Note: By popular demand, Nikko is being added; however, this topic is still being researched, and information should not be relied upon until this message disappears. If you see a mistake, please comment below or contact me.
The Nikko Wild Horse is a 1/18 scale radio controlled truck manufactured by Nikko, and released into the Japanese market, and other markets worldwide in 1990.
In some ways a re-design or re-conceptualizing of the earlier 1989 Radio Shack Wild Horse, a larger 1/10 scale vehicle. Sporting the same name and decal design, it places those in a smaller chassis and creates a kind of musical 4x4 truck similar to the Taiyo Road King 4x4 or Sound Racer which appear to have been popular at the time.
Features and Performance
All is revealed on the right-hand-side of the truck where we see its big red switch for 'Start', 'Run' and 'Off', enabling the appropriate sound effects for the occasion. The controller sported a 'Horn' button, as below.
The Nikko Wild Horse also featured:
- 8 x AA Powered for the motor and 9V for the radio receiver
- Working Headlights
- Start Engine and Running Engine Sound Effects
- Front and Rear Shock Absorbers
- Chrome Engine and Horns
- Large Front Bumper and Rear Wing
- Large Balloon Tires
- Two Speed Gearbox
In terms of actual performance, although I don't own one of these personally I do have several like it, and when talking purely about speed and torque these 80s trucks are typically a little underwhelming, though that's not really the point of this model is it? Best suited to indoors where it might climb over a rug or at best across a sofa, this Wild Horse is likely to get tired a little faster than you might expect! She is an old girl after all, don't forget that!
Strangely, these sound effects were entirely missing from the Radio Shack Wild Horse, though it did sneakily try to suggest it had sound effects by way of a very speaker-grille looking thing on the rear portion of that car. I suspect sound effect trucks must have been a thing at the time, and Nikko (who manufactured the Radio Shack version) was simply re-using one of their existing sound-truck designs.
Tip: How to identify Nikko Wild Horse vs Radio Shack Wild Horse
In real life the difference is obvious simply due to size, however in photos when buying on the internet they can look strikingly similar. The easiest way to tell the difference is the Nikko Wild Horse has solid white wheels, whereas the Radio Shack Wild Horse has holes around the radius of the wheels.
Availability and Collectability
The Nikko Wild Horse is still available online at a reasonable price, and for some collectors will be a bargain, while others may find other Nikko offerings from the day to be more interesting.
