Mini-Vehicle
The Mini Vehicles (also known as Mini-Autobots or Mini Cars) were Autobots, small, simple, and inexpensive in toy form, who kept their smaller size in their media appearances. Size notwithstanding, many had considerable abilities or armaments, the latter usually built-in, as they usually did not carry guns or fit external launchers.
In 1984, the Mini Vehicles were originally known as Mini Cars. But after that year, non-car toys were added to their subgroup, and so the new, more general term was needed. Mini Vehicles were in production from 1984 to 1986. Many were redecoed or retooled from the earlier Microchange line. They generally had super deformed proportions in vehicle mode, since in the Microchange backstory they represented robots that became small toy cars. (Specifically, they were meant to look like Choro-Q / Penny Racer cars.)
A popular fan-coined term for the Mini Vehicles is Minibots. Its use has eclipsed both official terms.
Members include:
1984 releases
- Bumblebee - Espionage
- Brawn - Demolition
- Bumper - Tactician (Packaged as either Cliffjumper or Bumblebee)
- Cliffjumper - Warrior
- Gears - Transport / Reconnaissance
- Huffer - Construction Engineer
- Windcharger - Warrior
1985 releases
- Beachcomber - Geologist
- Bumblebee - Espionage. (Same as 1984 release)
- Cosmos - Reconnaissance & Communications
- Powerglide - Warrior
- Seaspray - Naval Defense
- Warpath - Warrior
1986 releases
- Hubcap - Communications
- Outback - Gunner
- Pipes - Warrior
- Swerve - Naval Defense
- Tailgate - Metallurgist
- Wheelie - Survivalist
1993 releases Four Autobot 'Minibots' were re-released in 'chrome' versions for Generation Two.
- Beachcomber - green chrome version of 1985 toy
- Bumblebee - gold chrome version of 1984 toy
- Hubcap - red chrome version of 1985 toy
- Seaspray - violet or blue chrome version of 1985 toy
