In the early days of Masterpiece I think it's worth considering Binaltech as part of it. The collector focus, licensed car models, G1 characters, in scale with MP01 it was doing a version of what later MP toys would do, just without the cartoon accuracy.

I remember how excited we all were when the first images of Smokescreen appeared, and to be honest I don't think any was quite as good as a "modern" remake of a G1 Autobot Car until the MPs line started with them in the MP10 scale. (Although some people have commented how the prefer Binaltech/Alternator Hound to MP Hound)