Welcome to the boards
First of, the first two to three years of Transformers toys (or before the movie) came from pre-existing lines, mostly
Diaclone (which has a reboot line running right now) and
Microman.
Ultra Magnus came from the
Diaclone line where he was a piloted mech called Powered Convoy. He was meant as "upgrade" of some sort of Battle Convoy, the
Diaclone release of Optimus Prime. The truck was kept (mostly) the same, and a new trailer was designed to make a bigger robot. Cost cutting? I wouldn't think so, just reusing whatever works.
YouTube should have plenty of commercials for the Diaclone and Microman lines, well worth looking for just for sheer historical value.
The resident Rewind... well, half of one
- Jelze Bunnycat =:3
Looking for:
- TR Furos (Hardhead's head) and Crashbash (lost him
)
- PotP Punch head
- TR Galvatron right arm (the gun one)
- CW Brake-Neck/UW Wildrider, CW Offroad
- TR Twinferno & Grotusque
- Greenlight, Lancer and PotP Elita-1 (plus repro Victorion hands and feet?)