The Tyco Fast Traxx was a radio controlled vehicle manufactured by Taiyo of Japan, and released onto the US, UK, and other global markets in 1991.
Fast Traxx. The name conjures up images in my memory of the TV commercial, showing the Traxx speeding along a road in a blur, the controller hitting Turbo mode and it would blast off even faster, jumping high across sand dunes, flying up a cliff edge and flipping back...
Tyco commercials were always fun to watch, and the Fast Traxx was among the best. In the early 90s it seemed like Tyco released new toys every other month, and I distinctly remember being excited to see the ads come on, wondering what the new model would be like.
Development
Racing Tyco RC cars and having your friends join in with a different vehicle, or different frequency is what got many of us into the RC hobby in the first place; bashing around a backyard obstacle course, dirt track, or whatever location you could find.
Up until this point, the coolest car that Taiyo / Tyco had released may have been the 1990 Tyco Baja Bandit, or perhaps the 1989 Twin Turbo Lamborghini Countach. Yet these cars were getting old. Tyco needed something fresh that would be attractive to their core US market, something new and futuristic.
And since Tyco now owned a major stake in Taiyo's design and manufacturing operation in Japan, they would convince them to move away from the realistic passenger vehicles they'd been creating since the late 70s, and instead focus on playthings purely of their imagination.
And so, the Fast Traxx was born. Half Tank, Half Fighter Jet, it was unlike anything seen in the decade prior. And while it was less agile than regular Tyco cars like the Bandit, or Turbo Hopper due to its skid-steer / tank-style controls, it was aggressive enough and futuristic enough to capture the hearts and minds of kids around the world, tearing them away from their Nintendo just long enough to realize how fun *real* toys could be. Fast Traxx was a winner.
Now more than 30 years later it's coming back into popular culture as a fascination with all things 80s and 90s grows, and this time - those kids have real money to spend!
Features and Performance
It's a Fast Traxx baby! Well sure, the top speed technically isn't what makes it fast (21km/h or 13mph), it's the acceleration, and the fact it will go that speed no matter what gets in the way! haha yes... You drive with purpose in a Fast Traxx, and if something gets in front of you, either it's getting out of the way fast, or you're going over it! In many ways, it drives just like the 1996 Tyco Rebound, another favorite and all time great design.
The Fast Traxx runs on 2 x Mabuchi 280 motors, one for each track, and its exceedingly simple setup means that mechanical issues are rare. Sadly the same resilience was'nt granted to the tracks/treads/belts which will slowly expand with more use until they become loose and worn out.
Maintenance and Repair
The build quality on these things is great, though look out for damaged or over-stretched tracks as those simply aren't available to buy anymore from the manufacturer. Greasing the gearbox is always a good idea on cars this old if you're planning on running it often, otherwise it's probably best to leave it alone.
As for repair/mods, 3D printed tracks are becoming available (and in various colors) so if you need to replace a set you won't be waiting ages for some originals to appear on eBay - instead they'll be printed to order. That said, they are not cheap.
Others are taking it further by swapping the 9.6V Turbo pack for some hobby grade Lithium Polymer batteries, but that does risk burning out a motor - so be careful. Some have solved that problem by going brushless with a hobby grade ESC and radio, but you'll need experience with hobby-grade RC rebuilds before attempting that.
There are many versions of the 'Traxx
As with all Tyco RC toys, if an idea was popular then the brand would capitalize upon it with many different variants including the Tyco Fast Traxx Pickup, Eliminator, and many others.
- Tyco Mini Traxx
- Tyco Half Traxx
- Taiyo / Tyco Fast Traxx Eliminator
- Tyco Fast Traxx Pickup
- Tyco Super Fast Traxx
- Tyco Fast Traxx Re-Release (1996)
Some models are rarer than others, for example the white original Fast Traxx is probably the most rare, with the standard yellow and red color being the most common. My personal favorite though is the Taiyo Fast Traxx Eliminator in Black - especially if you can get a nice mint condition Japanese build, it's a beautiful thing!
The Hidden Message on the Tyco Fast Traxx
Some have questioned what the NCC 9015 represents, suggesting it might be some kind of 'Air Force' code... Many out there (like me) think it's obvious, but to others it may mean nothing! So what does it mean?
The "NCC 9015" on this model and variants of other Fast Traxx models is a nod to the futuristic Sci-Fi show Star Trek whose capital ship was the Enterprise was NCC-1701. They use 9015 since that's the Tyco model number.
Collectability and Availability
Typically the Tyco Bandit, Turbo Hopper, and Rebound are the most popular Tyco R/C being sold on eBay, together with the Lamborghini Countach and Mutator. However I personally believe the Fast Traxx has what it takes to equal or overtake those models, and would recommend that anyone who wishes to collect one do so ASAP before the prices get wildly out of control.
Update Aug. 2022
Prices continue to rise. This month we saw a NIB sell for over $400 USD ex. shipping, sheesh. If you're still looking, you may want to shop for a car without box, usually half the cost of boxed models.
Update Apr 2023
Prices are finally starting to cool off, though in general the popular models like these are no longer inexpensive.
Update Nov. 2024
As predicted, the time of cheap Fast Traxx is over.
Do you like the Tyco Fast Traxx? Do you like Tyco Slot Cars?
Well you're in luck! Because Tyco also released the #6207 Fast Traxx Electric Racing Slot Car Track where you can race two mini Fast Traxx, complete with working rubber treads, around a standard Tyco slot car track.
We've got a whole article on is here, check it out!
