Camshaft (G1)

Camshaft is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Mild-mannered ninja stuntman who performs daring feats of bravery while avoiding brave feats of daring.

Camshaft is an Omnibot tasked with covert operations, like scouting^[1][2] and tracking.^[3] He follows orders faithfully, but being on spy missions sometimes makes him paranoid that others are spying on him. If there's one thing he does trust, it's his super-hard body armor.^[3] Despite that and his notable intelligence, his sense of self-preservation is still so strong that he can't be counted on for battlefield heroics.^[1]

He and the other Omnibots are dimension-hoppers,^[2][4] so it's unclear whether his appearances in various realities are separate entities or the same individual. In particular, a scout named "Camshaft" in the Universe War was known as Optimus Prime's bold and grim shadow-warrior, with acrobatic prowess bar none, advanced scanning equipment, and unorthodox hand-to-hand fighting skills.^[5]

Fiction

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

His alt-mode is scouting so hard, you can't even see it.

Camshaft and the other two 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 presented the first distinguishing characteristic of Camshaft's personality (that he was a scout), then 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.

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Legends comic

Camshaft was among the Autobots who defended Autobot headquarters when the Decepticons came to steal the Transform Super Cog. Slugslinger's Ambition

Train Wars

When The Fallen attacked Cybertron in the hopes of merging with Vector Sigma, Overdrive sought additional help using the power of his Quantum Dial. Further empowering the dial with the help of the Oracle, Overdrive reached across space and time to recruit inter-dimensional warriors, as well as his fellow Omnibots, Downshift and Camshaft. Train WarsThe Fallen assumed a combination form, however, and managed to impale Camshaft and the reinforcements using energy spikes. Metroplex, the Trainbots, the Train Team, and the Liner Team soon arrived to turn the tide, and the Fallen was ultimately defeated. In the aftermath, Camshaft and the Omnibots returned the foreign warriors home after the battle. Train Wars 2

The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers

Camshaft is on the right, which is left in Japan.

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.

Trunk activated; junk deployed.

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. The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

When Shockwave released Menasor from containment within the Detention Banks, the combiner attacked Iacon, leaving a crumpled pile of Camshaft and the other two Omnibots in its wake. Passive Aggression

Toys

The Transformers

My name is a lie!

• Camshaft (Omnibot, 1984)

• Takara name: Downshift
• Accessories: neutron blaster, 2 rockets
• Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy)

A re-release of one of the three "Double Changers" from Takara's Diaclone line, The Transformers Camshaft transforms into a Mazda RX-7 Series 2. He also has a third "assault mode" which compacts his car's length and flips out his spring-loaded missile launcher from his rear window. (It looks even dippier than it sounds.)

He was only available in both the U.S. and Japanese markets as a mail-order item. In the US, he cost $5 and four robot points; the Omnibots first appeared in the vey first mail-away offer, "Reinforcements from Cybertron!". In Japan, he cost 980 yen and only 2 robot points.

Camshaft and Downshift had their names swapped for their Japanese Transformers mail-away releases (which were also available in 1985), presumably because the real-life Mazda RX-7 featured a rotary (or Wankel) engine that does not actually have a camshaft. The Takara versions also had Tech Specs, unlike the Hasbro versions.

• Omnibot Camshaft information at TFU.info

Alternators

Bluestreak's brother from another mother.

• Autobot Camshaft (Alternator, 2006)

• ID number: 23
• Accessories: engine-gun, light baton
• Known designers: Steve Bono (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

Released in the fifth wave of the second "assortment" of Hasbro Alternators (with the white bubble-topped packaging, nineteenth wave of Alternators overall), Camshaft is a retooling of the Prowl toy, transforming 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. His rear spoiler and hubcaps are also changed from Prowl's; however, they are the same as those of the blue "civilian" Prowl from Takara's Binaltech version of the line.

Like the other late-series Alternators, Camshaft has a state-specific license plate, sporting an abbreviated form of his name, "CAM SHFT", registered in the Ocean State of Rhode Island (also the home of Hasbro).

Camshaft's deco was originally designed with Bluestreak in mind—specifically, the original Diaclone deco for the Generation 1 toy depicted in early catalogs and the toy's instructions. An early leaked sample even sported an abbreviated form of the name "Bluestreak", "BLU STRK", on its license plate.^[6] Hasbro planned to release the silver deco at the same time, as a Subaru Impreza WRX, under the name "Silverstreak". However, the trademark "Bluestreak" wasn't available for use, so the blue toy was released as "Autobot Camshaft" instead.

The tampographed deco on Alternators Camshaft's shoulders (also Bluestreak-inspired) somehow ended up on the back of the shoulders, a weird fluke that somehow passed through quality control. It's possible that this happened because the deco designer didn't take into consideration the fact that the pegs that connect the forearms to the shoulders in vehicle mode are located on the front side of the shoulders, which would have made it difficult to tampograph the deco around them, and thus maybe someone at the factory decided to put the deco on the side without the peg.^[7][8]

• Alternators Camshaft information at TFU.info

Universe (2003)

His feet look tasty.

• Autobot Camshaft (Spy Changer, 2006)

• Accessories: Rifle

Released in the second wave of Universe Spy Changers in the toyline's later stages, and sold primarily through "discount" outlets, 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.

This sculpt was also used to make Gearhead and the Generation 2 Go-Bot Soundwave. It was planned to be used to make Generation 2 Greasepit, but that toy was ultimately unreleased.

As with many Universe characters, it is unclear whether this Camshaft is meant to be the same individual as his Generation 1 predecessor. He is included here because his on-package bio bears the same function ("Scout") as presented in the previous mail-order flyers and Dreamwave profile.

This toy was repurposed as Shattered Glass Camshaft.

• More information on Camshaft (actually, W.A.R.S.) at TFU.info

Generations (Japan)

• Downshift (2015)
  • Accessories: Presumably gun/blade

A mock-up of a new Japanese "Downshift" toy in the form of a 2008 Universe Deluxe Class Ironhide redeco was shown in Transformers Generations 2014 Volume 1 as one of ten potential exclusives for Vol. 2. During the fan poll held to determine which of the ten would be produced, Camshaft claimed only 1.6% of the votes, leaving him in second-to-last place,^[9] with Goshooter to win.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Private Camshaft, Special Ops•Scout (2019)
  • Wave 3C: Convention Pack 2019
  • Rarity: RT
  • Card Number: T01/T03
  • Stars: 8

Notes

• An image from the mini-catalog that came with the Diaclone predecessors of the Omnibots depicted the toy that would eventually become Generation 1 Camshaft with a Bluestreak-esque head, which some fans believe may have been one of the inspirations for the Alternators Autobot Camshaft toy...but this seems highly unlikely.
• The road to having a personality has been a long and rocky one for Camshaft:
  • The bio included with his North American toy was buried in his instructions, and all it said was that the Omnibots were in the early stages of their evolution and had not yet been tested.^[10]
  • He was given his "Scout" function in the last mail-in flyer that offered him, just in time for him to venture off into "another dimension." That would be the long and short of his official English-language characterization for almost twenty years.
  • In Japan, Takara did release a bio with the toy, though his function of "Tracker" did not match up with the American one. That, and his and Downshift's names somehow got swapped.^[3]
  • None of this reflected the profile found in the Marvel comic bible, which was written in both Transformers Universe form and in the pared-down style of an on-package bio (with Tech Specs, even!), giving him a very different personality from any other portrayal: His function was "Road Warrior," and he was said to be recklessly overconfident, tearing up the highways and literally pulverizing cars with no regard for human safety.^[11] This was never officially released to the public, only seeing the light of day on The Allspark Forums in 2007 thanks to Jim Sorenson.
  • The English-speaking public finally got an official profile for Camshaft in Dreamwave's 2003 More Than Meets the Eye comic. This naturally presented another personality, keeping the "Scout" function but otherwise having little or no relation to anything else that had come before.^[1]
• In later years, toys sporting the name "Camshaft" required an additional "Autobot" prefix for trademark reasons, making the official name "Autobot Camshaft".
• The Alternators Mazda RX-8 (which ultimately ended up as Meister) was originally intended to be named "Camshaft", according to various early store listings and a premature reply from Hasbro's customer service. This would also fit with the early idea of making the Alternators toys "direct updates" of their characters' Generation 1 predecessors. A prototype was leaked to the public in early 2004 sporting the same basic colors as the later Alternators "Autobot Camshaft" toy (the Acura RSX), although it's uncertain whether the prototype colors for the RX-8 were supposed to be indicative of the proposed colors for Camshaft (since the Acura redeco was originally intended as a Bluestreak homage before being renamed into "Autobot Camshaft"). The reason the RX-8 Alternator was ultimately not named "Camshaft" was apparently because the real-life Mazda RX-8 car doesn't have a camshaft. Of course, Camshaft's original RX-7 mode didn't have a camshaft either, but it's unlikely anyone gave a damn (except very few rotary fans that got a good laugh) since that wasn't a licensed toy.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Downshift (ダウンシフト Daunshifuto), Camshaft (カムシャフト Kamushafuto)

References