The Nikko Hawg 4WD was a large 1/10 scale radio controlled truck manufactured by Nikko (Japan), and released worldwide in 1982. It was also sold as the Big Malibu in Europe.
Features and Performance
With its large scale and twin 380 size motors, the Hawg 4WD was one of the best low cost / toy grade Monster Trucks of the early 1980s. While Mabuchi RS-380SH may seem on the small side, checking out a photo of this motor reveals it's actually fairly beefy, and so 2 of these powered by a 7.2V Tamiya style battery would have been plenty.
Two of these were in the Hawg 4WD
Specifications on paper:
- Large 1/10 Scale
- Dual Mabuchi RS-380SH Motors
- Powered by Hobby Grade 7.2V Battery + 4xAA for Electronics
- Front and Rear Suspension Shock Absorbers (Front featuring Double Wishbone)
- Unique Electronic Torque Splitting System
- Oversized Air-Filled Off-Road Tires
- Two Channel Digital Proportional Radio Control
Second Life as the Nikko Big Malibu
Nikko would release this car as the Big Malibu in Japan and other reasons, though in most photos I've seen the car still carried the 'HAWG' name along its side. It would be continued to be produced for at least 5 years, with models up to at least 1987.
Starring Role in Terminator 2: Judgement Day
In the 1992 Hollywood film, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, while Sarah Connor is preparing to engage Miles Dyson in his home, his son Danny Dyson drives an R/C car into the room where Miles Dyson is working, just before Sarah lets loose.
The car in this scene is a Nikko Hawg 4WD, painted up for the film. That same car (or at least one of them) was sold at auction recently, where I've obtained a detailed photograph. One noticeable difference is the real life car looks tan with black stripes, whereas in the film it appears white with black stripes. This is likely due to a combination of the powerful lights used when filming ('dark' scenes famously use a lot of lights) and the color grading process.
Availability and Collectability
Nikko Hawg isn't especially hard to find, with several models available online at the time of writing, including boxed items in very good condition, with dozens of boxed and loose cars sold in the last few months.
As for whether or not it's collectable, the Hawg 4WD is one of those classic early 80s Monster Trucks that will have made an impression on whomever owned it back then, so I can see it being moderately popular, especially amongst Nikko fans and collectors.
