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Taiyo Big Roader
SOLD: AU$120 on 12th January 2015
Scale: 1/14
Type: Ready To Run
Year of release: 1983
Condition: Excellent. Complete with Transmitter and Original Box
Batteries Required: 4 x C, 1 x 9volt (Car). 1 x 9volt (Transmitter)
Description
This Taiyo Big Roader is in excellent condition – barely used, and near new in box. It is an original, first release of this model Taiyo of Japan in 1983.
The car is 100% complete, very clean and 100% working. It has signs of very light use, but as the photos show there is barely even a scuff on the underside – suggesting it was barely run, and has sat for over 30 years almost without any use.
All functions work perfectly, and since this truck has barely been used, it operates “as new”, including the gear switch and 4WD transmission.
There are no decals missing and no breakages of any kind. The tyres are in good condition.
The original box is included and is quite old, with some tears and repairs, but it is still quite presentable with nice pictures on all sides.
Truly a beautiful little old school R/C 4×4 pickup, and a little piece of R/C history as well, since this car was truly one of the first (if not THE first) R/C monster truck. Can anyone think of another that was manufactured in either 1983 or earlier, in either the hobby grade or toy grade categories?
Please see the photos to understand the condition. Feel free to contact me to find out more.
History
Many people credit the Marui Big Bear as being the first example of an R/C “monster truck”, as it famously came out before Tamiya’s Blackfoot (itself a very early example). But the reality is that the Big Bear was released in 1984, while the ready-to-run R/C toy company Taiyo actually released their “Big Roader” in 1983 – a fact confirmed by Taiyo’s own history data. The Big Roader is authentically styled after a Ford Ranger monster truck, and is perhaps more famous for later being rebranded by Tandy / Radio Shack between 1985 – 1991 as the “Tandy / Radio Shack 4×4 Off-Roader” – which went on to sell in enormous quantities and was extremely popular. The Tandy trucks came in blue and yellow (2 different frequencies), and just about every vintage R/C fan in the world will remember them.
The Taiyo Big Roader is however, the original first release as first manufactured and sold by Taiyo in Japan, and around the world. It did not include the front bumper seen on the Tandy/Radio Shack release, but is otherwise quite similar – just a different shade of blue and with different decals.
These pickups are known for being quite robust, with a torquey low gear setting and large soft tyres that will easily climb over simple obstacles. If you like R/C monster trucks, then the Big Roader represents both a high quality vintage R/C model, and a nice piece of history.
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