Spy Changers

The Spy Changers are a sub-line of toys/characters which first appeared in the 2000-2001 Transformers (RiD) toy line. All 6 molds were originally produced as the line's Go-Bots in 1995. (The GoBots name had by then been transferred to a pre-school line of Transformers produced by Hasbro subsidiary Playskool.) Despite being retooled versions of the GoBot line, the Japanese (2000) and American (2001) versions proved to be so popular that Hasbro commissioned four unreleased molds from 1995 be added to the Spy Changers line. Later, 4 new molds were based on larger characters from RiD (ironically, one was of a larger G2 toy).

Robots in Disguise

The Spy Changers are a team of six Autobot espionage specialists, consisting of the powerful but caring Ironhide "(Ox)", the speedy sniper Mirage "(Counter Arrow)", the eager-for-combat trooper W.A.R.S. (Wicked Attack Recon Sportscar) "(Wars)", science officer Crosswise "(X-Car)", tactician R.E.V. (Race Exercion Vehicle) "(Eagle Killer)" and their flame-manipulating leader, Hot Shot "(Artfire)". The team can drive over any surface, even water, in defiance of gravity, and have optical camouflage powers that render them invisible.

The initial six molds of the Spy Changers are based on those created for the Go-Bots line of Transformers seen in Generation 2. Later Spy Changers were based on ununused molds from Generation 2, and a few original molds. The second series of Spy Changerss (based on the unused G2 Go-Bots) were Prowl 2 (a 1994 Chevrolet Impala SS#1994-1996 police interceptor), Side Swipe (a Camaro pro-stock top fuel racer), Side Burn (an earlier model Dodge Viper than the larger Side Burn), and the improperly-named Daytonus (a Porsche 962 racing car). The third series of Spy Changers featured X-Brawn (Wild Ride; the third of the "Autobot (Cybertron) brothers" remade as a Spy Changer), Optimus Prime's Decepticon clone Scourge ("Black Convoy"; ironically a G2 version of Optimus from 1994-95), and individually packaged versions of RiD's Optimus Prime "(Fire Convoy)" and Ultra Magnus "(God Magnus)".

Transformers: Universe

The Spy Changers would see a come-back as members of the line, with repaints of the Robots in Disguise toys as classic characters. Initially The Generation 1 characters of Optimus Prime, Jazz, Silverstreak (Bluestreak), Wheeljack, Hoist and Prowl got toys. Then redecos of RiD Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Ironhide and Prowl (Prowl II) were released. Finally a toy for Mirage, Camshaft and a second Hoist were released.

Although a line of Decepticon Spy Changers based on the Stunticons was announced at one point, it was never released.