'Robot Converts to Dune Buggy with Pull Back Action'
This cost reduced, more plastic version of the Dashbots Dune Buggy is a transforming robot toy and unlike the earlier release, was only sold in blue.
Dune Buggy was released in two build versions, one with both halves of the upper body made from metal and a cost reduced versions on below with only the robot's front in metal and the car body half made from plastic; see other page this section for metal version. Dune Buggy is the only cost reduced plastic version Dashbot to retain a previously metal component.
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.
If you like the novelty of oversized versions of toys, the Dashbots Dune Buggy ticks a lot of boxes The . The first version is the closest to the Gobots release with identical paint application and overall colouring. The second and third more plastic versions seen on this page drift slightly in similarity with removal of the black paint and the third's slight re-sculpt. This re-sculpt saw the third version released with changes to the front of the body that includes two plus signs replacing the vents either side of the upper chest. In addition, all of the front of body and head details were slightly reworked. This is very likely due sections of the mould becoming worn. The (R) on the bottom right of the robot body section has obvious deterioration vs. previous version hinting this may have been the cause. Reviewing the changes, they all appear to have been made to fill in existing detail and route out previously positive sections of the mould to create new details. The arm shoulder joins can also be slid slightly further down the body in robot mode. See comparison image bottom of the page.
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.
Version 2 - Waves 2 & 3
Dashbots US Merry Yard & Upright (no black paint) 1985
Version 3 - Wave 4
Dashbots US Merry Yard (no black paint - crosses) Late 80s/early 90s
Red Version? Unlike the earlier, more metal version release in both blue and red, a red version of the half plastic / half metal body versions have yet to be sighted. It's possible the colour variant was dropped during the cost reduction process for Dune Buggy.
Faction The Dune Buggy was listed on the first release, tray packaging as allied with the 'Evil Robots'.
Misleading Packaging The blister card text shows '3 IN 1' for what is clearly a two mode robot; unless they count the motor feature as one of the three. There were two blister card releases and while the second card still boasts 'Stick-On Decals', they were only supplied with the first carded version.
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. The (R) present on the front of the robot body section is only present in these two versions.
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.
CREDIT: The chest crosses release Dashbots Dune Buggy was kindly supplied by Tenzi.
Dashbots vs. Gobots Buggyman Comparison
Sculpt Change Comparison