The 1987 Mexican IGA Transformers release of Outback follows the same trend as the other Mexican series 3 minibots in that it is a straight repaint of a series 1 release (Brawn), as opposed to the remould the US, UK, Japan etc received. This Brawn-mould toy, repainted in near-Outback colours, would have been sold in Mexico on Outback cards. This release was among many Mexican Transformers to be exported to European countries in the late 80s.

Of all the variants of Brawn I have seen and reviewed, this particular variant is one of my favourites.

While there are a number of Brawn variants from different lines (Microchange, Robocar, Peruvian Lynsaformers) where the vehicle mode is this kind of cream, not many of them have a second colour quite as nice as the Mexican Outback for the robot mode torso. You can see a little of it from the vehicle mode, and you'll see more later. The copyright for this piece is visible in the above pictures and is of the un-blocked Mexican variety.

The first clue that this isn't just a regular Outback should be the section below the chrome grill which doesn't jut out as much as on the remoulded US TF. Also, there is no rubsign on the Mexican Outback. As far as Mexican TFs go though, the quality is actually pretty good and there is a nice solid feel to this piece.

Carded series 3 Mexican minibots are some of the rarest packaged TFs in existence, but recently a few more of them have been spotted loose and in mint condition, and that could be the result of a warehouse find in Mexico, although quite why a warehouse find wouldn't have included packaging I'm not sure. If indeed that was even the case...

The above picture compares the Mexican Outback to a regular US Outback. Even though the Mexican Brawn-shaped Outback is supposed to be the same thing, the colours are slightly off. That will be more apparent in robot mode. Another omission for the Mexican release was of course the gun that should be mounted on top of the spare tyre. The above picture shows how different the US Outback's front end is, and how much further it juts out.

Being a repaint of the earlier Mexican Brawn, the Mexican Outback understandably has a great deal more in common, mould-wise, with a US Brawn than a US Outback.

The picture below compares the Mexican Outback's colours in vehicle mode with that of the chrome-less Peruvian cream/green Brawn (middle) and the US Outback (right):

The real weapon in Mexican Outback's armoury, however, is the superb-looking robot mode:

The robot mode for this Mexican Outback features a lovely sparkling maroon torso section. The metalflake plastic effect is even visible in vehicle mode as well. To see it in person is very impressive indeed and I'm not convinced the pictures do it anywhere near enough justice.

I'm always talking about toys with nice contrasting colours, but the visual effect of this Mex Outback with the cream/maroon/chrome combination is really very classy and very effective.

It's a bit of a shame he doesn't have any factory stickers on him, but the condition of the figure makes up for it. It's very far from worn. The Mexican Swerve is made up mostly of the same sparkly maroon plastic as this Outback has on his torso, and as a result that particular figure looks brilliant as well.

Here's a close-up of the Mexican Outback robot head:

The paint application is not too bad and the moulding is better than with some of examples of Mexican Transformers (for example jet fists).

To see just how lovely the sparkly maroon is compared to the dull brown of a US Outback, here they are side-by-side:

Of course, you can see all the new moulding features of the US Outback as well such as the re-tooled headsculpt, hands and torso section. I do prefer the Brawn mould to the Outback mould, and I prefer the colours as well. Here's the Mexican Outback alongside the US Brawn, followed by a picture of all three together:

The above picture demonstrates the missing-link effect of these series 3 minibots, and it's really a lovely thing to behold. Even moreso when the missing link in question is arguably nicer than the two toys it is a hybrid of! And it is because of the aforementioned effect that I feel these series 3 minicars are so much more than just an add-on to a well-established area of Transformers collecting. They are significant variants with significant and traceable roots that are actually very visually appealing, and this Mexican Outback is a great example. It combines, in my opinion, a superior mould from one toy with a superior colour scheme from another. The results speak for themselves...

All the best
Maz