History of the Dinobot Toys Transformers (G1)

Quick story about My very first Dinobot!

If you grew up in the 80s than you probably know how popular transformers were. It seemed like everyone wanted to get their hands on Optimus Prime or Megatron, and I was one of those.

 I remember one day going with my mom to my local wal-mart store and running to the toy section like I always did to see if I could find an optimus prime or megatron but low and behold I found something better. I found my very first dinobot!

 I still remember vividly even today holding it and going what is this???? It was a Generation 1 Snarl just like the one pictured below.

It was my very first Dinobot and I remember I couldn't wait to get home to open it up and play with it. I owned that toy for a good 4 or 5 years and remember I played with that toy until the paint came off.

Those were the days. Anyway today i'm going to talk about the history of the dinobot toys. When were they released. Who were they. And how did they effect transformers.

History of the Dinobot Toys Transformers (G1)

 The first dinobot toys were released in 1985. They consisted of Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Snarl and Swoop. The dinobots were sold seperatly and came in boxed packages from 1985 to 1986.

The Dinobots came in a uniform color scheme of red for their die-cast metal parts, black plastic for legs and forearms, smoky translucent for remnant cockpits, and golden metalized plastic highlights depciting machine details. 

Most of the Dinobot toys and fairly good articulation for G1 toys. Only Slag had the conjoined foot base common to many of the automobile based transformers in G1.

 

The five Dinobots in package.

The five Dinobots in dino mode.

 Prices of the Dinobot toys in the 80s

So how much would you expect to pay for one of these bad boys in 1985? The prices very depending on where you lived, what store you bought them from and also if that store was having a sell. 

But for the most part you could expect to pay anywhere between $10 all the way up to about $20 for a Transformers Dinobot. Pretty cheap compared to now. In today's market, a mint in box transformers Dinobot can run you anywhere between $100 all the way up to $400 depending on where you buy it.

Hasbro introduces the Generation 2 Dinobots

Transformers: Generation Two was Hasbro's attempt to revive the Transformers brand for the new decade, replete with bright colors, electronic lights and sounds, and firing projectiles. The Dinobots were also released with new paint jobs. Pictures below.

 1993 G2 Grimlock with new paint job

Starting in 1993, the series opened with old designs updated with new paint and weapons. Since these toys hadn't been released in almost a decade, they were not likely recognized by the target audience at the time.

Unfortunately, the features of these designs such as rubber tires, die-cast metal, and vacuum-metalized “chrome”, made them expensive to produce, so Hasbro quickly shifted to simpler, newer designs. Many of these were sourced from toys released in Europe in the interim years of 1991-1993.

As with the peak years of Generation 1, toys were grouped into “subgroups” with a uniting theme or gimmick. Many new characters were invented and introduced, but most of these would quickly fade into obscurity until years later.

The line finished out in 1995 with lackluster sales despite innovative designs and improved production techniques. This may have been in large part due to lack of storyline support, since the television show consisted of G1 reruns with new CGI intros, outros, and commercial bumpers, and the comic was a twelve-issue special that was literally cancelled before it got of the ground.

This may have been because the toys still largely fit into an older paradigm, not competitive with the leading action figures of the decade. Either way, it would force Hasbro to use more drastic measures to reinvigorate the franchise.