'Robot Converts to Dune Buggy with Pull Back Action'
The Dashbots Dune Buggy is a transforming robot toy that was sold in two colours, blue and red.
It's immediately evident that the Dashbots Dune Buggy is copied from the Gobots Buggyman (originally Machine Robo, Buggy Robo) figure. While the lower half mode change differs to accommodate the motor, the upper half, bar being 25% larger is identical; comparison image at the bottom of this page. The Machine Robo Buggy Robo was also released in a special edition (Best 5) red, silver and black colour scheme.
Dune Buggy was released in two build versions, one with both halves of the upper body made from metal and a cost reduced version with only the robot's front in metal and the car body half made from plastic; see separate page in this section.
If you like the novelty of oversized versions of toys, the Dashbots Dune Buggy ticks a lot of boxes. This version is the closest to the Gobots release with identical paint application and overall colouring. Other than the feet, the main differences are the missing '08' stickers from the legs and the gold foil spot sticker on the chest. The cost reduced versions are slightly less a match for Buggyman.
Like all Dashbots, the Dune Buggy features a powerful pull back, wind up motor that competently sends it dashing across the floor.
See Dashbots main index for further details.
Region Codes Used: US United States - Location codes only shown where items were known to be released.
This list is accurate yet likely to be incomplete. If you are able to confirm release in other regions please get in contact.
Dashbots US Merry Yard & Upright (blue) 1984
Dashbots US Merry Yard & Upright (red) 1984
Faction The Dune Buggy was listed on the first release, tray packaging as allied with the 'Evil Robots'.
Stamped '(c) 1984 Up-Right Manufacturers Inc Pat. Pending Made in Taiwan'. This is the only Dashbot where 'Up-Right' is represented correctly with the hyphen on its stamp.
Trivia Curiously the officially released Gobots Buggyman Monogram model kit only loosely resembles the Gobots toy figure. The Japanese model kit that it was based on is a derivative work that vaguely copied the Machine Robo Buggy Robo and then ended up getting used as the official Gobots
Buggyman kit. The Dashbots version is 10% larger than the original kit.
The face in particular is totally different and matches the Japanese model kit it was copied from that had nothing to do with Machine Robo. In contrast the Dashbots Dune Buggy is identical and adapted from the same Japanese model kit.
Dashbots vs. Gobots Buggyman Comparison