Torosaurus w/ Gunnur & Magnus
The Torosaurus was the Dino-Riders’ answer to the Triceratops. Though technically considered a 1st Series piece, the Torosaurus was apparently released sometime between the end of the 1st Series and the start of the 2nd Series. If you notice, the Torosaurus was not included in the back of the small comic book that was included in the 1st Series toys. However, it was included on the backs of the 1st, 2nd, and Commando figure packs. The Torosaurus had motorized walking action and its head would sway from side to side every time it walked. It also had a clear laser beam that would light up red when you pressed a button on its armor. Speaking of armor, the Torosaurus had plenty of it. It was covered in a shield of individual plates that open up to ambush unsuspecting foes when a button was pressed. It included Magnus and Gunnur, a regular character in the cartoon. The Torosaurus also had a starring role in one cartoon episode, “Toro Toro Torosaurus.” The box art depicted a red and black Torosaurus that looked a lot cooler than the final production version, which has a brown and green paintjob. In the end, however, it didn’t really make much of a difference because once the armor was placed on the toy, you could hardly see its color anyway. I also must give credit to the Super Toy Archive for discovering what appears to be a Torosaurus knock off. It looks more or less exactly like the real thing except for the color scheme, which is a dark brown. Initially, I was unsure as to whether this piece is an early prototype or a knock off. However, thanks to a true Dino-Rider fan named Jamie who happens to own this piece, he has provided additional pictures and details about the toy that suggests that it is indeed a knock-off. CHECK OUT THE FULL DETAILS ON THE TOROSAURUS KNOCK-OFF.
Production Version
Pre-Production Version