We don’t normally feature knock-offs or third-party products here on Seibertron.com, but every now and then a piece of Transformers-adjacent history shows up that’s too quirky to ignore. This vintage oddity — which we’re calling Robosaur Triceratops — definitely earns that distinction.
This toy is a poor-quality knock-off of the original G1 Dinobot Slag, sold under the product line name Robosaur, with the tagline: "A futuristic dinosaur that changes into a powerful robot."
We don’t know the manufacturer or exact origin of this item, but it was likely released sometime in the 1980s (or possibly 1990s). The packaging itself simply calls it Triceratops, while encouraging collectors to “Collect all these other exciting changing robots!” — showing off knock-off versions of Grimlock (“Tyranosaurus”) and Sludge (“Brontosaur”) on the back of the box. It may also have been marketed in some regions under the Dinosaur Robo name, but clear information is scarce.
This figure is clearly a low‑end reproduction of the Dinobot mold, sporting some unique colors and several cost‑cutting oddities — like having no face, no lower dinosaur jaw, and even no hands. We thought this vintage knock‑off was too quirky not to share, both as a curiosity and a conversation starter. If you know more about its origins — who manufactured it, where it was sold, or how it connects to other KO lines — we invite you to share your insights or speculation in the comments on the Energon Pub forums.
--------------------------------------------------
Gallery:
Robosaur Triceratops Gallery — Knock-offs > Dinobots
G1 1985 Dinobot Galleries: Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, and Swoop
And for more G1 knock-offs over the years (but the shadier ones that look identical):
KO Transformers Galleries
--------------------------------------------------
Gallery Preview:
--------------------------------------------------
What do you think? Is Robosaur Triceratops just a cheap curiosity, or does it have a story waiting to be uncovered? Share your knowledge, theories, or even memories of seeing one of these in the wild in the discussion below!
