Tamiya started 1/10 scale touring car?
11-22-2006, 10:06 PM
#1
Tamiya started 1/10 scale touring car?
I heard that Tamiya was the first manufacture to start 1/10 scale touring car.
Is it true?
Is it true?
11-22-2006, 10:19 PM
#2
ok I did some research and found this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamiya
look at the last section of "Cars (1/10 scale)" it says...
"The TA01/TA02 chassis series from the early-mid 1990s were sold with various bodyshells. The TA01 was based on Tamiya's Manta Ray buggy, and was one of the first kits on the market to be sold with a realistic body coupled with a capable, easy-handling 4WD chassis. Some said it was the first RC "Touring Car." Some of these bodyshells are among the most realistic and detailed lexan bodies made by any manufacturer. Models worthy of note are the E30 BMW M3, W201 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution-II, Ford Escort Cosworth and the Lancia Delta Integrale. Original versions of these models fetched high prices from collectors until recently, when Tamiya re-released them."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamiya
look at the last section of "Cars (1/10 scale)" it says...
"The TA01/TA02 chassis series from the early-mid 1990s were sold with various bodyshells. The TA01 was based on Tamiya's Manta Ray buggy, and was one of the first kits on the market to be sold with a realistic body coupled with a capable, easy-handling 4WD chassis. Some said it was the first RC "Touring Car." Some of these bodyshells are among the most realistic and detailed lexan bodies made by any manufacturer. Models worthy of note are the E30 BMW M3, W201 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution-II, Ford Escort Cosworth and the Lancia Delta Integrale. Original versions of these models fetched high prices from collectors until recently, when Tamiya re-released them."
11-23-2006, 12:50 AM
#3
Tech Elite
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Melbourne, Australia. Home of rc-mini.net
Posts: 3,549
Trader Rating: 7 (100%+)
From memory (and yes I was around then) the first car was this one. Tamiya 58113 BMW Evo on the TA01 chassis... I might be wrong about the specific car but I'm 99% sure Tamiya started it all...
Last edited by tony gray; 08-06-2008 at 01:06 AM.
11-23-2006, 12:55 AM
#4
i thought their first touring car car was the skyline?
11-23-2006, 12:58 AM
#5
I thought it was the R32 Skyline GT-R body on the TA01...which is a modified version of the Manta Ray. Well that was way before my time anyways (I was born in '89) so I might be wrong...
11-23-2006, 01:06 AM
#6
Tech Elite
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Melbourne, Australia. Home of rc-mini.net
Posts: 3,549
Trader Rating: 7 (100%+)
Thats why I posted.. I knew it was a TA01 (which the BMW is) but I wasnt sure which one...
I've done some checking and its actually this one. 58096 Celica. This is THE first TA01 based Touring Car..(Skyline was 58099)
I've done some checking and its actually this one. 58096 Celica. This is THE first TA01 based Touring Car..(Skyline was 58099)
Last edited by tony gray; 08-06-2008 at 01:06 AM.
11-23-2006, 01:47 AM
#8
I had the Alfa 155 when it first came out. I think that was one of the first ones too but on a different chassis than the Skyline. I seem to remember the MB, Celica's, BMW's and the Alfa were out all around the same time. I sort of got out of racing at that time but what I can remember is that Tamiya started the "touring" car but I want to say it was popularized more so by HPI...I may be wrong though.
11-23-2006, 04:37 AM
#10
Tech Apprentice
what about the yokomo yr-4??? it was introduced in that time also.
I had the ta01 ford cosworth, still got the bodyshell somewhere.
I had the ta01 ford cosworth, still got the bodyshell somewhere.
11-23-2006, 08:36 AM
#11
Tamiya is the company that gets the credit for introducing touring car to the RC world.
In 1995 I raced with a club that was exclusively 1/12 scale. That's really all there was. There were a handful of Chinese guys whose main business was importing from Hong Kong. One day they showed up with 5 new cars from Tamiya that were not available in the US yet. I think they were TA-01's. They raced them and they were horrible! Traction rolls were the norm. But something caught everyone's eye; they were having fun! 1/12 scale had become extremely competitive and slower drivers were beginning to lose interest. When the TA-01 became available in the US, many people got one to try the new "fun" class. It wasn't long before the new sedan class was rivaling 1/12 in turnout.
As the popularity of the class increased, other compaines began making "competition" sedan kits. I don't remember which was first, but this was when the Yokomo YR-4 and the HPI RS-4 came out. The Yokomo car was difficult to set up, but the RS-4 gained a reputation as a tank! It was tough to break. HPI ruled touring car for a couple years, until Associated finally released their TC3.
I still say the worst day in RC was the day Masami Hirosaka drove a touring car. At that point sedan went from being a fun class to being an all out competion class. And why you have $400+ touring cars today.
About the same time the TA-02 came out Tamiya also released the F-103 Formula One car. Now that was a fun car to race!
In 1995 I raced with a club that was exclusively 1/12 scale. That's really all there was. There were a handful of Chinese guys whose main business was importing from Hong Kong. One day they showed up with 5 new cars from Tamiya that were not available in the US yet. I think they were TA-01's. They raced them and they were horrible! Traction rolls were the norm. But something caught everyone's eye; they were having fun! 1/12 scale had become extremely competitive and slower drivers were beginning to lose interest. When the TA-01 became available in the US, many people got one to try the new "fun" class. It wasn't long before the new sedan class was rivaling 1/12 in turnout.
As the popularity of the class increased, other compaines began making "competition" sedan kits. I don't remember which was first, but this was when the Yokomo YR-4 and the HPI RS-4 came out. The Yokomo car was difficult to set up, but the RS-4 gained a reputation as a tank! It was tough to break. HPI ruled touring car for a couple years, until Associated finally released their TC3.
I still say the worst day in RC was the day Masami Hirosaka drove a touring car. At that point sedan went from being a fun class to being an all out competion class. And why you have $400+ touring cars today.
About the same time the TA-02 came out Tamiya also released the F-103 Formula One car. Now that was a fun car to race!
11-23-2006, 11:35 AM
#12
Originally Posted by Timpo
I heard that Tamiya was the first manufacture to start 1/10 scale touring car.
Is it true?
Is it true?
11-23-2006, 11:50 AM
#13
From what I recall, I think the 1:12 Porsche 959 was one of Tamiya's first 4wd on-road/rally cars. I think it was released in the late 80's. I remember strapping in a 12 turn in that puppy and the thing used to fly.
As for the TAO1 chassis, I bought a Alfa Romeo in the early 90's and glued some foam tires on the rubber tire rims and slapped it down at my lhs The Track. I soon switched to the Yokomo YR-4 and a true sedan class was created as more people started to buy the YR-4's at The Track. Then sedan just exploded in the U.S. in the mid 90's. I switched to the YR4-M2 and then I ran an FSR and then finally got picked up by RoadRunner and ran their Xpress car. I ran Xpress for a while and then got a half ride with Corally running their C4.
As for the TAO1 chassis, I bought a Alfa Romeo in the early 90's and glued some foam tires on the rubber tire rims and slapped it down at my lhs The Track. I soon switched to the Yokomo YR-4 and a true sedan class was created as more people started to buy the YR-4's at The Track. Then sedan just exploded in the U.S. in the mid 90's. I switched to the YR4-M2 and then I ran an FSR and then finally got picked up by RoadRunner and ran their Xpress car. I ran Xpress for a while and then got a half ride with Corally running their C4.
Last edited by Apex; 11-23-2006 at 12:05 PM.
11-23-2006, 04:46 PM
#14
Tech Elite
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Melbourne, Australia. Home of rc-mini.net
Posts: 3,549
Trader Rating: 7 (100%+)
The 959 (and Celica equivalent) were out before the Celica TA01 but they were very expensive to buy and really didnt make much impact in terms of a lot of people buying/racing them. Although they sure were awesome cars, no doubt about that.
It was the TA01's that really started something for sure.
It was the TA01's that really started something for sure.
11-23-2006, 05:44 PM
#15
The Tamiya TA01's in 1991 were the first 1/10 4wd touring car sedans that todays cars are based on. They were shaft drive rear engine mount. That same year, Tamiya was also producing the F101 (later to evole to the F102 and F103) that was a pan car style F1 car. They also introduced the "Group C" cars. A tub chassis with the F101 rear pod / flex plate set-up and was a hybrid pan car with a tub center chassis.
The TA02's arrived either '93 or '94. Very similar to the TA01 but with some refinements. They also released (3) TA02-W's (wide version) that used some TA01 suspension parts for the front and wide 1-1/2" rear tires and ran a 200mm body (versus the standard 190mm). Finally was the TA02-SW (short wide) Taisan Porsche that is a highly sought collector item. This kit had a shorter wheel base and used the wide rear tires so the body could be true to the real 911 GT-2 car body. Nobody can match Tamiya in detail when it comes to realistic bodies. There was also a few kits produced as the FF01. A front wheel drive front engine mount 2WD kit.
The TA03 I believe was introduced in '97 (the car David Jun won the ROAR race with) and was a 4WD belt car. This car had various versions of front motor mount, rear motor mount, and regular and short wheel base in both motor versions.
The belt version cars progressed into the TA04, then TA05 with the 414 (various versions) and 415 (various versions) becoming their top of the line double deck carbon plate chassis cars. The shaft drive was brought back with the TL01, TT01, and TB02. The TB02 high end double deck version was the EVO I and they are now up to the EVO V.
There was also various version of mini chassis (the "M" cars) a 4WD F201 F1 car, and the FF02 FWD kit. When it comes to history and collectibility, nobody can touch Tamiya. Just see what an older NIB Tamiya kit goes for today (as in how much higher value) compared to any other brand of cars.
The TA02's arrived either '93 or '94. Very similar to the TA01 but with some refinements. They also released (3) TA02-W's (wide version) that used some TA01 suspension parts for the front and wide 1-1/2" rear tires and ran a 200mm body (versus the standard 190mm). Finally was the TA02-SW (short wide) Taisan Porsche that is a highly sought collector item. This kit had a shorter wheel base and used the wide rear tires so the body could be true to the real 911 GT-2 car body. Nobody can match Tamiya in detail when it comes to realistic bodies. There was also a few kits produced as the FF01. A front wheel drive front engine mount 2WD kit.
The TA03 I believe was introduced in '97 (the car David Jun won the ROAR race with) and was a 4WD belt car. This car had various versions of front motor mount, rear motor mount, and regular and short wheel base in both motor versions.
The belt version cars progressed into the TA04, then TA05 with the 414 (various versions) and 415 (various versions) becoming their top of the line double deck carbon plate chassis cars. The shaft drive was brought back with the TL01, TT01, and TB02. The TB02 high end double deck version was the EVO I and they are now up to the EVO V.
There was also various version of mini chassis (the "M" cars) a 4WD F201 F1 car, and the FF02 FWD kit. When it comes to history and collectibility, nobody can touch Tamiya. Just see what an older NIB Tamiya kit goes for today (as in how much higher value) compared to any other brand of cars.