Gang of 5

Machine Man surfaced in the 1990s and attracted the sort of interest that once surrounded Mr Atomic. The number of finds has grown steadily and a box has emerged as well. The price at auction continues to rise.

Take a Train Robot body, give it a regular square head, fit a new litho panel in the chest and you have the hybrid Machine Man. Earliest comments on the robot suggested that it was created to use up the parts left over from the other members of the Gang of Five. All that was needed was a Machine Man chest plate, and you have a new robot. It has also been suggested that the name "MachineMan" upset the manufacturers of the whistling plastic robot of the same name, so it had to be withdrawn.

It can't claim to be the rarest robot any more, but given its size and its classy pedigree it is likely to be one of the dearest.