Name of old Japanese cartoon about cars that combine to form a large vehicle.?

Question

I used to watch this cartoon a long time ago. About 25 years ago. I don't know how old it really is. It was about a team of drivers that could combine their cars (and one plane) into a large vehicle. What is the name of this show?

It's not transformers or gobots. It is older than these two. It was in Japanese and subtitled in English.

I couldn't find Godana on the internet. It wasn't Mazinger Z. I remember that one. I live in CA and in the Bay Area, they used to show this cartoon on Sunday night on channel 26. I think the cars were apart of a race team. When they got in trouble they combined to form this really big car. They each had some device like a grappling hook or something like that. There was the center car (the leader). Then there were two cars that attached them selves to the sides. A car was in the back. A plane then flew on to the top rear. I can't remember if there were 3 more cars in the front. So I don't remember if there were 5 team members or 8. I was relatively known. When I would go to Japan Town in San Francisco they had posters and toys based on cartoon. ARGH!!! This is like having a song stuck in your head and you can't get rid of it.

Answer 1

Gatchaman ("Battle of the Planets" in the US)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFWdPUEfDGw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIRoIwsCwXA

Combattler V
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJCKm8GdqA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diHKp9bh3es

Getter Robo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8XxPmObYCA&mode=related&search=
Getter Robo G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7-7ffgPAko

Supercar Gattaiger
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~sashimi/index.html
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~sashimi/labo_003.htm
http://robotjapan.proboards12.com/index.cgi?board=OthersTakatoku&action=display&thread=1181532088


hope this helps.

Answer 2

Mazinger Z (Tranzor Z in America)? It had a hovering thing that had to be flown up to the top to activate the robot, but the rest of it wasn't built from cars, though.

25 years ago would be early '80s. There's a list of "Super Robot" anime on Wikipedia arranged by decade, though I didn't see something matching on a quick scan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_robot

"Godana" probably refers to Godannar, which is post-2000.

Channel 26 plays shows straight from Japan (used to be a favorite to watch from the hotel room when I traveled to San Jose), so it's not necessarilly a series that would be familiar to Americans.

Answer 3

it grew to become into one in each of theses those are the only robotic shows that performed on toonami in 2003. Martian Successor Nadesico (substantial robotic Week) Gigantor (substantial robotic Week) Neon Genesis Evangelion (substantial robotic Week) Dai-shelter (substantial robotic Week) Cyborg 009 SD Gundam

Answer 4

Supercar Gattiger. I also watched it when I lived in CA back in the 70's as a kid.

Answer 5

Godana?

Answer 6

gobots

Answer 7

TRANSFORMER!!!!