Menasor is the combined form of the five-member Menasor, a team of sportscar (and semi truck) “Scramble City” Combiners from Generation 1

US Patent for G1 Menasor

Origins

Menasor was originally conceptualized for a Diaclone subseries called “Jizai Gattai”, or Free Combination, which would have included the Stunticons, Combaticons, Aerialbots, Protectobots, and Metroplex. Each team had a theme, each limb figure could combine with any other team leader as any limb, and each leader figure had some sort of base mode, usually, with a spring-loaded vehicle launcher. All the figures could also interact with Metroplex. However, Transformers’ imminent success put Diaclone and Jizai Gattai on ice. It was Transformers’ long term success that saw these designs to completion, however. Menasor was designed by Kaoru Matsumoto and the US Patent for the combined mode, titled Robotic-humanoid toy assembly (aka Transformers G1 Menasor) was filed on August 1, 1985 (U.S. Patent No. USD297039 S).

Description

The Stunticons attach directly to Motormaster using the standard rectangular connectors (frequently the smaller figure's heads) to form Menasor’s limbs. Like all US G1 combiners, he requires a number of accessories to complete his combined robot form, namely fists, footpads, a head, and a chestpiece. The fists and feet attach by a standard 5mm peg. Menasor is characterized by his short build and boxy body with the head inset into the front. The individual members can form any limb of Menasor, but typically Drag Strip and Breakdown form the right arm and leg, and Dead End and Wildrider form the left arm and leg, respectively.

Collector Notes

Menasor’s Stunticons are all relatively sturdy, and their weaknesses are described in their individual articles. Always use care when removing Menasor’s limbs from Motormaster, to prevent breakage of the heads.

Variants

Menasor has no production variations, other than a date stamp change when production was moved to Macau.

Availability

Meansor was available in 1986, either individually carded and boxed, or as part of the Menasor giftset. Due to the popularity of the combiners, Menasor was available again in 1987,individually boxed and carded with or without a random purple Decepticon Decoy packed in each small member. He was available again in 1990 in Europe’s extension of G1, as part of the Classic Stunticons.

Redecos & Retools

Menasor’s mold has not been re-used, but a prototype redeco was produced for Generation 2. Several of these prototypes exist, but no sealed samples of Motormaster exist.