Top 5 Nicest Licensed Car Modes Among Transformers Toys
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 2:29 pmEvery two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are our opinions so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.
Top 5 Nicest Licensed Car Modes Among Transformers Toys
Whenever this topic gets suggested on the boards, it always seems like the result will be from the same line, either Alternators or Masterpiece. While of course those lines have amazing licensed vehicles, in doing this list I found that gorgeous licensed cars have been found in multiple lines throughout the brand's history, even lines paired with cartoons. So I found diversity was indeed possible while also being true and listing what I felt was the best. Also, while we are mainly looking at the alt mode here, I am picking toys that are good all around. These are Transformers toys after all and them transforming into cool looking robots can't be totally ignored, even though that may not be the main factor being looked at here.
5. Transformers Alternators Mirage as a Ford GT
Alternators Mirage is easily one of my favorite car modes. No real love for the car model, but I feel like this one really went above and beyond in hiding any indication that it turns into a robot. They did an incredible job of making use of all the existing panels and only adding a few very well hidden ones. Just a fantastic looking car in that nice deep blue.
- Emerje
4. The last Knight Hot Rod as a Lamborghini Centenario
The alt mode is gorgeous. It is to me the most appropriate real life alt mode this character would have if futuristic cars are not an option. Easily one of the best deluxes from the Transformers: The Last Knight toyline and a great recreation of the real life car (and a more interesting model than the Lockdown toy that came before it). It even has the same framing lines highlighted in a bright colour like the lower part of the doors and a nice contour of the windows. Lamborghinis have always been present in the Transformers brand so it is nice to see the latest models still represented and as sexy as ever. I am also very impressed at the quality of the Lamborghini logo in the front which is as detailed (if not more so) as what we find on masterpiece toys. - William-James88
3. Transformers Robots In Disguise Side Burn as a Dodge Viper
RID Side Burn is the best looking of the RID brothers. Seriously, he did an MP Tracks before MP was a thing. That metallic blue, man... Not to mention the car mode is SO good that Hasbro had to add the viper logo for their release to avoid a lawsuit from Dodge. Sure he has the kind of comical looking engine block (with beautiful but short-lived chrome) but he not only has chromed rims, but rubber tires too! - Black Hat
R.I.D Sideburn is a fully licensed and realized Dodge Viper. No modifications or hiding that fact at all. Chrysler made Hasbro license it when bringing the Car Robots figures from Japan. By contrast, Prowl and X-Brawn went unlicensed however. This repaint and all subsequent uses of the mold have the required emblem. He has a very very nice vehicle mode. I own the Super Side Burn repaint version, and chrome is still very much intact. -Overcracker
2. MB Soundwave as a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG is one of the coolest real car modes. It's very sleek and has those vertically opening doors. The silver paint job given to MB Soundwave's alt mode really makes it gorgeous. While it has some panel lines, I forgive it for how good it looks overall. As with the Alternators, we get an alt mode closer in both looks and scale to a collectible car model, especially with details in the interior and opening doors. However, unlike the Alternators, this Soundwave has a much cleaner robot mode, making it an engineering marvel. - William-James88
1. Transformers G1 1984 Sideswipe/Masterpiece Sideswipe (Lambor) as a Lamborghini Countash
Lamborghinis are my favourite alt modes when it comes to Transforming cars (maybe my favourite alt mode in general). And while all different models and eras bring something great to the table, the Countash just works so well. It is the most iconic car from the era Transformers were born and its angular yet sleek nature just works perfectly with the idea of a transforming robot and both G1 and MP Sideswipe are a great proof of this. I really love how the flat front gives a great opportunity to use it for the robot's chest. It gives as much alt mode integration as one would wish while giving it the heroic silhouette of a robot hero (much like Optimus Prime).
But of course, we are here to talk about alt modes and G1 Sideswipe's Diaclone roots is truly all about that. These toys were meant to look the same as non transforming toy cars, and what made these extra special was that they could convert as well (that was the main fiction behind the line, that these were disguised as toy cars and thus had to look just like them including their scale). Hasbro carried that idea over (but dropping the idea of scale) with the tagline of Robots in Disguise and it's thanks to toys like Sideswipe that we can see this concept brought to life. Adding to all this fun is the Masterpiece version which came out almost 30 years later and retains the gorgeous car mode, but made bigger for us to admire even more. - William-James88
Top 5 Nicest Licensed Car Modes Among Transformers Toys
Whenever this topic gets suggested on the boards, it always seems like the result will be from the same line, either Alternators or Masterpiece. While of course those lines have amazing licensed vehicles, in doing this list I found that gorgeous licensed cars have been found in multiple lines throughout the brand's history, even lines paired with cartoons. So I found diversity was indeed possible while also being true and listing what I felt was the best. Also, while we are mainly looking at the alt mode here, I am picking toys that are good all around. These are Transformers toys after all and them transforming into cool looking robots can't be totally ignored, even though that may not be the main factor being looked at here.
5. Transformers Alternators Mirage as a Ford GT
Alternators Mirage is easily one of my favorite car modes. No real love for the car model, but I feel like this one really went above and beyond in hiding any indication that it turns into a robot. They did an incredible job of making use of all the existing panels and only adding a few very well hidden ones. Just a fantastic looking car in that nice deep blue.
- Emerje
4. The last Knight Hot Rod as a Lamborghini Centenario
The alt mode is gorgeous. It is to me the most appropriate real life alt mode this character would have if futuristic cars are not an option. Easily one of the best deluxes from the Transformers: The Last Knight toyline and a great recreation of the real life car (and a more interesting model than the Lockdown toy that came before it). It even has the same framing lines highlighted in a bright colour like the lower part of the doors and a nice contour of the windows. Lamborghinis have always been present in the Transformers brand so it is nice to see the latest models still represented and as sexy as ever. I am also very impressed at the quality of the Lamborghini logo in the front which is as detailed (if not more so) as what we find on masterpiece toys. - William-James88
3. Transformers Robots In Disguise Side Burn as a Dodge Viper
RID Side Burn is the best looking of the RID brothers. Seriously, he did an MP Tracks before MP was a thing. That metallic blue, man... Not to mention the car mode is SO good that Hasbro had to add the viper logo for their release to avoid a lawsuit from Dodge. Sure he has the kind of comical looking engine block (with beautiful but short-lived chrome) but he not only has chromed rims, but rubber tires too! - Black Hat
R.I.D Sideburn is a fully licensed and realized Dodge Viper. No modifications or hiding that fact at all. Chrysler made Hasbro license it when bringing the Car Robots figures from Japan. By contrast, Prowl and X-Brawn went unlicensed however. This repaint and all subsequent uses of the mold have the required emblem. He has a very very nice vehicle mode. I own the Super Side Burn repaint version, and chrome is still very much intact. -Overcracker
2. MB Soundwave as a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG is one of the coolest real car modes. It's very sleek and has those vertically opening doors. The silver paint job given to MB Soundwave's alt mode really makes it gorgeous. While it has some panel lines, I forgive it for how good it looks overall. As with the Alternators, we get an alt mode closer in both looks and scale to a collectible car model, especially with details in the interior and opening doors. However, unlike the Alternators, this Soundwave has a much cleaner robot mode, making it an engineering marvel. - William-James88
1. Transformers G1 1984 Sideswipe/Masterpiece Sideswipe (Lambor) as a Lamborghini Countash
Lamborghinis are my favourite alt modes when it comes to Transforming cars (maybe my favourite alt mode in general). And while all different models and eras bring something great to the table, the Countash just works so well. It is the most iconic car from the era Transformers were born and its angular yet sleek nature just works perfectly with the idea of a transforming robot and both G1 and MP Sideswipe are a great proof of this. I really love how the flat front gives a great opportunity to use it for the robot's chest. It gives as much alt mode integration as one would wish while giving it the heroic silhouette of a robot hero (much like Optimus Prime).
But of course, we are here to talk about alt modes and G1 Sideswipe's Diaclone roots is truly all about that. These toys were meant to look the same as non transforming toy cars, and what made these extra special was that they could convert as well (that was the main fiction behind the line, that these were disguised as toy cars and thus had to look just like them including their scale). Hasbro carried that idea over (but dropping the idea of scale) with the tagline of Robots in Disguise and it's thanks to toys like Sideswipe that we can see this concept brought to life. Adding to all this fun is the Masterpiece version which came out almost 30 years later and retains the gorgeous car mode, but made bigger for us to admire even more. - William-James88
Good times!