The Lesser-Known Robots of Yesterday

In the collectible toy world when you hear 1980’s you automatically think of Transformers, Gobots, Voltron, or maybe even Robotech. All of which were fantastic toy lines that correlated with an animated cartoon on television. However, how many of you reading this today remember playing with GoDaikin? If you do, you were one of the luckiest children in the neighborhood. GoDaikin was a distinctive toy line of Japanese diecast super robots released by Bandai America in 1982. The first series included ten of the most popular Deluxe scale Chogokin figures released in Japan by Popy. The toys would be shipped from Japan already in their Styrofoam insert then boxed at the Bandai headquarters in New Jersey where they would receive the North American packaging. Now, if you were one of the lucky few who’s parents would spend forty to eighty dollars on a robot you still might be asking who these guys are! The answer is pretty easy, you shouldn’t know. Tetsujin-28, Combattra, Voltes V, Daimos, God Marz, the list goes on. All amazing toys and characters that were given zero context in the United States, which ultimately led to the failure of the GoDaikin toy line.

Jumping to present day as much as I truly love Transformers and their impact on my childhood, it does not get any better than GoDaikin. The history, design, the quality of the toys, I get excited just writing this article. I say history because almost everyone recognizes Voltron, but you should know him as GoLion. The Matchbox Voltron was released in 1984 alongside the cartoon, but we actually had “Voltron” in this country two years before! I hope you can follow that! Plus, the part that everyone wants to hear is that if you have or find a GoDaikin in the box today they are some of the most valuable 1980’s toys. A complete mint-in-box Tetsujin-28 will easily cost you $2,000 to $3,000 today depending on condition, a Voltes V, Combattra, or GoLion $1,000 to $1,500. They were expensive in 1982 and they’re way more expensive today. I don’t collect many things, but when any mint, unused GoDaikin appears on the market that is something I need to take home for the personal collection.