COUNTDOWN: 6 G1 Transformers toys that are now surprisingly pricey!

It’s not exactly news that plenty of Transformers figures can go for big money on the aftermarket.

Old toys have long been a rich resource for resellers, with the robots in disguise remaining a prominent part of that thanks to the brand’s ongoing popularity with new audiences. Yet something has happened in recent times: more and more Transformers toys are fetching increasingly outlandish sums!

Quietly remembering this sealed 1984 G1 Megatron, which sold recently for $41,301 https://t.co/NXsmMXpyzU pic.twitter.com/90pZOE8v6b

— Sixo | Transformers (@SixoTF) November 14, 2025

Take, for example, the sealed 1984 Megatron, which recently sold at auction for an eye-gouging $41,301, priced so high because it is one of the best-condition examples of its kind. Still, no matter the supposed logic behind it, there’s zero doubt that’s a level of money most of us could (nay, would) never dream of splurging on toys. And whilst loose copies go for a mere fraction of this, it’s still a potent demonstration of the state of today’s aftermarket, where a growing number of items are off-limits to many collectors.

Regardless, there’s also little surprise in learning that something like Megatron or indeed any of the classic franchise big names are the characters which frequently command the most considerable sums when presented in mint & boxed condition, so today, let’s consider some of the genuine after-sales surprises to be had out there! We’re talking the toys that no one could have ever predicted might achieve such financial allure, or ones which defy logic in some strange way.

#6: Collector’s Edition Astrotrain (2004)

Recent times have brought us the Transformers Retro line, where vintage toys are given a cartoon-inspired makeover. Yet the idea is nothing new, as evidenced by the e-HOBBY exclusive grey-and-purple release of G1 Astrotrain back in 2004. Often referred to as “Anime Astrotrain”, it’s no surprise that such a figure might be tempting for collectors, yet the sums it can fetch still push the boundaries of belief at times! Whilst not a sold listing, the example above gives some indication of the upper ballpark sellers are often seeking here, and it’s only getting worse with every passing year.

#5: Collector’s Edition GoBots (2004)

Similar to the above, this 2004 e-HOBBY exclusive six-pack features a set of recoloured Minibots, decked out in hues meant to homage classic GoBots characters. Toys such as G1 Bumblebee or Gears are about as ubiquitous as they come, still cropping up on eBay or at conventions for next to nothing, and yet the desirability of this set is such that it now commands close to four figures in price on the modern aftermarket! Again, it’s been creeping up there for years now, but this recently sold example shows just how out of sight it’s become for most collectors.

#4: C-310E Fire Guts God Ginrai (2002)

One common thread among Transformers toys which went on to surprise us with their aftermarket value is repaints that were fairly uniformly sneered at on release because of how weird or wacky they seemed to be. Take this 2002 Takara recolour of the classic God Ginrai toy (the core design of which was better known to Western fans as Powermaster Optimus Prime). Who could have ever predicted that such a seemingly outlandish orange repaint would end up commanding multiple thousands in terms of resale value? Certainly not the many collectors who turned a blind eye to it on release, that’s for sure! True, the example above is a massive outlier, but it still shows just how desirable this particular specimen has become, for better or for worse!

#3: Combiner giftsets

For as long as many of us have been collecting G1 Transformers toys second-hand, it’s remained a universal truth that the classic combiner team giftsets will always seem like objects of some opulence. It’s not hard to understand the appeal, in fairness – the boxes are beautiful to behold, after all! Yet it’s also wild to consider that’s the single, exclusive justification for the vast sums these sets often sell for, even in a fairly tatty state, given the individual toys themselves can easily be sourced in comparable condition for significantly less. Never underestimate the desirability of pretty packaging!

#2: C-69 Shining Magnus (2000)

In some ways, the next example is the absolute zenith of Transformers aftermarket shock value. This fully yellow and part-translucent repaint of Ultra Magnus was so widely derided on release that it sat in plentiful supply, commanding mere peanuts for many years, despite only 800 copies being produced. Yet all that has changed over the last ten years and especially since the pandemic, as Shining Magnus (we won’t use the toy’s more colourful nickname here!) has shown that such specimens should never be overlooked, now regularly clocking in for multiple thousands whenever it comes up for purchase, which is not very often anymore, either! Now that’s taking the…

#1: Generation 2 Grimlock (1992/3)

Our last entry is not technically Generation 1 at all. Still, I’m counting it because a) it’s a G1 toy design despite falling under the Generation 2 line, and b) it’s one of the most palpable examples of how exponentially ridiculous the vintage Transformers aftermarket has become in recent times. You see, back in the ’90s, Grimlock was released in three separate colour schemes as part of G2, with blue being far and away the most common, which explains its everyday presence in sales listings today. The initial grey ranks somewhere above that in terms of perceived desirability. Yet it’s the turquoise variant which is the real gem, now being sold for sums that have nearly had me falling out of my chair. I was already aghast to see a sealed specimen selling for $1,000 back in 2022, and yet another example is now being listed for double that, only three years later – a surefire indication of how vintage toy sales of this kind can often be engineered to artificially inflated levels, as long as someone is willing to pay for them. Unfortunately, it pushes the hobby into an ever more out-of-touch place for everyone else, but it doesn’t seem like that trend is about to change any time soon!

So that’s our list!

TTFN