The 1990 Tyco Baja Bandit is a radio control car manufactured by Taiyo of Japan, and released onto the US, UK, and other markets globally in 1990.
This is the original 1st Generation 'Baja' version of the Bandit, released in Black/Yellow Stripes (49Mhz) and Black/Red Stripes (27Mhz). It is the most popular model at TycoCollectors.com and without a doubt the most popular model that Tyco ever produced.
The 2nd generation came a few years later with the 1992 Tyco Bandit which featured a few upgrades.
Features and Performance
One of the most fun Tyco vehicles to drive, and easily the most popular
- Mabuchi RK370 motor
- Shock absorbers on all sides
- Striped decals that just look fantastic
- Off-Road tires and chromed wheels, with extra wide tires on rear
- Solid rear axle
- Pistol Grip Controller
- Two-Speed Gearbox
- Chromed bumpers, wheels, scoop, and rear tray
- Spare tire mounted on back
All Tyco Bandits, and similar chassis use a single Mabuchi RK370 motor, the second largest ever used by Tyco (only beaten by the huge 380 in the Super Fast Traxx), and the same as used in Typhoon and water craft.
The Story of the Tyco Bandit
If the Jet Hopper was king of the 80s RC toys, then the Tyco Bandit was king of the 90s. No other car has captured the imagination of 90s kids like the Bandit, and no other still has such a consistent cultural memory as the Bandit still does, with Bandits consistently selling on eBay 30+ years later for more than they cost back in 1992. Read our article: eBay Price Report: 1992 Tyco Bandit
These things have maximum nostalgia factor! Even better, they're still fun!
Being the 1st Generation and arguably the more aggressive 'cooler' looking version, the 'Baja' increasingly hard to find. Occasionally it might pop up on eBay, but more often than not you'll find the 2nd Generation there instead.
The bigger problem is that everybody wants one, so prices are high, and since kids loved them to death in the 90s, most examples you'll find are beaten up bad. Genuine New In Box is a distant memory at this point.
Image below: the Tyco Baja Bandit from a 1990 Toy Catalog. Apologies for the poor quality, it's not been easy finding images from catalogues and other disposable media from 30+ years ago for obvious reasons. If you have old toy catalogues, contact us!
History and Development
To tell the story of the Bandit, we have to start with it's predecessor. As the story goes, Taiyo Japan offered their 1987 Taiyo Racing Pickup to Tyco as a potential flagship, like the Jet Hopper had been.
Tyco agreed, and after repackaging for the English market, Taiyo would release the 1988 Taiyo Racing Pickup (Global) onto the European market, and Tyco would release the 1988 Tyco 4WD Turbo Racing Pickup onto the US market. This was a high-spec car, with dual motors, front differential, pistol grip controller, and of course the 9.6V Turbo battery pack, all stylized after the 1987 Nissan 4x4 King Cab that won the Baja 1000.
Unfortunately for Tyco, Americans just didn't gravitate to the Japanese brand (Nissan), or perhaps it was the higher cost of the truck due to its complex high speed 4WD system with front differential. Within just 1 year the 4WD Racing Pickup was off the shelves.
But Tyco wouldn't let a good concept die! Taking the Racing Pickup's hard-body, they combined it with a simplified 2WD drive-train and solid rear axle (no differential) to reduce the cost, and jazzed it up with an eye catching paint scheme and shiny chrome. What eventuated was a buggy that was better than its individual parts.
The Baja Bandit was born, and was an immediate hit!
Gen1 vs Gen2
The obvious difference is the paint scheme, with the 1990 Tyco Baja Bandit having a striking Red or Yellow stripes on black, whereas the 1992 Tyco Bandit had a typical 90s 'cool' graphic art design on black.
Two of the most important mechanical upgrades were the rear differential in this 1992 model, and an improved rear suspension pin / mount design which is less likely to snap off, but I'd still consider it relatively fragile.
While it's often the upgraded design on the 1992 model, I've still seen those newer models with the older weaker pin design, so it's not guaranteed that you'll get the upgrade simply by purchasing a 1992.
If you intend to run your car, and particularly if you're looking to do any jumps or rougher driving then you should get the upgraded model. But if you're like me, and many people and wouldn't dare put your precious Bandit anywhere near the turf, then I wouldn't worry about it at all.
Availability and Collectability
Look, there are few more desirable vintage R/C cars than the Tyco Bandit, especially this initial Baja Bandit version. If you're a Tyco Collector and you've not got one of these yet, then you're probably already planning to, or have at least seriously considered it.
These days though, they're so popular that price is moving according to demand, and relatively low availability. For a nice one, it's going to cost if you buy it online. Alternatively you might get lucky and come across a perfectly boxed car in a local country thrift shop for almost nothing - assuming you live in the USA.
For everyone else, sometimes better deals can be found in our Facebook Group, though I don't recommend that to beginners since scammers love to target R/C car fans, especially those with a little nostalgia and what seems like a great deal...
wpDiscuz
