This Nikko Ferrari Testarossa is a small 1/18 scale radio control car, manufactured by Nikko America, and released in the United States, and potentially other countries worldwide in 1986.
One of several Ferrari Testarossa by Nikko, this version is smaller than the comparatively huge 1/10 scale 1985 and 1986 Nikko Ferrari Testarossa.
Features and Performance
With a reduced size comes a reduced specification, though this Ferrari is better equipped than similarly scaled and priced Taiyo / Tyco.
With 7 x AA batteries providing 8.75V (NiCd) it's an unusual design, and I wonder if the motor gets all that power, or if a few of those batteries are exclusive to the radio/electronics.
Specifications on paper
- 1/18 Scale
- Mabuchi RS-280 Motor
- 7 x AA Batteries
- High and Low Gear
- Headlights popup and turn on when running
- Stick Controller with 'Turbo'
From all angles, the Testarossa model looks great, even as a lower speed kids size toy, it's a great model.
Unusual Specifications
The 7 x AA batteries compartment, shown below, with this small size should provide decent thrust, though the motor and overall size of the vehicle is a substancial downgrade from the 7.2V Hobby Grade Battery and Huge RS-540 motor used in the 1986 Nikko Testarossa.
Covers off
Removing that beautiful red Ferrari body, and underneath we can see a very familiar setup for a mid-late 1980s radio control car. The small RS-280 motor sits in the back, and in the center is a circuit-board with dozens of old style thru-hole components. and wires going off to the motor at one end, and the front steering at the other.
Availability and Collectability
While there are plenty of this 1/18 scale version around, finding them is made difficult by the lack of boxes, and all of these cars looking near identical in a thumbnail. Base your search around the box design though, and you should run into one eventually.
That said, unless you had this as a kid and wanted some of that glorious nostalgia, then I'd probably recommend going for the 1/10 scale 1986 Nikko Ferrari Testarossa.
