Every collector has his or her show-off piece. For some it’s a piece with the most sentimental value. For others it’s their most rare and valuable item. For me, it’s a bit of both. Police Sunstreaker is my personal Holy Grail that I had been hunting for a while, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on one – even if it isn’t nearly as rare as other pieces out there.

Originally, I was looking for a Diakron DK-1 Red Pre-Sunstreaker, to recollect an old toy from my youth.  “Red” had come out on shelves at our local department store, Best, a little while before Hasbro released its inaugural G1 line in 1984, and I was lucky enough and scored good grades in order to score one. In the hands of a little seven year old, unfortunately, Car Robo didn’t last that long, and my only real memories of that red sports car were those of its worn-out chrome engine and spoilers.

But even as a child, I knew that there was something fishy when my local toy shop carried Kingdam Microchange knockoffs BEFORE Transformers came out. So when I discovered that there were, in fact, alternate versions to the toys that would be released as Transformers, I was thrilled to discover the Police Sunstreaker mould. (Learn all about its history from Maz here.) Thus began my pre-Transformers awakening and subsequent adult fascination with Diaclones. For me, Police Sunstreaker represents the ultimate consummation of pre-Transformers archaeology and nostalgic keepsake. It has made me a very happy boy and curbs my appetite for collecting other unnecessary plastic!