The Tyco Mercedes 500 SL is a fully licensed radio controlled car manufactured by Taiyo (Japan), and released in the US, UK, and other countries worldwide by Tyco RC.
The real thing
Packaged together with the Porsche 911 Speedster (27Mhz Red) and BMW Z1 (49Mhz Silver), the 27Mhz Black Tyco Mercedes was modelled after the real thing, the Mercedes Benz 500 SL Roadster which was launched a year earlier in 1989. This sleek and luxurious sports car featured a 5.0 liter V8 engine providing a smooth yet powerful driving experience.
Alternate versions
The Tyco versions can be fairly hard to find, so if you're really wanting one of these cars you should consider the original Taiyo version which was sold Japan, Europe, and all across the world, or the Dickie (German) variety, both which come up slightly more often than the Tyco.
Features and Performance
Sporting a 6 x AA battery pack, together with the Porsche 911, this Tyco RC was the fastest non-Turbo model released by Taiyo / Tyco at the time. With front suspension, and slick tires, it offered some moderate upgrades over the 4 x AA class cars, and drives well indoors on a smooth surface, or outdoors on concrete.
Unlike many of the smaller cars, these 6 x AA versions came with a built-in charge port, making it much easier to use rechargeable batteries, and not have to remove them every time they needed to charge.
Availability and Collectability
Infinitely more collectable than any 4 x AA car, these 6 x AA classics represent some of the greatest sports cars of the late 80s and early 90s, and present a compelling case for exploring beyond the usual 9.6V models that most collectors go for first. Together with their good looks and accurate details, they're hard to look past which is why I have the Porsche 911 in my collection and will be looking for the BMW and Mercedes too.
Unfortunately these didn't sell in huge numbers, and very few have appeared on eBay over the last 2 years - just two, and another few Taiyo versions. So if you're looking for one, you'll need to be patient. Search eBay for 'tyco mercedes' and create a saved search with the term. Maybe after 6-12 months you'll get lucky.
If you're unable to find a Tyco version, consider the Taiyo variety. It's virtually identical, though may come in alternative colors.
