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{{disambig3|Classics}}
{{disambig3|Classics}}
'''Classics''' is a Transformer toyline from the later days of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]].
[[File:EuroClassicsOnslaughtBattle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|Europe is a strange place.]]
'''''Classics''''' is a European-market subline from the later days of [[The Transformers (franchise)|the original ''Transformers'' line]].


[[Image:EuroClassicsOnslaughtBattle.jpg|thumb|350px|Europe is a strange place.]]
In [[1990]] and [[1991]], the toy market in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and [[Europe]] saw many re-releases of earlier ''Transformers'' toys. The new packaging was gold-coloured and featured a "Classic" prefix before the respective subgroups' name for the UK, Scandinavian, Dutch, and French markets (Spain and Italy omitted the title "Classic" from the packaging).


In 1990 and 1991, the toy market in [[Australia]] and [[Europe]] saw many re-releases of earlier Transformers toys. The new packaging was gold-coloured and bore the subtitle 'Classics' for the UK, Scandinavian, Dutch and French markets (Spain and Italy omitted the title "Classic" from the packaging). The toys released in 1990 even still bore [[rubsign]]s, even though the 'standard' lines had ceased this practice by 1988. Most of the 1991 toys featured rubsign indents, but no longer sported rubsigns. They were also retooled to block out details stating the original year of manufacture and the original country of manufacture.
The toys released in 1990 even still bore [[rubsign]]s, even though the "standard" lines had ceased this practice by [[1988]]. The 1991 releases removed the rubsigns, and many (but not all!) toys with specific indents for rubsigns were [[retool]]ed to fill those in.


It has been suggested that the toys produced for this line originate from the same production run and facilities as the [[Generation 1 (Chinese toyline)|Chinese Generation 1 line]].
It has been suggested that the toys produced for this line originate from the same production run and facilities as the early-1990s [[The Transformers (Chinese toyline)|Chinese Generation 1 toyline]]. This is supported by all the toys having been slightly retooled to block out the original [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] manufacturing details, leaving only the [[Hasbro]] details.  Additionally, Australia saw the limited release of several toys in their ''original'' packaging - not the gold "Classics" style - but the toys were likewise retooled to block out the original year and country of manufacture. Due to the timing of these releases and the similarly changed mold stamps, fans have typically lumped the two sets of reissues together under the "Classics" umbrella, and so we include them here too.


==Releases==
==Releases==
{{note|Toys marked with a '''*''' have a notable difference on the toy proper from the original release beyond the altered production stamping and lack/replacement of a [[rubsign]] sticker. Remember, all 1991 releases have no rubsign stickers even if the molded indent for them remains!}}
===1990===
===1990===
====Autobots====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
'''Classic Heroes'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic Heroes'''</u>
 
<ul class="iconlist">
:[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
{{bp-a1|[[Inferno (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Inferno]]}}
:[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
{{bp-a1|[[Ironhide (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Ironhide]]}}
:[[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]
{{bp-a1|[[Jazz (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Jazz]]}}
:[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
{{bp-a1|[[Prowl (G1)/toys#Classics|Prowl]]*}}
:[[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]
{{bp-a1|[[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Sunstreaker]]}}
:[[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]
{{bp-a1|[[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Wheeljack]]}}
 
|
{{note|Oddly enough, "Classic" Prowl was available with stickers sporting the name "[[Diaclone]]", unlike all previous or subsequent versions of the toy available as part of a Transformers line.}}
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]'''</u>
'''Classic [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
 
{{bp-a1|[[Air Raid (G1)#1990Classic|Air Raid]]}}
:[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]
{{bp-a1|[[Fireflight (G1)#1990Classic|Fireflight]]}}
:[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]
{{bp-a1|[[Silverbolt (G1)#1990Classic|Silverbolt]]}}
:[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]
{{bp-a1|[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)#1990Classic|Skydive]]}}
:[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]
{{bp-a1|[[Slingshot (G1)#1990Classic|Slingshot]]}}
:[[Slingshot]]
|
 
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]'''</u>
====Decepticons====
<ul class="iconlist">
'''Classic [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]'''
{{bp-d1|[[Breakdown (G1)#1990Classic|Breakdown]]}}
 
{{bp-d1|[[Dead End (G1)#1990Classic|Dead End]]}}
:[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]
{{bp-d1|[[Drag Strip (G1)#1990Classic|Drag Strip]]}}
:[[Drag Strip]]
{{bp-d1|[[Motormaster (G1)#1990Classic|Motormaster]]}}
:[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]
{{bp-d1|[[Wildrider (G1)#1990Classic|Wild Rider]]{{sic}}}}
:[[Wildrider]]
|
:[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]]
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Australian vintage-packaging releases'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Blaster (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Blaster]]}}
{{bp-d1|[[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Cyclonus]]}}
{{bp-d1|[[Ramjet (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Ramjet]]}}
{{bp-d1|[[Scourge (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Scourge]]}}
{{bp-d1|[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Soundwave]]<br>(with [[Buzzsaw (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Buzzsaw]])}}
{{bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#1990Classic|Starscream]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:G1toy ClassicHeroProwl.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Classics Prowl, the only 1990 release with a notable change from the original.]]
|}


===1991===
===1991===
====Autobots====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
'''Original Autobot Leader'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic [[Throttlebot]]s'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#EuroClassic|Goldbug]]*}}
{{bp-a1|[[Rollbar (G1)#1991Classic|Rollbar]]*}}
{{bp-a1|[[Wideload (G1)#1991Classic|Wideload]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Chase (G1)#1991Classic|Chase]]*}}
{{bp-a1|[[Freeway (G1)#1991Classic|Freeway]]*}}
{{bp-a1|[[Searchlight (G1)#1991Classic|Searchlight]]*}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Blades (G1)#1991Classic|Blades]]*}}
{{bp-a1|[[First Aid (G1)#1991Classic|First Aid]]*}}
{{bp-a1|[[Groove (G1)#1991Classic|Groove]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Hot Spot (G1)#1991Classic|Hot Spot]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Streetwise (G1)#1991Classic|Streetwise]]*}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Blast Off (G1)#1991Classic|Blast Off]]*}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Brawl (G1)#1991Classic|Brawl]]*}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Onslaught (G1)#1991Classic|Onslaught]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Swindle (G1)#1991Classic|Swindle]]*}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Vortex (G1)#1991Classic|Vortex]]*}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic Heroes'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#1991Classic|Sideswipe]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Tracks (G1)/toys##1991Classic|Tracks]]*}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Euro classics optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Optimus Prime Classic style]]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic [[Triple Changer]]s'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#1991Classic|Astrotrain]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Octane#1991Classic|Octane]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sandstorm (G1)#1991Classic|Sandstorm]]*}}
{{bp-a1|[[Springer (G1)/toys#1991Classic|Springer]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Classic [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#1991Classic|Grimlock]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Sludge (G1)#1991Classic|Sludge]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Snarl (G1)#1991Classic|Snarl]]*}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Original Autobot Leader'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#1991Classic|Optimus Prime]]}}
|}


:[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]
{{note|Optimus Prime actually isn't called a "Classic" anywhere on the packaging. Instead, he's called "''Original'' Autobot Leader". However, since it's the same packaging style and same year of release, he is listed as part of the "''Classics''" series.}}


{{note|Optimus Prime actually isn't called a "Classic" anywhere on the packaging. Instead, he's called "''Original'' Autobot Leader". However, since he's a reissue of an original toy from 1984 that's available in the same kind of packaging as the various "Classic" reissues from the same year, he's generally considered to be part of the "Classic" line, rather than being the single release from a one-of-a-kind sub-line named "Original".}}
'''Classic Heroes'''


:[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
==Fiction==
:[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]
* While not officially branded or recognised as ''Classics'' fiction, the ''[[Transformers: Earthforce|Earthforce]]'' stories in the Marvel UK comic were inspired by, and responding to, the reissues.


'''Classic [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]'''
==Notes==
 
[[File:Euro Classic Fireflight Breakdown.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Linguistic discrepancies.]]
:[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]]
* The ''Classics'' reissues were released at a time when Hasbro had arguably reached its peak of packaging variations between various markets, with packaging in three different single languages and (arguably) two different [[multilingual packaging|bilingual]] versions confirmed to exist:
:[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]
** The United Kingdom (as well as various Scandinavian markets and Germany) got toys in English packaging.
{{note|Streetwise was retooled to make the light bar an extension of the roof painted red, instead of being separately cast in red plastic as with the original.}}
** France, Belgium and the Netherlands got toys in bilingual French/Dutch packaging.
:[[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
** Spain got toys in Spanish packaging.
:[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]
** Italy got toys in Italian packaging, distributed by Hasbro licensee [[GiG]].
:[[Blades (G1)|Blades]]
** Additionally, bilingual French/English packaging for some toys has surfaced, which appears to have been intended for the Canadian market. However, according to Canadian fans who were around at the time, the ''Classics'' were never actually available in Canada, and since most known specimens feature small stickers in ''Chinese'' language on the packaging, it's at least possible that this packaging might have only ever been available in China. On top of that, the fact that the Aerialbots simply sport their English names ''twice'', rather than a French name in addition to their English names, suggests that at least some of the packaging was actually using an unfinished template.
 
 
'''Classic [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]'''
 
:[[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]
:[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
:[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
 
'''Classic [[Triple Changer|Triple Changers]]'''
 
:[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
:[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
{{note|Unlike the initial 1986 release with metal toes painted orange, and the [[running change]] version with solid orange plastic toes, the Classic reissue sported black plastic toes painted orange.}}
 
'''Classic [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]]'''
 
:[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Goldbug]]
:[[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]]
:[[Wide Load]]
:[[Chase (G1)|Chase]]
:[[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]]
:[[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]]
{{note|Most of the Throttlebots were retooled to have their rubsign indents removed. Wide Load managed to retain his rubsign indent.}}
 
====Decepticons====
'''Classic [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]'''
 
:[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
{{Note|For reasons unknown, the Spanish ''Classics'' release of Onslaught was renamed "Oslat" - the only Spanish ''Classics'' reissue to sport a different name than its UK or French/Dutch counterparts.}}
:[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
:[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]
:[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
:[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
 
'''Classic Triple Changers'''
 
:[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
:[[Octane]]
 
==Australian exclusives==
Additionally, Australia saw the limited release of several toys in their original G1 packaging, but they were also retooled to block out the original year of manufacture and the original country of manufacture. These releases included:
 
===Autobots===
:[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
 
===Decepticons===
:[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
:[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
:[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
:[[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] (with [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]])
:[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]
 
==Fiction==
*While not officially branded or recognised as 'Classics' fiction, the [[Earthforce]] stories in the Marvel UK comic were inspired by, and responding to, the reissues.


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.cliffbee.com/aussietf.htm Information about Australian and European G1 releases at Cliffbee.com]
*[http://www.cliffbee.com/aussietf.htm Information about Australian and European G1 releases at Cliffbee.com]
*[http://tfsource.com/blog/oldies-but-goldies-classic-transformers/ TFSource article on Euro Classics]


 
[[Category:Generation 1 toylines]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Reissue toylines]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]

Latest revision as of 09:07, 18 April 2026

The name or term "Classics" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Classics (disambiguation).
Europe is a strange place.

Classics is a European-market subline from the later days of the original Transformers line.

In 1990 and 1991, the toy market in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe saw many re-releases of earlier Transformers toys. The new packaging was gold-coloured and featured a "Classic" prefix before the respective subgroups' name for the UK, Scandinavian, Dutch, and French markets (Spain and Italy omitted the title "Classic" from the packaging).

The toys released in 1990 even still bore rubsigns, even though the "standard" lines had ceased this practice by 1988. The 1991 releases removed the rubsigns, and many (but not all!) toys with specific indents for rubsigns were retooled to fill those in.

It has been suggested that the toys produced for this line originate from the same production run and facilities as the early-1990s Chinese Generation 1 toyline. This is supported by all the toys having been slightly retooled to block out the original Takara manufacturing details, leaving only the Hasbro details. Additionally, Australia saw the limited release of several toys in their original packaging - not the gold "Classics" style - but the toys were likewise retooled to block out the original year and country of manufacture. Due to the timing of these releases and the similarly changed mold stamps, fans have typically lumped the two sets of reissues together under the "Classics" umbrella, and so we include them here too.

Releases

[edit]
Toys marked with a * have a notable difference on the toy proper from the original release beyond the altered production stamping and lack/replacement of a rubsign sticker. Remember, all 1991 releases have no rubsign stickers even if the molded indent for them remains!

1990

[edit]
Classic Heroes Classic Aerialbots Classic Stunticons Australian vintage-packaging releases
Classics Prowl, the only 1990 release with a notable change from the original.

1991

[edit]
Classic Throttlebots Classic Protectobots Classic Combaticons Classic Heroes
Optimus Prime Classic style
Classic Triple Changers Classic Dinobots Original Autobot Leader
Optimus Prime actually isn't called a "Classic" anywhere on the packaging. Instead, he's called "Original Autobot Leader". However, since it's the same packaging style and same year of release, he is listed as part of the "Classics" series.


Fiction

[edit]
  • While not officially branded or recognised as Classics fiction, the Earthforce stories in the Marvel UK comic were inspired by, and responding to, the reissues.

Notes

[edit]
Linguistic discrepancies.
  • The Classics reissues were released at a time when Hasbro had arguably reached its peak of packaging variations between various markets, with packaging in three different single languages and (arguably) two different bilingual versions confirmed to exist:
    • The United Kingdom (as well as various Scandinavian markets and Germany) got toys in English packaging.
    • France, Belgium and the Netherlands got toys in bilingual French/Dutch packaging.
    • Spain got toys in Spanish packaging.
    • Italy got toys in Italian packaging, distributed by Hasbro licensee GiG.
    • Additionally, bilingual French/English packaging for some toys has surfaced, which appears to have been intended for the Canadian market. However, according to Canadian fans who were around at the time, the Classics were never actually available in Canada, and since most known specimens feature small stickers in Chinese language on the packaging, it's at least possible that this packaging might have only ever been available in China. On top of that, the fact that the Aerialbots simply sport their English names twice, rather than a French name in addition to their English names, suggests that at least some of the packaging was actually using an unfinished template.
[edit]
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