1979 年《機動戰士鋼彈》動畫首播後，日本玩具廠商クローバー以自家獨特的設計推出「鋼彈 DX 合體套裝」。這款商品在當時屬於高價位路線，定價 5800 日圓，並以巨大外箱、豐富零件與合體玩具風格著稱。由於年代久遠，現存的完整品相已極度稀少，也成為早期鋼彈玩具收藏圈裡的傳奇存在。

這套 DX 合體玩具忠實保留クローバー時期的特色：搶眼、充滿玩具味的配色、具有收藏視覺震撼的大箱體，以及大量以照片實拍呈現的包裝設計。當年 1981 年劇場版上映時，クローバー還特地將包裝圖換成更具動感的插畫，再度進行市場販售，可見其人氣曾相當高。外箱尺寸高約 49 公分、橫寬 37 公分，是任何收藏櫃都能一眼辨識的大型昭和玩具。

內容物以「合體」為核心概念，所有零件被如模型般整齊地排列在內盒中，並依照 GArmor 的結構配置。套件包含 G-Wing、G-Capsule、G-Caterpillar、鋼彈盾牌、光束武器、火箭炮、飛拳、各種彈藥與車輪等零件，甚至連 Core Fighter 的機首與尾翼都能拆卸。雖然貼紙多已因年代而缺失或使用過，但大部分本體零件依然保有昭和金屬玩具的質感與重量。

最令人驚喜的核心機構，就是鋼彈的「核心戰機系統」。這台 Core Fighter 是玩具時代的經典亮點，機體擁有意外接近劇中的造型表現，雖然表面有鍍銀與一些玩具化的線條，但整體仍保留鋼彈動畫裡的辨識度。其內部甚至配置重量平衡用的金屬塊，使其有著超乎視覺的扎實手感。機輪可以替換，用來實現昭和玩具特有的滑輪「跑跑」玩法，而經由變形收折後，Core Fighter 還能與 A、B 模組進行 Docking，組成完整的 RX-78 鋼彈，是當年最具魅力的玩具機構之一。

合體後的 RX-78 鋼彈擁有クローバー獨特的外觀風格，銀色與鍍金屬部位讓整體看起來華麗又帶著昭和味。頭部比例與線條帶著初代機設計稿的影響，因此雖然與動畫中的最終形象不同，卻反而呈現另一種珍貴的「原點美學」。身體各處含有金屬（ダイキャスト）結構，主要集中於腰部、膝下與軀幹，使本體有明顯重量感並可承受高強度的玩耍。雖說年代久遠難免出現鍍層脫落與色變，但那也是老玩具特有的時間痕跡。

玩具的可動範圍以昭和後期標準來說相當豐富，關節可做肩舉、肘彎、膝彎、頭部旋轉等動作。其手臂甚至具備「飛拳」功能，按下開關即可將拳頭射出，是當時流行的超合金玩具常用 gimmick。盾牌上直接印有《機動戰士鋼彈》節目標誌，也是昭和玩具才敢如此大膽的視覺呈現。武器種類繁多，包括火箭炮、光束軍刀、原創造型的 Rush Rifle，甚至還有極具クローバー代表性的「大型ソードジャベリン」，後來甚至在《機動戰士鋼彈 UC》的模型中以致敬形式回歸，可見其影響力並未被後世遺忘。

在市場評價方面，這款 DX 合體套裝雖然在當年銷量並不如超合金玩具那樣壓倒性，但在後來的收藏市場卻呈現極高稀缺性。主要原因是クローバー當年與鋼彈的營收結構不佳，導致商品多數未大量流通，加上其龐大體積常難以保存，因此現今完整外箱、配件齊全的版本已相當罕見，價格多年來持續攀升，被視為鋼彈玩具史上的重要里程碑。對玩具收藏者而言，這不只是一個鋼彈模型，更是昭和玩具產業、金屬成形工藝與早期鋼彈品牌環境的象徵。

即便與現代精緻模型相比，クローバー版鋼彈的造型被視為「充滿玩具味的古典風格」，但這正是其魅力所在。它代表著還沒有「寫實系機械」概念的年代，代表著動畫尚未大爆紅之前的原初想像，更代表著早期日本玩具業界那種毫不拘束、天馬行空、敢於創新的精神。因此，今日的收藏家往往將它視為鋼彈玩具史上不可替代的一段傳奇。

After the Mobile Suit Gundam anime first aired in 1979, the Japanese toy manufacturer Clover released the “Gundam DX Combination Set,” a product that fully embodied the company’s distinctive design style. At the time, it was positioned as a high-end item, priced at 5,800 yen, and became known for its massive box, abundant components, and the signature “combining toy” aesthetics popular during the era. Due to its age, surviving units in complete condition are now extremely rare, turning it into a legendary artifact among early Gundam toy collectors.

The DX Combination Set preserved all the hallmark traits of Clover’s design philosophy: eye-catching colors with a playful, toy-like charm, a visually striking oversized package, and packaging dominated by real-photograph displays of the contents. When the 1981 Gundam compilation films were released in theaters, Clover even redesigned the box with new, dynamic illustrations for another market launch—a testament to the product’s popularity at the time. The exterior box stands roughly 49 cm tall and 37 cm wide, making it an unmistakable presence in any collection of vintage Shōwa-era toys.

Inside the box, the concept of “combination” defines the entire layout. All components are neatly arranged in the inner tray, almost like a model kit, and organized according to the structure of the GArmor. The set includes parts for the G-Wing, G-Capsule, G-Caterpillar, the Gundam’s shield, beam weapons, rocket launcher, launching fists, various projectiles, wheels, and even detachable nose and tail units for the Core Fighter. Although many of the original stickers have been lost or used due to the passage of time, most of the main components still retain the weight and texture characteristic of vintage metal toys.

The most delightful highlight of the set is the “Core Fighter system.” This Core Fighter represents one of the defining features of early Gundam toys. Despite the toy-like chrome finishing and simplified sculpting, it captures the core design and recognizable silhouette from the anime surprisingly well. A metal ballast block is built inside to improve weight balance, giving it a denser hand-feel than expected. The landing wheels can be swapped out to enable the classic Shōwa-era “rolling action,” and when folded into its compact form, the Core Fighter docks seamlessly with Modules A and B to form the complete RX-78 Gundam—one of the most iconic mechanisms of the toy.

Once combined, the RX-78 Gundam takes on Clover’s unique aesthetic identity. Chrome silver and gold accents give it a flashy yet unmistakably Shōwa-era presence. The head sculpt reflects an early-draft interpretation of the design, differing from the anime’s final look but presenting a rare and valuable “prototype-era beauty.” Die-cast metal components are incorporated into the waist, lower legs, and torso, giving the figure substantial weight and structural durability for rough play. Though aging can lead to peeling chrome or discoloration, these marks are widely regarded as the natural patina of a vintage toy surviving four decades.

For a late-Shōwa toy, articulation is surprisingly versatile. The Gundam can raise its arms, bend its elbows and knees, and rotate its head. The arms also feature a shooting-fist mechanism—a classic gimmick of super-robot toys from the period. The shield prominently displays the Mobile Suit Gundam logo, a bold and unapologetic choice typical of toys from the era. The weapon selection is extensive: a rocket launcher, beam sabers, an original “Rush Rifle,” and Clover’s signature oversized “Sword Javelin,” which became so iconic that Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn later reintroduced it in model form as a tribute.

In terms of market reception, the DX Combination Set was not a commercial juggernaut in its time—partly due to Clover’s strained business relationship with the Gundam franchise, which limited production and distribution. Its enormous package also made long-term preservation difficult. As a result, complete units with intact boxes and full accessories have become extraordinarily rare in the modern collectors’ market. Prices have steadily climbed for years, and the set is now regarded as a major milestone in the history of Gundam merchandise. For collectors, it is far more than just a toy; it represents the Shōwa toy industry, early Japanese metal-casting craftsmanship, and the formative stage of the Gundam brand.

Even though its design differs drastically from the realistic mechanical style embraced by modern model kits, the Clover Gundam’s “toy-flavored retro aesthetics” are precisely what make it appealing. It symbolizes a time before realism became the standard, before Gundam became a cultural phenomenon, and back when Japanese toy makers freely experimented with bold, imaginative, and uninhibited ideas. For these reasons, collectors today continue to view the Clover DX Set as an irreplaceable legend in the history of Gundam toys.