Orange Variant MR-08
Originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Buggy Robo the model was not long after issued as Buggy for the European Robo Machine release and Buggy Man (with a space) as part of Australia's Machine Men. Tonka's US rebranded 'Gobots' distribution saw Buggyman given his now most established name with the Australian Machine Men line adopting the Gobots character name on figure re-release; predominantly to benefit from the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon.
Bandai did not re-release this model for their European Robo Machine distribution and so he was always sold only as Buggy.
Further details are below, on the Series 1 Index and for more in-depth reading see the Toy Line History page.
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / CA Canada / AU Australia / EU Europe / BRA Brazil / TWN Taiwan
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely incomplete.
Gobots Series 1 08 US/CA [Blue] 1983
Gobots Series 2 08 US Tonka [Orange] 1986
Robo Machine RM-08 EU Bandai [Blue] 1983*
Machine Men 07 AU
Bandai Australia [Blue] 1983*
Machine Men 07 AU Bandai Australia [Gold - mail away] 1983
Machine Men 07 AU Bandai [Blue] 1984
Machine Men Staks Transport Collector Pack AU Bandai [Red & White] (white face, red/white paint) 1985
Machine Robo Series MR-08 JP Popy [Blue] 1982*
Machine Robo Series MR-08 JP Bandai [Blue] 1983*
Machine Robo Series Best 5 MR-08 JP Bandai [Red & Silver] 1983 (silver face, red/white stickers)*
Machine Robo Series Best 5 MR-08 JP Bandai [Darker Blue Plastic/White] ('POLICE' side stickers) 1983*
Machine Robo Revenge of Cronos MRB-6 JP Bandai [Blue] 1986*
Convert BRA MIMO
[Red & White - similar to Machine Robo Series Best 5 variant] (plastic
wheels) 1985
Convert BRA MIMO [Blue, Bronze & Black Details] (plastic wheels) 1985
Convert BRA MIMO [Blue, White Body Front, Black & Silver Details] (plastic wheels) 1985
Convert BRA MIMO [Blue, Black Body Front, Black & Silver Details] (plastic wheels) 1985
Robot Car TWN [MR-08 colour scheme] (chest sticker not supplied)
* Machine Robo Series extra sticker sheet issued with this release.
Staks Transport vs. Best 5: The red and white 'Buggy-Man' issued with the Staks Transport Collector Pack in Australia is different to the Machine Robo Series Best 5 version. The Staks Transport release has a white face and chest whereas the Best 5 version is silver in these areas.
Darker Blue Plastic: Many Buggy Robo examples show much darker blue plastic than the standard release. This was caused by an error in the
plastic production that has resulted in the pigment darkening over time. This is not related to UV light exposure as long term boxed figures have emerged with the same darker plastic. Buggy Robo figures with significantly darker plastic are often confused for the Best 5 version. Truck Robo MR-18 figures also show the same blue discolouration.
A problem with the plastic used for some genuine figures caused the pigment to darken over time.
This is not due to UV exposure. Some Truck Robo figures show the same discoloration.