Transformers Chrome (working title)?

[Sniffs]

no, it's not an upcoming series...unless we can convince Hasbro and Takara, that is

after being soaked in the Transformers Wiki for three days (i have toomuch time on my hands), I'd had an Idea...and I need car guys feedback.

the concept is: what if the transformers woke up 20 years EARLY...in the middle of the Muscle Car era? Ideas are needed for both the established character's "alts", who exactly to be included on the autobot's side besides Optimus, bumblebee, and ratchet; and all new char ideas for both sides.

I know this sounds like an old geek, but I need some art inspiration on top of everything else. I'm gonna try drawing most of the concepts myself.

note, if anyone bites, you don't have to be a fan to spout ideas, just a vehicle nut.

 

[niky]

20 years earlier than Gen One, or 20 years earlier than the last cartoon series? Are we talking 60s or 70s here?

Because the 70's, I would have liked... though some Autobots from Gen.1 are 70's cars (Datsun Z) but the 60's are interesting...

Optimus would obviously be Peterbilt, whatever era you go to... after the movie, the choice seems obvious, and much better than the generic flatnose he was before.

Instead of making Ironhide a pathetically un-masculine noseless van, he could be a 1950's pickup. An old Ford would be nice:

Of course... you want to make Ironhide tough and muscular, you could always use the Mustang...

Ironhide could be "The Boss"... ...while Ratchet would be the truck... they don't have to be based on the same car.

Jazz... well, the 911 would be obvious, but I've always thought that this character would be much more suited to the Camaro than Bumblebee:

Prowl... very interesting... the Silvia would be an interesting choice... but given the theme, I'd say make him a Plymouth Fury... something with muscle and with aggression... in fact, the Plymouth Fury just screams "police!"

Bumblebee could be a Beetle... but an alternative would be the Mini Cooper... just because it fits his personality more than the Beetle does.

Cliffjumper... Ford Escort... a rally Escort, to be exact.

Sideswipe/Sunstreaker: Ferrari 280GT / Lamborghini Miura... rather than having two Miuras, which would be silly.

Wheeljack... since the Lancia Stratos never fit the character, anyway... I'd say make him a 60's truck... or maybe even a Ford Fairlane or a big old Chevy... but here's a quirky idea:

Fit him with the full Ghostbusters kit... would fit him to a T.

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Sadly, on the Decepticon side, most fighter jets were kind of boring in this era... but you have iconic ones like the A6 Intruder, the F4 Phantom, the SR71 Blackbird, and the Mirage. Everything else... heck, that still includes the Mirage... is a cigar... which makes design more difficult than with twin-engines like the F14 and the F4. Megatron could be a Smith&Wesson .44 Magnum...

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As for the rest... go nuts... Blaster and Soundwave... (Jukebox, anybody)... hmmm... Shockwave could actually be a Flash Gordon style blaser or cannon... something out of 1960's science fiction... instead of the angular 1980's style sci-fi theme that Shockwave followed.

 

[Sniffs]

somebody pounced! thank you Niky!

unforunately, the truck you picked is Out of Era. that is a 50-52 F1 (a nose job on the 48 F)...but the concept would work on Kup if it ever gets that far.

Porsche is out. they have the same reason as Volkswagen, they want no association with war of any kind.

the Ambulance: actually, that's what I had in mind for Ratchet. and I really HAD the Ghostbuster's 59/60 Hearse/Ambulance body in mind.

decepticons: actually, I was thinking of being mean and making the Seekers (Skywarp/Starscream/Thundercracker) into MIGs! wonder if Russia would be interested in a few extra Rubles in licensing goodies?

Megatron himself will be a problem. handguns are on the Banned list for forms (see my posts in the Bey sequel movie discussion for further info). However, Meg's alternate alt provided is usually a tank (it has to be something with a big bleepin gun)

I think you've provided the soultion for Soundwave, tho...however, the "casettes" (Rumble/Frenzy/Ravage/Laserbeak) would look kinda funny as 45's

 

[niky]

You'd have to dump the cassettes... maybe make them speakers or amps, or something... I can't remember if they had 8-track yet in the 60's... that's why the 70's would be easier...

You don't actually have to follow licensing regulations and prohibitions, but yeah, it does make for an interesting thought experiment. Megatron could be a nuclear bomber... maybe an X-plane... ("Megaton" ).

As for being a little out of period, remember, the original Gen.1 Transformers had a few characters who were mid-70's models instead of mid-80's... so it's not such a big deal. The more I think about it, the more it fits Ironhide's personality... to be a cranky old truck.

 

[Sniffs]

actually, I'm following them as a nod to them (which is the OTHER reason they couldn't do Jazz up as a Porsche).

I was actually thinking of a Dodge B100 lil' red express...which would also be a nod to his Bey form Chevy Kodiak/GMC Topkick
I can't find friggin pics!
had another thought...maybe a Power Wagon? almost everyone I know that's had one at some point says how Iron tough they are. and Red is Dodge's trademark color

okay...speaker components I think I can see...but we gotta have Ravage in there somewhere...mabey he can be the Turntable

ah. having looked up the 8 trak format...it's era appropriate. it was invented in 64 by the guy who created the Lear Jet (possible alt for Megatron, and make a Joke at the same time?) hehe...that'd be funny, picturing Soundwave as an 8 trak player
I think we have soundwave and company settled.

Optimus himself will have to remain a rig. his Japanese name is Convoy, after all. and all his predecessors,, with one possible exception, were also rigs (not to mention Rodimus prime and Ultra Magnus) picking a 60's road king might be a challenge, but I was thinking a Mack R rather than another pete, in order to tell this is a different time period. I believe Peterbilt designs over here haven't changed much except for switching to rectangular headlights

as for bumblebee...I hate to short-sheet him even more than usual, but the only substitute I can come up with for the beetle is a shrunk in the was beetle-lookalike Subaru 360 (they sold them here in the US after all. I saw one at a car show, here). they come in yellow, and thus would keep his trademark color scheme. but he'd be barraged in short jokes. hmm...voiced by a little person, maybe?

the one exception to the time limit will be a 57 Chevy. I'm DYING to cybertronize america's most famous 50's automobile.

a quick idea: howabout Sideswipe and Sunstreaker as Camaro/Firebird respectively? (they're currently Muricilagos, I believe)

 

[niky]

Up to you... just thought you'd have to add some Europeans into the mix for the more minor characters. I'm surprised neither of us has brought up the Corvette...

Subaru 360... the horror... the squiggly horror... If you want to be mean, a Fiat 500 would work as well... but that'd make Bumblebee even smaller... which can't be good for his Scrappy (Doo?) ego.

 

[Sniffs]

ta-ta-ta-TAAAAAAAA-t-TA...puppybot POWER!!

nah...mabey we can bump him up to an MG or something.

the majority of "minor" characters would have to be European imports. Japan had just barely cracked our market, then. the only problem is...who's personality fits a 2CV, Renault R18i's, and *eep* Rover 400's?

if only there was a way to convince Germany they could make a few Euros from licensing.
a Mercedes autobot would be SO cool *can see a Gullwing trying not to tell prime off!*