CONVERT-A-BOTS Mini Figures
Village Toys - Division of J Shin Co. Inc.
Made in Korea
MINI CONVERT-A-BOTS
Series/Wave 1
1984
Mini Convert-a-bots!
Mini Convert-a-bots cardback artwork
Made in Korea
Figures stamped: CONVERT-A-BOTS 1984
Series/Wave 1 consisted of at least seven Mini Convert-a-bot figures. Cardbacks say 1983 while the leg stamps say 1984. Minis came in a variety of cars and trucks similar to other robot lines like Select Convertors, Transformers Mini-bots or Tonka's Gobots series. Target and TG&Y price tags list them for $2.99. Other price stickers show that Mini Convert-a-bots also sold at Toys-r-us for $3.28.
Comparison between:
Select Convertors 'Wagon' (left) and Covert-a-bots 'Bronco' (right).
Despite color, sticker and tire tread differences, many of the Convert-a-bots share similar molds with the Select Convertors and Mark Robo Car figures from Japan.
Series/Wave 1 Figures
Instead of unique names like Bumble Bee or Geeper Creeper, MINI CONVERT-A-BOTS appear to have simply been called by the known vehicle names of the time.
A: FIREBIRD
B: MUSTANG
C: 4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP
D: VAN
E: BRONCO
F: CORVETTE (No Trim)
G: CORVETTE (Gold Trim)
Mini Convert-a-bots at $1.99 each.
FIREBIRD
Mini Convert-a-bots
FIREBIRD
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Leg stamps
Village Toys TM
Convert-a-bots 1984
Top: Number 16 in wrong spot, missing other stickers
Bottom: Full stickers
Missing orange rear spoilers and all stickers
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Note the sticker instructions.
MUSTANG
Mini Convert-a-bots
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Toys R Us price tag: $3.28
Woolworth variant packaging.
Distributed by Woolworth. Woolworth price of $3.00
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Toys R Us price tag: $3.28
Woolworth variant packaging.
Distributed by Woolworth. Woolworth price of $3.00
Logo and copyright printed on the blister card.
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| Photo Credit: RandomToyReviews |
Instructions for Convert-a-bot Mustang
While most figures came with both a sticker sheet and instructions,
some figures only came with sticker sheets.
4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP
Mini Convert-a-bots
4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Orange Arms
Robot mode
Blue Arms
Robot mode
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Robot mode
4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP
Sold at Toys R Us for $3.28 |
| Photo credit: Sam Ford |
Robot mode
4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP
Top: Orange arm without any stickers.
Bottom: Blue FORD stickers to place on the 'blue' variant arms
Often referred to as "Sand Bully" because one of the
stickers you can apply says "Sand Bully".
Note: Red & Yellow 'FORD' stickers on tailgate
Note: Black and Yellow 'FORD' stickers on tailgate.
Convert-a-bots 1984
Leg stamps
VAN
Mini Convert-a-bots
Mini Convert-a-bots
VAN
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Loose example with applied stickers
next to his MOC counterpart.
Select Convertors minibot is also called 'Van'.
Japanese Robo Car version is called 'Town Ace'.
Instructions for 'VAN' figure.
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Village Toys
Made in Korea
next to his MOC counterpart.
Select Convertors minibot is also called 'Van'.
Japanese Robo Car version is called 'Town Ace'.
Awesome black van vehicle mode.
Move over Ironhide!
Move over Ironhide!
Village Toys sticker
VAN leg stamps
1984 Korea
Convert-a-bots
1984 Korea
Convert-a-bots
BRONCO
Mini Convert-a-bots
Mini Convert-a-bots
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Made in Korea
Target price tag of $2.99
Loose Bronco with his frozen in Carbonite companion.
Robot mode - Bronco Convert-a-bots
Brown & orange figure.
Figure E: BRONCO - vehicle mode
Mini Convert-a-bots
Instructions and optional stickers under the vehicle in the package.
Pictures show truck mode with and without stickers applied.
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Made in Korea
Target price tag of $2.99
Loose Bronco with his frozen in Carbonite companion.
Brown & orange figure.
Mini Convert-a-bots
Instructions and optional stickers under the vehicle in the package.
Pictures show truck mode with and without stickers applied.
One way to identify the Bronco figure is by a
sticker applied behind the cap for 'Village Toys TM'
A second way to identify a Bronco figure is by the leg stamps on
A second way to identify a Bronco figure is by the leg stamps on
the backside of Bronco's legs which read:
©1984 Korea
Convert-a-bots
CORVETTE
Mini Convert-a-bots
Figures F (Black underside)
Figure G (Gold trim underside)
Figures F & G are the same mold but G comes with gold color trim details around the chest area as well as the prominent gold 'V' at the nose of the car.
Figure G: CORVETTE (Gold trim variant)
Convert-a-bots
Note: Front metal bumper folds open
to reveal two separate small silver heads
Figure F: CORVETTE
Stickers applied in alternative locations.
Number '17' on top of the car.
Note: BLUE colored windows & metal front bumper
Figure F: CORVETTE
No stickers applied
Figure F: CORVETTE
Figure F: Corvette (no gold trim)
Leg Stamps
Village Toys TM
Convert-a-bots 1984
©1984 Korea
Convert-a-bots
CORVETTE
Mini Convert-a-bots
Figures F (Black underside)
Figure G (Gold trim underside)
Figures F & G are the same mold but G comes with gold color trim details around the chest area as well as the prominent gold 'V' at the nose of the car.
CORVETTE
Figure F
Mini Convert-a-bots
Figure F
Mini Convert-a-bots
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Made in Korea
Fred Meyer price tag of $2.88
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2904
Made in Korea
Fred Meyer price tag of $2.88
Convert-a-bots
Note: Front metal bumper folds open
to reveal two separate small silver heads
Figure F: CORVETTE
Stickers applied in alternative locations.
Number '17' on top of the car.
Note: BLUE colored windows & metal front bumper
Figure F: CORVETTE
No stickers applied
 |
| Photo Credit: CollectionDX |
Figure F: Corvette (no gold trim)
Leg Stamps
Village Toys TM
Convert-a-bots 1984
This sample came with both the instructions and the sticker sheet.
MINI CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Series/Wave 2
1985
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| Mini Convert-a-bots 2 cardback artwork |
Item No. 2905
Made in Korea
Figures stamped: CONVERT-A-BOTS 1985
Series/Wave 2 consists of at least four Mini Convert-a-bot figures. Cardbacks say 1983 while the leg stamps say 1985. Minis came in a variety of sports cars.
Made in Korea
Figures stamped: CONVERT-A-BOTS 1985
Series/Wave 2 consists of at least four Mini Convert-a-bot figures. Cardbacks say 1983 while the leg stamps say 1985. Minis came in a variety of sports cars.
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
"Cars with hearts of steel".
Second series of mini vehicle transforming figures.
A: JAGUAR
B: CAMARO
C: PORSCHE
D: CORVETTE
JAGUAR
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
JAGUAR
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
JAGUAR: Robot Mode
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
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| Photo Credit: Hucklebubba |
CAMARO
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
CAMARO
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
 |
| Photo credit: Hearseguy22 |
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| Photo Credit: Starscream Toys |
This 'may' be a lighter blue variant?
Even with color correction software,
this figure appears to be lighter blue.
PORSCHE
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
PORSCHE
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Carded lot of Porsche Convert-a-bots 2
PORSCHE
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
 |
| Photo Credit: Red Bearded Devil Toys & Stuff |
Robot and car modes
Number '88' on roof. STP and CHAMPION stickers
Number '88' on roof. STP and CHAMPION stickers
Underside sticker reads
Village Toys TM
Convert-a-bots 1985
Made in Korea
CORVETTE
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
CORVETTE
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Mini CONVERT-A-BOTS 2
Carded figure - MOC
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Corvette C-A-B-2
Convert-a-bots 2
Corvette
A. Hood down robot mode
B. Hood up robot mode
Note: figure comes with both chrome or black eyes
Converts to a car or robot
Diecast
Item No. 2905
Village Toys
Made in Korea
Corvette C-A-B-2
Convert-a-bots 2
A. Hood down robot mode
B. Hood up robot mode
Note: figure comes with both chrome or black eyes
 |
| Photo Credit: Retro Toy Escapades |
Mini Convert-a-bots 2
Number '99' roof sticker
No applied stickers
Village Toys TM
Convert-a-bots 1985
To learn about Convert-a-bots N-4-SR (Astro Magnum)
Click Here
The Convert-a- bots especially the second series are so difficult to find and have such an obscure lineage.Even Avon Fox who has an amazing site and collection has a lot of unknowns in this line! You did a GREAT job with this blog on putting very comprehensive info on these with variant pics too! Appreciated
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir! Everyone from blogs, sites, Instagram, etc. are all contributing pieces of the puzzle hopefully for everyone in the collecting community to enjoy and learn from. Thank you for your great part as well!
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