Transformers Korean Modified Optimus Prime
This is a weird one. I picked this up years ago on eBay. I don’t think I paid more than $50 for it and I think I bought it from a seller in France. I’ve had this in my attic for years and forgot about. It is a heavily modified GG1 Optimus Prime.
The writing on the box appears to be Korean, but I’m not expert. It says “1997 Hasbro International, Inc.” which suggests it could be a legitimate item, not a knockoff. It also says “With Permission of 3D Licensing International Represented by ToonTown.” I have a number of Korean Transformers items from the G2 era that all say they are made by ToonTown. Those items are licensed, so adds to the likelihood that this is a licensed toy.
His trailer is simplified, lacking the arm with cockpit and missile launchers as well as the radar dish and arm.
In vehicle mode the trails has a bizarre sticker on it. It is not the same shape as the sticker from the G1 toy. Comparison photo is with the Walmart reissue. He has one single windshield instead of two separate ones. His side windows are square rather than two thin slats. His headlight plates are rectangular instead of oval. His grill is wider and his bumper a little more rounded on the bottom. He has one strangely shaped smokestack and a ladder on the other side. His wheels have “HIGH SPEED” printed on them in white. He has square fuel tanks. Most odd of all, he has “TRUCK” molded under his windshield in English. He’s all around bizarre. In robot mode he has a G1 Optimus Prime head rather than the one shown in the box art. I swear I’ve seen the gun he came with somewhere before. Honestly not sure if that is the gun it shipped with or not, this was open when I got it.
Overall: This is a weird one. If you know anything about it, I’d love some more info.
Thanks for reading!