This Taiyo 4x4 Winch Ford Ranger, or Taiyo Ford Ranger, is a 4WD pickup truck with winch and crane produced by Taiyo R/C, and released across Japan and various other countries worldwide in 1986.
The Ford based variant to the 1986 Taiyo Toyota Hilux 4WD, and the successor to the 1983 Taiyo 4x4 Winch Ford Ranger, it is one of several pickup trucks based on the same chassis and body design made by Taiyo between 1984 and 1986, each with subtle design, decals, and feature changes such as the Ford livery on this model, and the inclusion (or exclusion) of a front winch and rear crane.
Performance and Features
A continuation of the 1984 design which likely itself was based on the 1983 Auto Wheelie Ford Ranger concept (not radio controlled), this is very early toy grade radio control, so it's not especially fast or efficient.
Taking a 9V battery (I assume for the receiver) plus 4 x AA batteries, it's heavy and will consume those batteries quite quickly.
There is also no suspension, though this isn't a surprise for a model of this generation.
What is remarkable is that in the same year (1986), just a few months later, Taiyo would release the Taiyo Jet Hopper and change the toy grade radio control car scene forever. Comparing this model to that it's easy to see why the 1986 Taiyo Jet Hopper (Turbo Hopper) was such a game changer.
Collectability and Availability
Whatever you think of its functionality compared to today's RC cars, or even those made just a few years after this one, it is a classic design that looks great, and has been built to stand the test of time.
With the addition of the winch feature, it's also a fun toy to play with, and will withstand some moderate handling by a young kid, so isn't such a bad first introduction to basic toy grade RC, though given what you might pay, I'd probably recommend something from Walmart / Kmart instead!
You will be able to find this design, though likely not this exact model at both Japanese Auction sites, and eBay Global, both under Taiyo, and Tyco, Radio Shack, Tomy, and other brands.
