G1 variants (obscure and not so obscure)

[heroic_decepticon]

I'm trying to compile a list of USA G1 variants (minus European variants) that were released in appreciable quantities and was hoping for some help.

So far, I consider these variants:

[updated 21 March 2012]

• All pre-rubs from 1984 (due to pretty significant molding differences from some; this also covers metal/ plastic toe cassettes).
• Cliffjumper (yellow)
• Bumblebee (red)
• Ratchet with cross
• Slag (Canadian, red face)
• Snarl (red head, red connectors)
• Jetfire (Matsushiro)
• Blaster - openable battery cover/no battery cover.
• Jazz - Cookie Crisp with no 'Martinni' stickers.
• Astrotrain (with chrome on front light)
• Sandstorm (metal toes)
• Springer (metal chest)
• Scourge (painted hovercraft top/ wings)
• Cyclonus (blue ear)

• Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
• Kup - metal/plastic wheels
• Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
• Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
• Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
• Groove - silver chest/gold chest.
• Predacons - metal/plastic parts
• Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
• Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.
• Cassettes with stickered vs tampograph variants (eg: Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Ratbat, Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw(?), Ramhorn(?))
• Autobot Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)
• Decepticon Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)
• Technobots - no rub-sign indent
• Terrorcons - no rub-sign indent

....

anything else?

[Sky Shadow]

I think it depends on how thorough you want to be, HD. If you're counting Sandstorm and Springer, then I guess most of the '86 toys had clear variations, did they not?

Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
Kup - metal/plastic wheels
Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
Predacons - metal/plastic parts
Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.

Oh, and 1984 Optimus Prime with a grey Roller and metal trailer is a variant (I don't know if they were all pre-rub signs). Plus Pepsi Prime and purple Roller.

[Cat]

Bumper

[heroic_decepticon]

I think it depends on how thorough you want to be, HD. If you're counting Sandstorm and Springer, then I guess most of the '86 toys had clear variations, did they not?

Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
Kup - metal/plastic wheels
Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
Predacons - metal/plastic parts
Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.

Oh, and 1984 Optimus Prime with a grey Roller and metal trailer is a variant (I don't know if they were all pre-rub signs). Plus Pepsi Prime and purple Roller.

Thanks Sky Shadow, have added those to the list below.

I think the following would also qualify?

Cassettes with stickered vs tampograph variants (eg: Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Ratbat, Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw(?), Ramhorn(?))
Autobot Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)
Decepticon Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)

Bumper

Hmmm... I'm not sure Bumper is a variant rather than a completely unique bot in itself, albeit packed in CJ or BB backing cards...

***

LIST

All pre-rubs from 1984 (due to pretty significant molding differences from some; this also covers metal/ plastic toe cassettes).
Optimus Prime (rub-sign, grey roller, metal trailer)
Optimus Prime (Pepsi)
Roller (purple)
Cliffjumper (yellow)
Bumblebee (red)
Ratchet with cross
Slag (Canadian, red face)
Snarl (red head, red connectors)
Jetfire (Matsushiro)
Astrotrain (with chrome on front light)
Sandstorm (metal toes)
Springer (metal chest)
Scourge (painted hovercraft top/ wings)
Cyclonus (blue ear)
Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
Kup - metal/plastic wheels
Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
Predacons - metal/plastic parts
Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.

[griffin]

I thought Fred's Variants site was pretty comprehensive with all known Gen1 variants.

[iamirondude]

thanks to griffin i just found out my g1 skywarp is a type 2 jet.i thought it may of been a fake as it has the solid rudders and no stamp on the leg

[heroic_decepticon]

I thought Fred's Variants site was pretty comprehensive with all known Gen1 variants.

Thanks Griffin!

I know about Fred's page, but was not looking at going into that type of detail.

I really wanted to know the 'big ticket' differences that set each variation apart visually (eg: distinct colour differences) and physically (eg: plastic vs die-cast; distinct molding differences). I'm less interested in the great detail (which is very informative btw) that Fred's site goes into eg: which assortment of seekers has fists with square holes as opposed to rounds holes in them.

Hoping that is sort of clear?