THE ROBOTROID MINI SETS
The six mini robots were numbered 001 through 006 and came with one TKR-02 motor each. In the catalog only the vehicle modes of the minis were given names. All but one had opening doors.
There are many similarities between the alt modes of the ROBOTROID minis and the alt modes of TAKARA's Diaclone Car Robots line of transforming robot figures. Many of the same vehicle types are used, leading me to wonder if TAKARA did some sort of market research on vehicles popular with little kids. The following pictures were taken from the ROBOTROID product catalog.
ROBOT 001's alt mode was a police car, just like the Fairlady and Countach police types from Car Robots. Enforcer is one of three ROBOTROID emergency vehicles, and it is the only one to have two different colored emergency lights on its roof. In Japan it was released as "Bloccar 001 American patrol car".
ROBOT 002 is an indy race car with 'Mariboro' and 'Nichelin' stickers. Takara made a 'Marlboor' sponsored version of their Car Robots Lancia Stratus Turbo. 002 is the only mini with no doors. In Japan it was released as "Bloccar 002 F1 racing car".
ROBOT 003's alt mode wasn't given a particularly imaginative name, but the 4WD designation is similar to the Car Robots '4WD Hi Lux' trucks. ROBOT 003 is one of three minis to have no legs, so it stays motorized even in robot mode. In Japan it was released as "Bloccar 003 Off road car".
The Command Turbo is similar in name to the Honda City Turbo from Car Robots. Since it stands on two legs in robot form, it can't make use of its TKR-02 in both modes. In Japan it was released as "Bloccar 004 City car".
ROBOT 005's alt mode is the only convertible in the line and it doesn't have a comprable Car Robots parallel. The doors open, but the beams and windsheild above them make it impossible to get in. In Japan it was named "Bloccar 005 Open car".
I think ROBOT 006 has the best looking robot mode of all the minis. Its vehicle mode has cool little ambulance stickers with Japanese kanji on them. This one most definitely reminds me of the Car Robots Onebox Ambulance Type. In Japan it was released as "Bloccar 006 Ambulance".
