The Tyco Turbo Hopper is a radio control car manufactured by Taiyo (Japan) and released into the US, UK, and other markets worldwide by Tyco in late 1986. Together with the Nikko Turbo Panther, it would forever change the face of radio controlled cars, particularly in the toy-grade segment, providing what its creators described as "dynamic" performance, where it predecessors were slow and rigid.
The Mark 1 variant (above) was the first version released into the USA in late 1986, available via a few major department stores who received stock before Christmas. They are identifiable via by the 'Turbo System' text cut into the front bumper. Some of the earliest models of the Jet Hopper (International Name) / Turbo Hopper shipped with 'fat' front tires, however I'm not sure if these ever made it to the United States or any Tyco cars.
How was the Tyco Turbo Hopper born?
Australia is often used as a test market for products, since the population is very similar to the United States, but much smaller, and so a fairly accurate and lower cost experiment can be done to identify if a product or service is likely to be successful.
In the case of the Turbo Hopper, Tyco USA had been watching with anticipation as PlayCorp Australia (trading as Metro R/C) had ordered a large amount of stock of the new Japanese highly dynamic radio controlled car called the Jet Hopper.
Upon release in Australia as the Metro RC Jet Hopper, it was an immediate and massive success, spurring executives from Tyco America to leap into action and place orders for their own Jet Hoppers, to be renamed Turbo Hoppers for the American market, but largely using the same design and packaging.
You can see our History of Tyco Toys / History of Tyco RC article for the full story.
First Appearance in the 1986 Tyco Catalog
The Turbo Hoppers appeared right at the back of the 1989 Tyco Toy Fair Catalog, which is an interesting position. Every year after this until the end of the 'Golden Age of Toy R/C' they would appear in the front of the catalog given their massive success. So why at the back on the first year? Was it a late entry, and due to time constraints they could only add pages at the back? Or was Tyco simply unconvinced that these radio controlled toys would prove popular? Afterall, Tyco had sold 1 channel R/C cars for years from the same manufacturer (Taiyo Japan), why would these be any different?
Features and Performance
The first radio control vehicle many kids across the world ever owned, and which kicked off a lifetime enjoyment of radio controlled models as a hobby and sport, the Turbo Hopper (or ‘Jet Hopper’) was a worldwide phenomenon as it brought a taste of ‘hobby-grade’ speed and performance to the masses, in the price and convenience of a ‘toy grade’ model, available at your local toy store or department store.
Specifications:
- 1/16 Scale
- Mabuchi RE-280SA motor*
- Top Speed of 23km/h (MK1) with 'Turbo' mode
- Text cutout of front bumper 'Turbo System'
- All around coil overs with friction dampers
- LED On light
- Front and Rear Semi-Pnumatic Tires
- Low and High Speed Gearbox
- Spare tire
- Active / Powered Steering (Non-Proportional)
For future reference, specification of motor is Mabuchi RE-280SA-2295 with metal brushes, 6V nominal, 9600 RPM, 0.14A No Load, 4.4A stall current, peak 6W.
Massive success spawned many variants and successors
Based on the original Japanese 1986 Jet Hopper, the Turbo Hopper MK1 would follow with a MK2 variant, then MK2, and a Jet Hopper 2, each with improvements to offer. Below are a few of the models Tyco sold in the following 5-10 years, each of them linked back to the original Turbo Hopper in some way.
See our pages below for each Hopper version
- 1987 Tyco Turbo Hopper MK2
- 1988 Tyco Twin Turbo Hopper
- 1988 Tyco Aero Turbo Hopper
- 1988 Tyco Aero Jet Hopper 2
- 1988 Four Wheel Drive Super Turbo Hopper
- 1988 Tyco Aero Jet Hopper Wild Thing
- 1990 Heads Up! Turbo Hopper
- 1990 Tyco Heads Up! Wild Thing Turbo Hopper
- 1990 Tyco Twin Turbo Aero Hopper
- 1990 Tyco 4WD 9.6V Super Turbo Hopper
- 1995 Tyco Dallas Cowboys Turbo Hopper 2
And of course, the Mini and Micro
Availability and Collectability
The Tyco Turbo Hopper is an absolute classic in the minds of toy and radio control car hobbiests in the same way Star Wars is a classic in the film community. Together with the Nikko Turbo Panther which competed directly with the Turbo Hopper, these cars would create a generation of kids and now adults who would go on to enjoy the hobby throughout their life.
Obtaining a Turbo Hopper MK1 in good condition is becoming increasingly difficult, especially if you need one in a well kept box. Special models such as the Wild Thing or Heads Up! are even more valuable, and we can only say that if you're a fan of the Turbo Hopper simply find a car within your means. Don't worry so much about it being perfect - as owners of any perfect Taiyo / Tyco know... you can't drive them! Personally I enjoy getting ones which are a little dirty, with a few broken parts than I can fix myself, as bringing them back to life is just as enjoyable as the ride.
