Bumblebee, one of the first of The Transformers toys, was released in 1984 and can transform into an oddly proportioned likeness of a Volkswagen “Beetle” car.

The mould is actually a carry-over from the Japanese “Microchange” toyline, and the reason for the squeezed-in look of the vehicle mode is because those toys were marketed as actual size toy cars that could transform into tiny robots. That would have been cute and terrifying all at the same time, I should imagine.

In his vehicle mode, Bumblebee is wholly bright yellow with black bumpers and a chrome silver panel on the back. Aside from the compressed look, it’s a good likeness of the real vehicle. Bumblebee also features rubber “Dunlop” branded tyres and a die-cast metal underside.

Considering the size and price point of the toy, Bumblebee features quite a neat transformation process. Unfortunately though, the lower legs/car bonnet pieces feel quite hollow and fragile and are prone to popping off from their joints.

In robot mode Bumblebee ironically stands as one of the tallest of the “Mini-Autobots” despite the “Tech Specs” on the packaging stating he is the smallest Autobot. The two-tone black and yellow colour scheme carries over into robot mode.

Aside from rotation at the shoulders, there is no meaningful articulation. As with the rest of the Mini-Autobots, there are no included weapons or labels.

Truth told, Bumblebee is a mostly unremarkable Transformer. But, considering the character of both the vehicle mode and the Bumblebee seen in the Transformers cartoons and comics, this little bug suddenly becomes something worth getting.

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Category: The Transformers
Tags: Bumblebee | Car | VW Beetle | Yellow

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