Trailer Robo MR-18
Originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Trailer Robo the model was not long after issued as Articulated Lorry for the European Robo Machine release and Semi-Trailer Man as part of Australia's Machine Men. Tonka's US rebranded 'Gobots' distribution saw Road Ranger given his now most established name with the Robo Machine and Machine Men lines adopting Gobots character names on figure re-release; predominantly to benefit from the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon.
Further details are below, on the Series 1 Index and for more in-depth reading see the Toy Line History page.
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / CA Canada / AU Australia / EU Europe / BRA Brazil / TWN Taiwan / IT Italy
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely incomplete.
Gobots 18 Series 1
US Tonka 1983
Gobots 18 Series 1 US Tonka with 3-D Sticker 1984
Robo Machine [Articulated Lorry] RM-18 EU Bandai 1983*
Robo Machine [Road Ranger] RM-18 EU Bandai 1985
Machine Men [Semi-Trailer Man] 14 AU Bandai 1983*
Machine Men [Road Ranger] AU Bandai 1984*
Machine Robo Series MR-18 JP Bandai 1983*
Machine Robo Series Best 5 MR-18 JP Bandai [Grey/Silver] 1983*
Robo Machines Series 2 EU Bandai 1992*
Convert BRA MIMO (silver eye, lighter blue trailer, darker red upper cab) (plastic chest) 1986
Machine Robo TWN (sold in Machine Robo styled box with a window) (not stamped)
Robot Car MR-84 IT [All Blue] (not stamped) 1983
Unknown Manufacturer or Toy Line [Yellow and Orange] (same mould as blue version above) (not stamped)
Unknown Manufacturer or Toy Line (red & blue) [Pull-Back Motor] (stamped Made in Macau)
Unknown Manufacturer or Toy Line TWN (red cab, blue legs) [Battery Powered] (not date stamped)
Unknown Manufacturer or Toy Line TWN (blue cab, grey legs) [Battery Powered] (not date stamped)
* Machine Robo Series or modified for Robo Machines extra sticker sheet issued with this release.
A problem with the plastic used for some blue and yellow figures caused the pigment to darken over time.
This is not due to UV exposure. Some Buggyman and Slicks figures show the same discoloration.
