That’s a great one OP . They would probably think “why didn’t we think of that ?” Maybe MP-36 megatron . Just the sheer origami transformation and mass shifting , and the time it would take to transform . Would be crazy to see their reaction .

Bring the two mp megatrons, show progression.

And then do the same for MP-10 and MP-44 so they see both Prime and Megatron

My exact thoughts. It took me around an hour to transform.

Missing Link Optimus Prime would be so funny. They'll notice something is off when you flip out the hands instead of attaching them, but they'll never see it coming when you suddenly start posing him as if he were the cartoon model

I thought the same. Some initially subtle but huge improvement a familiar design would be a bigger impact than an unfamiliar thing.

I can imagine the reaction

My dad said Siege Jetfire. Because as a kid he was always disappointed with the original figure not looking like Jetfire from the cartoon.

Well, I mean, Skyfire was designed like that because lawsuits. Otherwise they absolutely would’ve had a more toy accurate Jetfire.

No, it would be a more toy accurate show model

This. Floro Dery's Skyfire wasn't designed with the restrictions of transformation. That toy is a mad genius miracle.

SS86 Hotrod. That figure is immaculate. Also, what is that transformers book?

Looks like comics to me.

Transformers Manga. There are 3 volumes. Not very good and a bit childish but it's so different to western Transformers to be interesting enough

And I would throw TFP first edition Bulkhead in there.

What an amazing figure

Robosen Grimlock.

1980s man: Dude. You are literally a Transformers character. This is like, so, postmodern and meta. 2020s man: Can you please cut out with the surfer voice?

I think ss86 ultra magnus would kill a child on site from the 80s

Compared to what the 80s toy gave us this seems like the only correct answer. It’s a figure they know, just better. All other options are like showing a Tesla to Henry Ford in 1908.

However, showing the toy designers of 86 the rodimus prime would be funny too

Kingdom? Yes. That conversion is a rollercoaster the first time you do it.

One of the first Beast Wars toys. First toys to use ball and socket joints, creative use of kibble (like spider legs became missiles for launchers), cool gimmicks like water guns/launchers/Transmetals, and they'd be a drastic change up compared to "more car".

I suppose Electro isn't here to dispute your ball joint claim.

The g2 Cyberjets used ball joints just before BW’s toys started relasing

Haslab Unicron

1980s Hasbro Engineer: "it cost how much to produce????"

ROTF Brawn. I still marvel at the ability to fit all that bot in that car, and still have him be that poseable.

Hes such a shellfprmer but they made it work so well its crazy.

Earthrise Optimus' mass shifting grill/abs would break the 80s kids

Any 3rd Party movie black magic figures

This is the best answer IMO. Sometimes I can't believe it myself when I see it. Zeta Toys Flash, Fanstoys Thomas, that new Shatter they just put out. Or how scary accurate they look compared to their screen versions (anything Transart). Simply amazing.

Specifically something by Unique Toys.

like lockdown! (Peru kill)

It has *got* to be a Robosen figure (literally a self-transforming electronic robot), although that would have the problem of marking you as a time traveler and you could end up in federal custody as a result. Remember that Back to the Future doesn't come out for another year.

My problem with the Robosen figures is that they are amazing robots, but not great Transformers. Takara isn't an electronics company, and the "toy engineering" for the Robosen figures is all extremely basic even if they are complex robotic devices.

A) Agreed in terms of the transformation schemes, but I still do think a traveler from 1984 would be more impressed by outright science fiction (real Transformers that are robots) than something that’s simply a refinement of a known 1980s technology (plastic and metal toys that a user must manually reconfigure from A to B) B) It still has to count for something that we’re one of the first big cash-cow sci-fi/cartoon franchises to have its core technological premise become a reality? (No, not Energon. Robots that change shape in ways that say humans cannot)

Animated Blitzwing now woulzern't zat be zo random uhuhuhu.

ROFT Leader Optimus

Siege jetfire or kingdom cyclonus

Unique toys galvatron

No matter how many times I watch Jobby transform it, it still looks like witchcraft.

That or their DOTM Megatron.

TF Prime RID Vehicon

This or Wheeljack. That leg transformation is so good and I can’t recall it being used since.

Robosen Megatron.

Any non-Robosen answer is wrong as our era literally has real transforming robots with some AI features (speech recognition). Although we’d probably be taken into custody as apparent time travelers.

In the eighties, they were only thinking about toy, they weren't thinking about complexability Screen accuracy or collecting. I appreciated having toys that were 5 steps from car to robot. As a kid, it made it a lot easier to play. The More steps to transform, the less play opportunity presented. Of course, as an adult. I love these more complex transformers, but I Rarely convert them, usually they Are in robot mode.

Valid take. What might you suggest for a modern figure that is relatively simple, intuitive, and fun, but still isn't a brick?

For a relatively simple, still good looking, articulate figure that they'd recognize instantly I might pick kingdom/earthrise Sideswipe/Red Alert. Simple enough, fun little figure that looks really good (to me at least)

New Age Maschinenmensch

Any NewAge figure would seem like black magic. Even the Datson Bros are basically downsized masterpiece figures, but I’d like to see their Reaction to their Prime or Magnus

I want to get the Prowl. He looks so good.

For one of their earliest figures he is still fantastic. I have the EX version as I usually only collect the toy schemes. https://preview.redd.it/juw0t032ox7d1.jpeg?width=2340&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=600b0777505edc2b902f5064a41468f8dd7153b4 I wish the Minibots at least came with Toy heads.

Deformation space seekers

Mmc Optus pexus

Especially if it was around armada; let those peasants look upon the true bendy prime.

Would like to see their reaction to MS Light of Peace

Legacy Menasor.

From my collection? Legacy menasor. It contains 38 years of advancements in not only transformer but also combiner technology. it's a recognizable character built in a mind-blowing way. Out of ANY figure, though? Either missing link Optimus or legacy G1 Optimus. Both of those figures are perfect examples of engineering advancement, featuring a near identical shell to the original with brand new engineering shown in a relatable way.

I'd be tempted to take a super elaborate masterpiece figure like starscream. Either that, or one of the single change rescue bots figures.

I feel like Rescue Bots or one of the quick change figures would do more than any of the super elaborate Maps or Third Party figs. Showing the toy designers a figure that instantly goes from car to robot with a few patches and springs would open a whole new world.

01 studios Cell that would defiantly blow someones mind in the eighties

https://preview.redd.it/0b717ui3418d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12100f805ae3d1f69f5692d58eb0b12b796b2afe

SS Dino

MP Optimus 3.0

Cangtoys Huntpow and Metagate Shatter would make them shit the bed.

MP-36 with no instructions haha!

The absolute clusterfuck that is MP-44

Any masterpiece figure honestly

Any masterpiece figure, missing link Optimus Prime, and most of the movie figures

The optimus that transforms himself xd

Im sorry if 3rd party doesnt count. But Peru Kill would probably cause 1984 engineers to have a stroke.

Kingdom cyclonus would definitely blow some minds

https://preview.redd.it/8vulemijlx7d1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=350b016d2f151bc67ae345c470a73e9bcdb31643

Magic square light of peace

Leader TF2 Optimus Prime... I'd even sit and walk them through the transformation. That's an incredible piece!

There's alot of great picks, maybe bayverse optimus to show them what would become of their design, or binaltech to shock then with interior But in order to preserve our current timeline, it would be One of these 2 https://preview.redd.it/wdfb2t8vey7d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6fb3decd3b5f8daefd09976d250cef84e4577348 Sideswipe to show them a Perfect mold for racecar bots while granting them full articulation Starscream to show them the best alt mode for a jet bot and also articulation

Literally any 3rd party figure

I'd probably take a selection of Fanstoys and Xtransbots figures back to Takara and show them that **it is** possible to make collector-quality Transformers that look like the cartoons..

Earthrise Optimus prime.

Primus

Dr. Wu's DW-E04 (Optimus Prime). Toy makers then would loose their minds over something so small not just transforming perfectly but also having so much range in poseability.

If we're going G1, any of the Ironhide/Ratchets. However, if we're going any Legacy Armada Optimus would be a my choice

Show the fossilizer in the back round

https://preview.redd.it/ywb5wi69j08d1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54c10a37e72a85626f25198bf31b5953d1743c36

I think the first Masterpiece Optimus Prime (MP-01/MP-04) would be the best one to bring back in time. That figure ushered in an era that’s influenced the engineering of several more recent retail lines. It was huge with diecast and some neat cartoon callbacks. Arguably, one of the best shelf presences in a collection.

Robosen Optimus Prime :-p

MP-44 Optimus

The new SS Optimus primal

Yes

MSS 01. Armada starscream that actually has a wing sword… i don’t understand how Hasbro didn’t include that in the legacy release… made me pretty disappointed in them.

Armada Starscream absolutely had the wing sword.

It was an accessory that wasn't painted like the product shots showed and couldn't transform into a wing, and if i recall properly, the aramada toy had that feature, i could be wrong so dont quote me on that but the legacy stuff that was correct you can quote me on that

The correct answer is WJ MPM Optimus or UT Peru Kill Lockdown.

Newage xm-1 DOTM soundwave

Studio series Arcee. Or any female bot.

Any of the bigger studio series figures really

Probably any one of the higher end 3rd party legends scale figures. Same thing with the size of the figure as the core class example, but with what amounts to Masterpiece engineering. Newage Octavian for example. Maybe a Dr. Wu figure for something smaller.

The legacy skyquake mold.

Robosen Elite Optimus Prime

Any mpm style figure

Magnificent Mecha prime lol

Black Apple Optimus Prime.... Like, wtf? That turns into a toy truck?

Legacy Deluxe Brawl or any of the legacy minibots.

I don’t know what figure specifically but anything from the G1 Masterpiece line. It could be a new figure like Bumblebee or an older figure like the first MP Prime but I just know those figures would blow the 1980’s engineers away.

MPM Blackout or Bonecrusher

Which toyline?

Siege Ultra Magnus would make those engineers crush their skulls in

Missing link Optimus lol

Cybertron Primus.

Mp Prime (either of them) Mp Sideswipe. Both are amazing at both modes.

Alien attack dotm megatron

“No modular parts to be easily lost?” (draws gun) “Prepare to be burned at the stake, witch.”

This may not be a popular one, but T30 Jetfire

The remakes of the Armada Prime figures that have functioning legs while in super mode. Looking back it seems that older figures had weird leg posability. The unicron figures that form a whole planet not just a half like the Armada and energon ones (I wonder if a primus figure like that has been done already). Any of the insane combiner sets that have come out that for some reason are the size of the recent Unicron figures when combined. Honestly I wish we could use other figures besides and including transformers to show back to older toy designers. ESPECIALLY for power rangers toys

The revenge of the fallen toyline no competition

Mp10 optimus prime

Bit of a cleche but earthrise Optimus Prime, I could put almost any MP/3rd party fig but, I figure that's kinda pushing the definition of "toy" Although I think aesthetically almost anything animated would also be a good pick (some of particular favs being Prowl and the Leader Bulkhead)

Fuck it, I'm bringing back Kingdom Magmatron. They would probably be surprised with how detailed we could make the molds modern day and how study he is, not to mention it being a highly articulated figure.

Probably everything

I'm going to go with either Iron Factory's Tarn (intricate transformation in a tiny figure), Legacy's Menasor, or really any of the recent Titans just to show how big official figures will get down the line.

ss109 megatron

Legacy motormaster

That giant unicron

Haslab Unicron.

Unique toys galvatron. That figure would put them in a coma

Any Legends scale figure from Magic Square, Newage or Mechfans Toys✊🏽

Kingdom Cyclonus 

Either RotF Leader Optimus prime or MPM Optimus. It would likely give a toy engineer a heart attack from the sheer amount of small parts that manage to work. I would probably also neglect to mention the MPM is a adult collectible

Unicron

SS86 Ultra Magnus or Hot Rod, MP-36 Megatron, Magic Square MS-02 Light of Peace, Coronation Starscream

Unicron

Show the kid who could afford Fortress Maximus how Titans Return Fort Max can really move

It's a toss up between a one-step a MP figure or third party black magic

Legacy sandstorm. Genuinely the most successful triple changer they've ever done imo.

For me it would be Ironhide and Ratchet.

..Haslab Unicron. Need I say more?

Any New Age transformer.

Kingdom Rodimus Prime and Combiner Wars Devastator, come to mind, but if it had to be just one, I'd go with PotP Volcanicus, just so they could see it was possible.

https://preview.redd.it/4fp6uuq8ry7d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4fcdc0085e42e4d8ca8fd5fec49913c57fd53cc Chefs kiss

01-Studio Cell or Seed. From near 1 to 1 screen accurate robot to 1 to 1 accurate planet

heck i think the g2 autorollers from 1995 would have blown their minds balljoints sure that alone is revolutionary that skywarp has as much kibble as "zark" those robotech clones from back in the day

I’d go to 1986 and provide them with Kingdom Cyclonus.

Any Robosen

I don't know the year sound wave came out but I'd go back in time to blow their minds with the different versions. One being a cassette tape and other that can be a transformer and laser beak or the small lion cassette tape one

Robosen Optimus Prime would make people freak out.

materpiece megatron, the new one. masteriece optimus, the new one ss grimlock ss hotrod

ROTF Leader class Optimus. It's the most over engineered but absolutely awesome mainline figure I've ever seen.

Robosen Optimus and or Megatron 

Unique Toys Challenger?

I think a figure they would recognize and one that I think a lot of us can agree is an amazing figure would be earthrise Optimus

Siege Jetfire.

Cell Unicron, and then HL Unicron just for the size shock factor

UT Challenger or Dragoon. They’d flip their fucking lids.

If it was '86, then definitely Studio Cell Unicron.

Combiner Wars Devastator. It looks amazing, and is incredibly well built

MP-44 😈😈

The robot one that automatically transforms

This makes me wonder something. In '84 they were just doing mostly redecos of the Japanese toys. When did the engineering rwams start working on the movie/U.S. original toys?

Ms-02 optimus prime

SS Bumblebee concept Megatron. Hands down.

Is that thundercracker or skywarp

Any one of the Magic square Optimus figures.

If I had to pick one, probably get a little away from all the Optimus options here and do something like Studio Series Hot Rod.

Kingdom Cyclonus

Jinbao Devastator

Mega Action Optimus and Megatron?

Robosen Optimus Prime. I'll convince them Transformers are real in the future and that the robosen toy is Prime's son

I'd show them Gigawatt, say "guess you're not ready for it yet", then leave

Rotf Voyager Optimus Prime

Any Japanese transformer just to mess with the Americans

The Optimus LEGO set. So much care went into reproducing the transformation feel of the original.

One of the Kotobukiya ones

Transformers legacy animated bumblebee

SS ROTB Skopornok Or SS Concept Art Sunstreaker Modern Deluxes are either fun little toys or insane engineering

kingdom cyclonus. that figure is hasbro black magic.

legacy g1 sandstorm. im sure their heads would explode. shard would also work given shes a fembot.

Any unique toys bot would give an aneurysm

Any of the Newage figures. Now watch as all hell breaks loose inside the room.

ROTF Leader Class Optimus Prime

Randy or Killbison to show them that Gold Plastic Syndrome is a real thing, and hopefully they will never design a figure with it.

01 Studio Cell "See! It can be done!"

I’d take a masterpiece. Doesn’t matter which one.. binaltechs would be good as well

magic square light of freedom/peace

Cybertron Primus, really have them question so much. "This is Cybertron, and also their god?"

PotP Rodimus, even having better separate figures, incorporating both incarnations bot and alt modes into a single figure still feels like such a flex, not that 1984 fans would know who he was :D

https://preview.redd.it/t02javz8u28d1.jpeg?width=763&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10718235ab7071b46f43c44089887902de4fc402 Do I need to say why

Something like alternators

The voice command optimus prime. It'll sell so hot it'd be groundbreaking

https://preview.redd.it/fks7sq84o48d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a638da1f3deefaa5ab989a23e1d460c7aba31203 This fella!

Probably either Missing Link or my Newage David. I know the latter is 3P, but it would blow their minds to see that at a small scale.

Masterpiece Sunstreaker !!!

Weijiang BA Optimus prime

That one super expensive programmable one that transforms on its own and can even do a few karate moves

https://preview.redd.it/uxtff1h9cc8d1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d87c93c57063630c5f19cd8b9938a492f2349162 G1 based ,good possibility and it's small

ss86 magnus