Omnibot (G1)

The Omnibots are an Autobot subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Camshaft must've pissed the photographer off.

The Omnibots are a trio of Autobots whose distinctive feature is an advanced "armored car" mode involving the deploying of weapons and/or wings from their otherwise-nondescript automobile modes. They have been known to dimension-hop.^[1][2][3]

The team consists of:

• Camshaft
• Downshift
• Overdrive

Fiction

S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers

Overdrive, no! The text means you no harm!

The Omnibots were featured in several recruitment messages directed at human allies. The first message detailed the Omnibots' arrival on Earth: The Autobots marooned on that planet had sent an S.O.S. to Cybertron, despite not knowing if anyone would be there to receive it. Luckily, their plea was answered in the form of the Omnibots, Powerdashers, and Time Warriors. The Omnibots quickly adapted to Earth's highways, scouting for and attacking Decepticons. Reinforcements from Cybertron! This message was later repeated almost verbatim, with minor changes made to accommodate a recruitment drive for S.T.A.R.S. The battle is far from over!

The Omnibot Overdrive personally narrated the next message, describing how he and his comrades had turned the tide in the Autobots' favor and were gearing up to strike at hidden Decepticon bases. However, Optimus Prime was holding back until human allies had been mobilized. Overdrive seemed to be speaking specifically to military personnel, and his message segued into the activities of G.I. Joe and Cobra. Earthlings: THE S.T.A.R.S. need your help now!

The next pair of messages told the story of Johnny, a young S.T.A.R.S. member whose town came under Thundercracker's energy-draining attack. He summoned a squad of Autobot cars as well as the Omnibots, but it is unknown how the presumed battle unfolded. Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?

The final message involving the Omnibots was delivered from Ultra Magnus to the potential new S.T.A.R.S. Commander. Magnus claimed that the Omnibots were "destined to fight a war in another universe on March 31, 1987" if the S.T.A.R.S. Commander did not requisition them. You Have Been Chosen. And, indeed, they were absent from all future messages.

The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers comic

They strike action poses all the time.

During a massive battle on Feminia, Galvatron introduced his latest combining warrior, Predaking. Predaking simultaneously took out Defensor, Omega Supreme, and Superion with a single punch, causing much worry for the Autobots, as Sky Lynx was already engaged in battle on Earth.

From out of nowhere came Camshaft, Downshift and Overdrive. They swiftly shifted into their vehicle mode and circled Predaking, tying up his legs with cable. Predaking swatted at them to no avail!

Then the Omnibots transformed into their battle modes and...drove at Predaking, which caused him to topple backwards onto Bruticus, Devastator, and Menasor, taking them all out.

The assembled Autobots cheered for these three mighty warriors of great justice, who were subsequently never seen or heard from again. The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

The Omnibots were defeated by the rampaging Menasor, unleashed on Iacon by Shockwave. War and Peace

2005 IDW continuity

Downshift and Overdrive were among the Autobots stationed on the Autobot Orbital Command Hub. Stormbringer #1

Ask Vector Prime

Most iterations of the Omnibots are not dimension-hoppers. Dimension-hopping versions of the Omnibots rarely fight against true multiversal threats, and prefer to adventure across the multiverse and lend a helping hand to those in need. Ask Vector Prime

Toys

The Transformers

Omni wasn't that good a game. Or car, for that matter. It was a cool magazine though.

• Omnibots (1985)
  • Camshaft
  • Downshift
  • Overdrive

• Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy)

The Omnibots were only available via mail-order, costing $5 USD and 4 Robot Points. They came with instructions, decals, some weapon attachments, but no proper bios or Tech Specs. This was "explained" in the instructions, which claimed that the characters were so new that they hadn't had a chance to be tested before shipping off to Earth.

The toys were a set of Diaclone car models unused in the first run of the Transformers figures, and which kept their Diaclone colors and paints as opposed to the rest of the Autobot lineup. They are slightly smaller than the standard Autobot cars of the time, with a similar design style and aesthetic.

Though not technically Triple Changers, the Omnibots were the first Transformers to feature "third" modes, in which panels folded out from their car modes to form wings and/or allow attachment of weapons and accessories.

Binaltech

Windcharger could never figure out why Overdrive was more popular with the ladies.

• Overdrive (2004)

For the Binaltech line, Overdrive was given a new alternate mode as a licensed 1:24 scale Honda S2000 sports car with a removable "ragtop" roof, which doubles as a shield in robot mode, plus a replacement "folded down" ragtop roof piece. Like most Alternators toys, Overdrive features rubber tires, opening doors, hood and trunk, a detailed driver/passenger compartment complete with seats, dashboard and steering wheel and a working "steering" mechanism (though not connected to the steering wheel).

Alternators

Bluestreak's brother from another mother.

• Autobot Camshaft (2006)

A retool of the Alternators Prowl toy, Camshaft transforms into a 1:24-scale licensed Acura RSX, complete with opening doors, hood, trunk, and an open passenger compartment. His engine becomes a non-firing cannon, plus he carries a clear-plastic nightstick.

Universe

Camshaft gets two new toys, this must make Downshift the ignored child of the team.

• Autobot Camshaft (Spy Changer, 2006)

For Universe, Camshaft is identical to the last KB Toys exclusive redeco of W.A.R.S., transforming into a clear-purple NASCAR Ford Thunderbird stock car. He features through-axle construction that allows him to zip along quickly on smooth surfaces, plus he is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" racetracks. He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.

Notes

• The road to having personalities has been a long and rocky one for the Omnibots.
  • The bios included with their North American toys were buried in their instructions, and all they said was that the Omnibots were in the early stages of their evolution and had not yet been tested.^[4]
  • They were only given functions in the last mail-order flyer that offered them, just in time for them to venture off into "another dimension." That would be the long and short of their official English-language characterization for almost twenty years.
  • In Japan, Takara did release bios with the toys, though their functions bore no relation to the American ones.^[5]
  • And none of this reflected the profiles found in the Marvel comic bible, which were written in both Transformers Universe form and in the pared-down style of on-package bios (with Tech Specs, even!)^[6] These were never officially released to the public.
  • The English-speaking public finally got official Omnibot profiles in Dreamwave's 2003 More Than Meets the Eye comic. These bore varying degrees of similarity to all of the sources preceding them.
• The three Omnibots were among the ten redeco mock-ups shown in Transformers Generations 2014 Volume 1 as potential exclusives for Vol. 2... but perhaps unsurprisingly due to their general lack of prominence, the three of them ended up as the least successful of the options, with Overdrive placing eighth, Camshaft ninth, and Downshift dead last in tenth.^[7]
• The Omnibots’ unusual third modes are very similar in concept to the third mode gimmick exhibited by Tracks and his ilk, but any potential relation between the designs is unclear.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Double Changer (ダブルチェンジャー Daburu Chenjā), Omnibot (オムニボット Omunibotto)

References