G1 Transformers Fortress Maximus with Cerebros & Spike

Written by Ralph on 11th June, 2008

Fortress Maximus is a warrior without compare – courageous, valiant, powerful… and yet a fervent pacifist who wishes that he will never have to fight again. For him, combat is entered into only out of necessity, in the name of saving the lives of other

You transformers fans have known this was coming since I mentioned focusing on the biggest playsets out there. While it’s not strictly a playset, I don’t think this theme would be complete without mentioning the Fortress Maximus.

The largest Transformers toy from Generation 1, Fortress Maximus has multiple configurations. He transforms into a compact “city” mode, and can also assume a secondary mode described in the US instruction as a “battle station.” This mode was rebranded as a starship for the Japanese instructions, and is the “default” mode for Fort Max in the Headmasters animated series. Additionally, the 1987 Hasbro toy catalog features a mis-transformed Fortress Maximus in a mode referred to as an “impenetable fortress,” essentially consisting of his city mode with the legs splayed outwards.

In all modes, Maximus has a wide array of pop-out (non-firing) guns and gimmicks. Its left leg hides a small prison cell, plus has a swing-out cannon/helipad. Its right leg has a small storage compartment. Its torso has a gear-activated spinner for the detachable radar array accessory, a “control socket” for Cerebros’ “communcations tower” mode, and a working elevator that can lift small toys up to its central ramp to be launched in its altmodes. (The crank for this elevator ends up in a very unfortunate position in robot mode.) Each arm had a long ramp on the back with sliding launchers for small vehicles.

Its robot-mode head is formed by Cerebros, who does not actually need Spike to attach to the upper body. It came with both Headmaster units, plus the Gasket and Grommet mini-vehicles. The Japanese release of Fortress Maximus came with a pair of swords; one for Fortress, a large one for Maximus. It is currently unknown if the swords were originally planned for the Hasbro version but dropped for price or safety concerns, or if they were a Takara-initiated addition to their release of the toy.

Based on Spike being about 6 feet tall and the toy being in scale, Cerebros would stand 16 feet 6 inches tall and Fortress Maximus would stand 185 feet tall.

During its time of release, Fortress Maximus retailed at $89.99, making him the most expensive Transformers toy in the U.S. market (a record that wasn’t met or broken for nearly two decades, until the release of 20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime and Ultimate Bumblebee). Maximus was also the third most expensive toy Hasbro produced at the time (behind the USS Flagg and Defiant Space Shuttle Complex from the G.I. Joe series).

This boxed complete version is currently selling for $510.00 with four days to go. The price should climb much higher than that, but shouldn’t come near the $1,800.00 or $2,000.00 the two versions currently available in eBay stores are stored at.

You should note too, that spare parts sell for pretty decent money as well, from $10.00 – $40.00.

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