U.S verson?Anything is possible like I said as new things are always showing up?Plus a U.S packaged TF ( Gnaw) was offered to the Japan market so your theory cant be considered ruled out as maybe they could have recieved U.S box samples and used them in making this gold Hotrod?
Might Gaine
As I said earlier in the thread, the Japanese packaging may not have been available at the time they made this. That's my theory.
PrimeTarget
That's an interesting story, do you remember what board and how long ago? I would love to read up on that.
Backstop
I am a little confused at this since there is a few things I find odd?if this is a Takara employee product then why did it come in a U.S box and bubble but with a U.K leaflet?Would it have not made more sense if this was a Japan issue exclusive it would have been put together with the Japanese style box and foam and leaflet?I know of things like the minicar X-Mas ornaments Hasbro gave out but they came in a sealed plastic bag?So employee exclusives do exist but if this was put together at Takara at the time I would think it would be more likely to have Jap boxes and paper work lying around as opposed to U.S and U.K?Even the lucky draw and Lunchtime specials we see always come in a Jap style box that I can recall.To make a custom piece like this is not really all that hard so I am not saying it is fake but I would have a hard time believing based on the facts I have seen.Also if Hotrod was not sold in Japan like Skylynx or Jetfire then I could understand them going through the trouble of getting a U.S box,paperwork ect….since it was not available but if this was from 86 then the Jap stuff they could have obtain no problem.My two cents
03Mach1
Agreed. This is one of the reason I find it difficult to believe that not one person on two major TF boards has EVER seen one of these. But hey, stranger things have happened, just not likely. I also find it odd that the usual 'in the know' posters have stayed out of this thread for this long.
ckhtiger
wait, couldn't someone get ahold of hasbro/takara to trace down the history? I remember something like this happening with the gi joe community. a guy that DESIGNED the defiant decided to sell his personal copy, which was like a misb "case fresh" condition one, and people started questioning his legitamacy (sp) and reasons for posting his auction on a joe forum. it was kinda cool hearing his story about the toy, yet sad that people were criticizing it.
Rodimus 45
both sides offer good arguement but if it was given to takara employee their must be more then one out there and someone to confirm