The Nikko Dictator was a 1/10 scale dual motor four-wheel-drive radio controlled car produced by Nikko R/C Systems, and released in Japan, United States, and other countries worldwide in 1987.
One of many 'Frame Buggy' designs released by Nikko, it would remains one of the most high performance R/C cars ever sold at regular (non-hobby) stores even until this day.
Released during the Golden Age of R/C
The year 1987 was truly the Golden Age of Radio Control, with a dozen of the most popular 'toy grade' and hobby grade models suddenly becoming available to the mainstream via local department stores and electronics stores. In Australia, I remember seeing these models lined up in the window at Tandy, the local franchise of Radio Shack. I was about to say, can you imagine these ever being sold at your local Radio Shack today (or Tandy / Dick Smith, etc.) then I remembered - they're all gone. The internet gave us many great things, but also took away so much of what made the 1980s and 1990s special.
And it was right in the middle of the 80s when the lines were drawn between 'Hobby Grade' and 'Toy Grade'. Basically, if you had to build it yourself from a box of parts, then it was Hobby Grade. Fast, agile, dynamic, powerful, able to break parts and have them swapped out. Big motors, proper suspension systems, proportional steering (meaning you could turn a little or a lot, and everything in between).
If you bought it in a store ready-to-run then it was Toy Grade. Tiny motors, double A batteries, no suspension, non-proportional steering. These were very much kids toys, or nice looking model of real cars at best.
And then you had the Nikko Dictator. A full size 1/10 monster with dual Mabuchi RS-380 motors, four wheel drive, front and rear differential, front and rear shock absorbers / dampers, proportional steering, and 6 frequencies enabling you to race on a track with other cars. All this was powered by a proper 7.2V hobby-grade battery pack with a Tamiya plug, the same as the 'real' cars, and all of it could be yours for just $179.99 USD at your local store.
Radio Shack sold their own variant of the Dictator called the Black Phantom. It was the same underneath, but had a different body on top, and a Radio Shack style controller.
This was not Toy Grade, nothing like it. But was it Hobby Grade? Maybe. Many 'Hobby Grade Only' enthusiasts will argue the difference between toy and hobby grade was that you can't order parts for toy grade cars, however this simply was'nt true in the 1980s. Replacement parts were available for most major brands such as Taiyo, Tyco, and yes Nikko. Everything from tie rods, to motors, gears, tires, even an entire replacement body shell.
Features and Performance
The 1/10 Nikko Dictator featured:
- Large 1/10 Scale
- Digital Proportional Radio System
- Four Wheel Drive (4WD)
- Tandem Motor System with 2 x Mabuchi RS-380 Motors
- Front and Rear Differentials
- Front and Rear Shock Absorbers
- 7.2V Tamiya style battery for drive plus 4xAA batteries for onboard electronics
- Semi-Pneumatic Spiked Tires
Plus... it looks kick ass! Seriously mean, especially those tires which look different to all the other spiked tires I've seen before, almost like a medieval weapon!
Most importantly, the price was far cheaper than anything you'd find at a traditional hobby store, and for a kid used to a typical toy grade car, this would have felt like the fastest R/C car ever made!
Yes, this made some people a bit mad, and even today you'll find a few people saying "oh, those are department store toys". Pffft!
Availability and Collectability
There is no question as to the collectability of the Nikko Dictator. While other models such as the 1986 Nikko Turbo Panther may have been more popular to the mass market due to lower cost and simpler features, those with more than a passing interest in R/C would have found the Dictator's long list of features and impressive performance to be a game changer for an item that could be picked up at your local store.
The Nikko Dictator can be generally found in good condition online if you are patient, but be prepared to pay a premium, with boxed models in good condition generally selling for around $300+ USD at the time of writing.
