Bumblebee Toylines
Generation 1 Mini-Bot Bumblebee Yellow (1984)
The toy which would become Bumblebee was originally released as part of the Japanese "Microchange" series, a subset of the Microman toyline, and was available in both yellow and red colors. The intention of the Microchange line was that the toys transformed into in-scale items - Bumblebee is designed to transform into a toy car, specifically a Penny Racer Volkswagen beetle, hence his slightly skewed proportions. This version of Bumblebee features Dunlop brand tires. The original Bumblebee sported a regular Autobot symbol, but later versions had a heat-sensitive rub-symbol that revealed the Autobot logo. His mold is similar to that used for Cliffjumper, in that the transformation is the same, but the actual parts have different shapes and details.
Generation 1 Mini-Bot Bumblebee Red (1984)
Released as part of the Transformers line, Bumblebee's red variation could also be purchased at retail, although its existence was never acknowledged by official media. He was also available in a wide variety of colors in other parts of the world, including blue, gold and silver. Bumblebee was available in the Mini-Vehicle assortment throughout its lifespan, from 1984 to 1986.
Generation 1 McDonalds Bumblebee (1985)
One of the four original McDonalds Happy Meal Transformers toy from 1985, this toy was just a solid statue of the character in robot mode. Variants exist in red and blue colors.
Generation 1 Decoy Bumblebee
A red rubber toy given away as a promotion.
Generation 1 Goldbug toy
Generation 1 Goldbug (1987)
Released as part of the Throttlebots sub-group, Goldbug had a pull-back motor and simplistic transformation, but was proportioned more like an actual Volkswagen Beetle. Goldbug's head was directly based on the head of the original Bumblebee toy, making Bumblebee the second Transformer to be given a second toy, after Hot Rod.
Generation 1 Pretender Classic Bumblebee (1989)
Still a Volkswagen Beetle, Bumblebee was seemingly equipped with off-road tires as he was upgraded into a Pretender. His head, however, was based on the original Cliffjumper toy, rather than Bumblebee's toy or cartoon/comic design. Armed with a gun that could be wielded in robot mode and plugged into the roof of his vehicle mode, and another gun for his shell, Bumblebee was also sold sans shell as a member of the K-Mart exclusive "Transformers: Legends" assortment.
Generation 1 Action Master Bumblebee (1990)
This non-transforming action figure of Bumblebee blended the design of his original toy with his cartoon/comic design, and came armed with a Heli-Pack that transformed via a spring-loaded feature into a high-powered air rifle the figure could wield. According to his power plans Bumblebee sported an Anti-Decepticon Jamming Sensor, a Target Trajectory Calculator and a Photon Shock Burst Component. With this release, Bumblebee was made the only character to have had a figure representing him available in every year of the original Transformers toyline, from 1984 to 1990.
Generation 2 Mini-Bot Bumblebee (1993)
A metallic gold redeco of the original Bumblebee toy. This version of Bumblebee sported tech specs identical to his first Generation 1 toy.
Generation 2 Go-Bot Bumblebee (1995)
Released in the final year of the Transformers: Generation 2 toyline, Bumblebee was a gold, yellow and black redeco of the earlier figure High Beam, a member of the Go-Bots sub-group possessing free-wheeling axles for Hot Wheels-style play activity. All Go-Bots have a 1:64 scale. The toy was later redecoed into the Botcon 1995 exclusive, Nightracer, and the Transformers: Robots in Disguise figure, Crosswise.
Generation 1 Keychain Bumblebee (2001)
The original yellow version of Bumblebee was made into a keychain by adding a small plastic loop and metal keychain in 2001. This toy was recolored into Botcon exclusive Glyph in 2002. Blind packaged black versions of this toy were sold by Takara in Japan.
Smallest Transformers Bumblebee (2003)
Among the blind packaged Transformers of the Smallest Transformer line was a tiny version of Generation 1 Bumblebee, standing only 1.75 inches tall. With his official height of 15 feet tall, this toy has a 1:103 scale.
Generation 1 Reissue Bumblebee (2004)
This remold of the original yellow Bumblebee featured a new head mold which looked more like the animated series head. This toy was later recolored into the ehobby exclusive Decepticon Bug Bite.
CybCon Bumblebee (2004)
An exclusive toy available at CybCon 2004 was Bumblebee. This original molded toy was supposed to represent Bumblebee Cybertronian form before coming to Earth.
Titanium Bumblebee (2006)
After years of not possessing the "Bumblebee" name trademark, Hasbro finally regained the moniker in time to release a 3 inch tall die-cast non-transforming Bumblebee figure as part of the Transformers:Titanium line in 2006. This figure was very accurate to body style to the Generation 1 toy, but with the animated series head. With the official height of Bumblebee being 15 feet tall and this figure standing 3 inches tall, this figure is at 1:60 scale.
This toy was later re-colored into Titanium Cliffjumper.
Classics Bumblebee (2006)
Released towards the end of 2006, Bumblebee has finally returned as a transforming figure as part of the Transformers: Classics toyline, designed as upgraded versions of classics characters. Unable to be an actual Volkswagen due to the company's position, as noted above, Bumblebee is nevertheless a small, stocky car which does not appear to be based on any single production model but rather an amalgamation of features from the Nissan Skyline C10 Station Wagon He tows behind him a jetski trailer, the Wave Crusher, which transforms into a winged jetpack for the robot mode. Although Bumblebee sports a Fireblast of 4, he doesn't actually carry a gun. This toy was later repainted as Cliffjumper. The head sculpt is the same on both versions and is possibly the first Transformer head sculpt to depict a smile. With Bumblebee's height of 15 feet tall and the figure standing 4.75 inches tall, this figure is at 1:38 scale. This toy was designed by Alex Kubalsky.
Two slight mold variants of this toy exist, with the raised part of the roof where the rub symbol being wider on later releases than the other. Although depicted with blue windows and headlights on the box, the toy has clear windows and headlights.
Bumblebee was initially sold individually, but later sold in a value pack with Classic Astrotrain.
Generatrion 1 Reissue Bumblebee Keychain (2007)
Keychain Bumblebee was reissued on new backing cards saying "Heroes of Cybertron" in 2007 at Walmart stores.
Classic Legends Bumblebee (2007)
First seen at BotCon 2006, the Micro series Bumblebee will be a yellow repaint of the Legends of Cybertron Hot Shot figure. The vehicle mode is based on a Chrysler ME 412 done at a scale of about 1:61. A Chinese made bootleg of this toy was released in 2007 called "Super Change to United". This version of the toy was slightly redecoed and remolded so he could become the right leg of a Legends combiner with 4 other Legends bootlegs.
Attacktix Bumblebee (2007)
Series 2 of the Transformers Attacktix figures included a Generation 1 Bumblebee figure.
Slumblebee (2007)
A plush doll version of Bumblebee that transforms into car mode by simply pulling the car body from the back and folding the body inside out. Much like Classics Bumblebee, the car mode does not resemble the Volkswagen Beetle.
Titanium 6 inch War Within Bumblebee (unreleased)
A prototype of a 6 inch tall War Within Bumblebee/Cliffjumper figure was seen at a Hasbro factor tour in 2007. This figure had two different head sculpts, one for Bumblebee and one for Cliffjumper. This figure has yet to be released and seems to have been canceled.
Classic Bumblebee redeco
This redeco of Classic Bumblebee has black replacing the white paint, and slight changes in the plastic colors. Packaged together with Premium Movie Bumblebee and Animated Bumblebee.
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