The Tyco Monster 4x4 Jeep is a radio control vehicle manufactured by Taiyo of Japan, and released in the US, UK, and other countries worldwide in 1988.
It is the Tyco version of the original 1987 Taiyo 4x4 Monster Jeep, which is itself heavily inspired by earlier 4x4 Taiyo designs such as the venerable 1986 Taiyo Super Roader, and the 1984 Taiyo Off-Road 4WD Champ.
Features and Performance
Sometimes a simple design done the right way can be a whole bunch of fun - and that's exactly what the Monster 4x4 Jeep has on offer.
Made in 1988 during the Golden Era of Taiyo/Tyco RC Toys, the the Monster 4x4 appears to have predicted the fluro-color crazy of the early 90s a few years early.
This was a time when Taiyo/Tyco made interesting vehicles, and made them properly, not just another 4xAA licenced RC sportscar.
- Powered by 6xAA (7.2V Ni-Cd, 9V Alkaline)
- 4x4 / 4 Wheel Drive with dual central axle
- Oversized Air Filled Tires
- Bull Bar and Roll Cage
- Fluro Yellow (49Mhz) and Red (27Mhz) Designs
With that kind of power, we'd have expected the Monster 4x4 Jeep to be quite capable of conquering the average loungeroom pillow, however disappointingly it appears the Jeep suffers from a design heritage too similar to its early 80s cousins.
Whether it's too small of a motor, or simply a poorly designed gearing we're not sure, but that squealing motor and crunching gear sound is all too familiar to kids of the 80s/90s who received a toy just like this - the disappointment of that Christmas or Birthday still fresh in our minds as our monster failed to tackle our humble living room floor.
For an 1987 model I'd expect more of Taiyo/Tyco, especially with the Jet Hopper released in the same time-frame, but with its heritage dating back to the early 80s trucks I guess it was to be expected.
Availability and Collectability
There are many Monster 4x4 Jeeps available on eBay at the time of this article being written, which leads me to believe this was a moderate success for Tyco in the late 80s.
Tip: As with all old toys, check the battery compartments for corrosion, especially with the Monster 4x4 whose twin drive rails meant replacing the batteries was harder than usual, increasing the likelihood that people would leave them installed.
