Review – 1985 Cherry Coke Robot

The mid-eighties saw the rise of transforming robot toys, with the success of Hasbro’s Transformers and Tonka’s GoBots driving an unbelievable number of others to produce cheap transforming robot toys for sale. Not surprisingly, and much like the promotional Rubik’s Cube toys of a few years earlier, transforming robot toys were also used as marketing devices. And that’s where today’s toy comes from, a time when manufacturers used robot toys to promote brands and spark consumer excitement.

Packaging

The small box, just slightly larger than a Coca-Cola can, shows off the Cherry Coke Robot in a fantasy transformation scene as well as the transformation instructions. There’s very little in the way of information printed on the box, and a careful study of the packaging doesn’t even reveal a copyright date. Hmmm. That now leaves me to ask: How can I be certain that this toy is from 1985? More research is required!

Can Mode

Here’s the Cherry Coke Robot in its alt mode as a can of Cherry Coke, which is certainly a passable enough design that would look more like a soda can if it weren’t for all of the visible seams. Still, I believe those are forgivable lines, especially when we consider that this toy is over thirty years old and from the early days of transforming robot toys.

Transformation Design

Take a close look at the instructions on the box for a clearer understanding of how the toy transforms, but the basic steps include pulling back on the ring — which triggers the spring-loaded opening of the parts — and then extending the arms and legs. Once you figure out the spring-loaded portion of the transformation it all comes together nicely, but that first transformation can be a little nerve-wracking; the toy’s not exactly easy-to-find and inexpensive these days.

Robot Mode

Once all of the parts are extended then the Cherry Coke Robot is ready for action. As you can tell by the photos, the robot toy is a barrel-chested beast of a plaything, and after a few moments you’ll find that the only articulation is in the arms — swivel joints at the shoulders and hinged elbows — meaning that what you see here is basically it for poseability.

This is an excellent collectible, for either transforming robot fans or Coca-Cola fans, and in searching online I’ve found that there was also a standard Coca-Cola design. I’ve read that there was a Diet Coke robot, but a quick search hasn’t revealed any pics of such a toy. Does anyone know how many times this design was used?

Closing Thoughts

This 1985 toy drives home just how popular cheap transforming robot toys actually were in the mid-eighties, and looking at this I’m kinda surprised that these days we don’t see promotional items like this when Transformers movies are in theaters. I guess today’s commercialism is all about brand rather than concept, though, so for this to really be a thing we would need to see Transformers and Coca-Cola officially partner and Hasbro devise toys for sale. I kinda miss the innocence of the past, because it sometimes feels like we get far fewer wacky things than we once did.