The Taiyo Off-Road 4x4 Champ (Global) is a radio controlled car, manufactured by Taiyo (Japan) and released into various European and other markets globally in 1985. It is the international version of Taiyo's original 1984 Taiyo Off-Road 4WD Champ (Japan)
The Off-Road 4x4 Champ was one of several 4WD RC trucks Taiyo released to capitalize on the 'Monster Truck' craze of the early 80's.
More powerful, higher capacity
By 1984, Taiyo had several years experience designing and manufacturing tin toys, and bump 'n go vehicles, and had some success with their first radio control cars using the 2xAA+9V, 3xAA+9V chassis products.
The biggest issue with these designs was that the batteries were consumed quickly, they were heavy due to the continued use of metal outer bodies and internals, and the steering system was downright primitive, like a horse-drawn carriage. They needed a completely new design.
That design came with 1983's 4WD Big Roader, with its all plastic 4xC+9V 4WD chassis that would offer double the battery capacity, enough voltage to drive much larger vehicles, and a proper modern 'pitman arm' style steering linkage system.
As with many other of their R/C cars in the mid-late 80s, Taiyo would produce variants of their most popular cars rebadged for other big names, such as Radio Shack, TOMY, Dickie Toys, and more.
Success
In 1984, the first monster truck 'Big Foot' had become serious business, with Ford now sponsoring the truck, and others replicating its style. A new motorsport was born, and everyone wanted their own Big Foot style RC car. It was the perfect launch time for Taiyo, making the 4WD Big Roader (also sold as the Tomy Big Foot) wildly successful.
Following the success of the Big Roader / Big Foot, Taiyo would continue to capitalize on popular themes, creating the 1984 Off-Road 4x4 Champ which many have commented looks similar to the hugely successful Jeep, the Tamiya Wild Willy.
These cars would be so popular that they even began manufacturing them for their competitors, including RadioShack and Tomy, well into the next decade.
Features and Performance
With a 2-Speed Gearbox, huge monster truck style air-filled tires, and enough power through the 4xC batteries powering it all to make it fun.
It also shipped with Taiyo's latest 27Mhz controller, a mild evolution of the 'Four Circles' controller from 1979's Porsche 935 Turbo 78.
Recommendation
If you can find one, it's worth having at least one early 80s Taiyo 4x4 Truck in your collection, whether that's the 1983 Big Foot, or one of its successors all the way up to 1993's RadioShack 4x4 Off-Road Tiger.
Who is this driver?
Some of the variants of this car, such as the Tomy Off-Road Fighter, or the Baja Jeep Monster Truck have a driver figure, much like a Tamiya Wild Willy. In the photos below we can see this feature sitting within a Wild Champ. Is it original / supposed to be there? What models came with it? Comments below please, I'd love to know!
