Limousine Robo MR-46
This model was originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Limousine Robo. By this time Tonka's successful rebranding to 'Gobots' and US distribution saw the now more established name 'Tux' applied and adopted for Robo Machine in Europe and the Australian Machine Men release; predominantly to benefit from the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon. Multilingual Robo Machine cardbacks displayed both Rolls Royce and Tux in the name section.
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
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet possibly incomplete.
Gobots 41 Series 2 US/CA Tonka 1984 (no stickers included)
Gobots 41 Series 2 US/CA Tonka with 3-D Sticker 1985 (no stickers; for the figure included)
Gobots Renegade Gift Pack #1 Tonka 1985
Robo Machine RM-46 EU Bandai 1984*
Robo Machine RM-46 EU Bandai 1984 [black grille matte finish]*
Robo Machine RM-46 EU Bandai 1984 [black grille gloss finish]*
Machine Men AU Bandai 1984*
Machine Men AU Bandai 1984 [black grille gloss finish]*
Machine Robo Series MR-46 EU Bandai 1984*
* Machine Robo Series extra sticker sheet issued with this release.
** Window colour: for the most part figures stamped 'JAPAN' have darker, almost black windows, whereas 'MACAU' stamped figures have windows of an obviously brown colour.
**
Grille plastic: 'JAPAN' stamped figures have grilles cast in off-white plastic VS those stamped 'MACAU' which are cast in black; chrome is later applied.
BLACK GRILLE: The black grille version of Tux was issued for both the Robo Machine and Machine Men lines. The Robo Machine release seems limited to the French and English text cardback without the Gobots sticker. The rear of the card lists the figure as Limousine / Tux. Other similar Robo Machine Tux cards show 'Limousine / Tux' on an applied correction sticker covering the printed name 'Rolls Royce / Tux'; see examples below.
The black grille version figures are stamped 'MR-46 (c) G. K. BANDAI 1985 MACAU' and the grille is spray painted black.
Contrary to common belief that the grille has simply lost its chrome paint, the black is painted over the chrome and under that it's the same off white plastic seen on many other chrome damaged Tux figures. Both gloss black and matte black painted grilles have been sighted on Robo Machine cards.
If anyone has further details to hey can share it will be greatly appreciated.
Black prototype showing variant head and grille sculpt. Grille is split with side sections atop the arms in robot mode.