Diaclone Car Robots question

[shaxper]

Admittedly, this is not my area of expertise. Most of my Diaclone knowledge is in the pre-car robots.

Anyway, I won a Transformers G1 Wheeljack off of ebay the other day. Upon closer inspection, it bears no Transformers logo, and the copyright only has Takara on it. It's possible that this could be a Japanese G1 pre-rub sticker Wheeljack, where someone applied all the stickers except the Transformers logo, but highly unlikely. Instead, I'm relatively sure this is an authentic Diaclone version.

However, I thought all the Diaclone incarnations of Wheeljack had a different face? This one's looks just like the G1 face. Similarly, his spring-loaded rocket launchers are pretty weak, suggesting they were designed to accomodate American safety standards. I suppose its possible these weren't the launchers he came with.

So what do you guys think? What do I have in my possession? Did the Pre-Rub G1 Wheeljacks not have Hasbro on the copyright? Could someone have taken a Diaclone version and switched the faces, or were there Diaclone versions that had the G1 face?

[The.Overlord]

Hi Shaxper,

there were 2 versions of Diaclone Wheeljack that were released in Japan:

- the one that we are all familiar with (identical to the TF version). The only differences between the Diaclone "Regular" version of Wheeljack and the G1 versions are the absence of Autobot logos and Hasbro copyrights; under the numbers 539 on both doors and hood there's the writing RALLY RACING (Italic Cursive Style in a Yellow Background Box) where as in the G1 version these have been taken off (I do not know why!). This version has also the same head (same mold and color) as the G1 version of Wheeljack.

- the rare Diaclone Marlboor version (the one which you are referring to in your post), which has different colors, different stickers and the different head as well!

Here's a page that has some pics (it's a site in Japanese.....but the pics speak for themselves):

www.diaclone.net/orid/dia053/index.html

It shows both versions of the Diaclone Lancia Stratos.

So in essence, you might have on of the following:

- Diaclone version (look at the 539 stickers to tell if it's a Diaclone or not!)
- Pre-Rub G1 version
- Diaclone Italian GIG Version (it's the same as the G1 version, but with no Hasbro copyright)
- Japanese G1 Version (see the page above for a pic of this version)

Hopefully you'll find this info helpful in identifying your Wheeljack.

Also, this site is helpful as well:

www.geocities.com/futuristgroup/vquanda.html

(Fred's Workshop's Complete American Variants Page).

Enjoy and take care!

The.Overlord

[shaxper]

Thanks, Overlord. It definitely lacks the additional writing below the number, so I guess that rules out Diaclone. As far as I know, the G1 pre-rubs did have Hasbro in their copyright stamps (I'll check my pre-rub prime when I get home). If that's true, that would make this a G1 Japanese pre-rub. How obscure...

Incidentally, we use all the same resources. Those two sites have provided me with endless information and amusement. Unfortunately, Fred doesn't tackle this aspect of Wheeljack.

[shaxper]

Confirmed it. The Pre-Rubs do say Hasbro on the stamps. This must be a Japanese G1 pre-rub.

[The.Overlord]

Hi Shaxper,

no problem! I'm happy that I was of some help.

Please do not hesitate to ask any other questions relating Diaclone Car Robos!

Take care!

The.Overlord