Advanced Changeable Robots / Changeable Robots
Torque was created by REMCO for the Zybots toy line and first released under the title, 'Zybots Advanced Changeable Robots'.
After the first six figures were released REMCO reissued them with four new figures under the reduced name, 'Zybots Changeable Robots'.
This also saw a change from photographic card images to illustrated character art. A red and yellow cardback theme was adopted that remained for the rest of the Zybots run and was carried over for the Bibots distribution.
Prototypes in vehicle mode were photographed for the initial Advanced Changeable Robots 01 - 06 figure run. In some instances their Gobots parts origins are more obvious than other; Trac's chest is a good example.
The prototype for Torque showed a red eye, black hands, silver chest paint and red torso paint with no stickers. The prototype's wheels appear to be reused Gobots Spoiler wheels and it was called 'Porsche Sports Car-01'.
It's likely marketing were supplied the prototypes to speed up cardback production in the hope of capitalising on the transforming robot toy market boom as soon as possible.
See main Zybots and Bibots index page for more details.
Region Codes Used: US United States / IT Italy
NOTE: Location codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely to be incomplete.
Zybots
Advanced Changeable Robots 01 US/IT Remco 1984
Zybots Changeable Robots 01 US/IT Remco 1984
For red and yellow versions see Zybots NEW Changeable Robots section.
Stamped Macau or China.
Distribution:
On both photo card and red and yellow illustrated cardbacks.
In a three pack with Explorer and Earthbreaker - Canadian only Consumers Distributing Catalogue.
In a six pack and a ten pack with figures that came in a white or black plastic tray or in white cardbacked blisters; see below.
Close-up of the Torque prototype featuring Gobots Spoiler wheels