This Tyco Mini Hopper is a small 1/20 scale radio controlled car manufactured by Taiyo (Japan), and released onto the US, UK, and other markets worldwide in 1989.
- A White 27Mhz Mini Hopper (2324-27)
- A Red 49Mhz Mini Hopper (2324-49)
The most popular R/C ever?
The Mini Hopper was one of the most successful and widely produced radio control cars in history, with many different variants. Check our our Guide to the Mini Hopper for more!
US versions
International versions
- 1986 Taiyo Mini Hopper
- 1987 Taiyo Mini Hopper 2
- 1987 Taiyo Mini Hopper 2 (Rare)
- 1987 Taiyo Aero Mini Hopper
- 1988 Taiyo Mini Hopper 3
- 1988 Taiyo Aero Mini Hopper 3
The 1989 model (adapted for 1990) appears to be the last 'true' Mini Hoppers designed towards the end of Taiyo (Japan)'s independence, prior to Tyco (USA) having a heavy influence into the designs. A few years later in 1994 the same chassis would be used for the Mini Wild Thing (and others) however the use of fake plastic shock absorbers tends to make most collectors feel less about those models.
Features and Performance
It should be noted that despite the shock absorber in the front of the car, there is no front suspension in this design, its use is aesthetic only, unlike the front-shock absorber in the Twin Turbo Lamborghini and related chassis which did serve a purpose.
At its core, the 1989 Tyco Mini Hopper is a rebadged Taiyo Mini Hopper 3. Why they did not just name it as the 3rd iteration isn't clear, considering we had the Mini Hopper from 1986, the Mini Hopper II from 1988, and now we should have the Mini Hopper III. We can only assume the marketing department wanted to keep it simple.
Apart from the reduced suspension compared to past Mini Hoppers, it also has a less sophistcated controller which feels a bit cheaper, smaller, and creakier than previous efforts. The need to cut cost in this model to drive additional profits for the new owner (Tyco) is readily apparent!
Still, performance is still good - indoors at least, on a smooth surface. Rear suspension remains, rubber tires, and overall build quality remains very high. There's a reason so many Mini Hoppers are still around - they were built to last!
Looking to boost the power on your AA powered Tyco? NiMh rechargeables only provide 1.2V compared to 1.5V of single use Alkaline batteries. Consider looking at 1.5V Lithium Rechargeable batteries , enabling you to run at full alkaline-like power, and not having to throw them out after one use!
This 1989 variant was also released in a slightly different box design (see white box above), I've not yet identified if this was all the white cars, or only for a particular region. If you know, let us know!
Availability and Collectability
Having recently purchased a 1990 Mini Hopper of the same design, new in box, I can tell you that these are most definitely collectable, and highly desireable to own! At least in my personal opinion. They don't take up much space on the shelf, and boy do they make great little time capsules, and even work well as gifts.
As for availability, these seem to be disappearing as soon as they're listed (all Mini Hoppers) so long as they're in good condition. Why? Compared to a Turbo Hopper, Bandit, etc., they are far more affordable, and they still offer such a great piece of history and source of nostalgia. In fact, it was a 1989 Mini Hopper that I purchased in 2020 that began my own collection, and eventually led to the website you are reading at this moment. That is the power of a Mini Hopper!
