What is considered a toy outboard variant? A toy outboard that has a notable difference within the same make and model production year as created and shipped by the original manufacturer.

Why are there variants? To reduce cost and waste, many manufacturers never disposed of many materials from one production year to the next. Also, to continually reduce costs many manufacturers would eliminate or alter production methods. These cost and waste reduction methods created what we in the toy outboard community consider to be “factory correct variants”.  

Are similar looking motors with different branding considered variants? No, there are some motors with the same shape and manufacturing that carry different branding and/or color schemes. These are not considered variants just additional brands of a particular toy outboard.