The Tyco Mini Hi-Jacker / Mini HiJacker is a smaller version of the Tyco 9.6v Turbo Hijacker, whose core feature is it's ability to turn from 'normal' sports car to 'off-road' vehicle with the press of a button.
Design
As per the original full size model, the Mini Hi-Jacker is stylized to look like the popular Tyco Twin Turbo Lamborghini Countach, with mild modifications in key areas to lend it a more muscle-bound, heavy-duty look. The effect works well, and like all Taiyo / Tyco investments they did'nt let it go to waste on a single model. The same full size body would also be used on the Tyco Devastator, released in the same year.
Features and Performance
The core feature of the Hi-Jacker is its ability to turn from 'normal' looking sportscar to an 'off-road' vehicle. While the full size 9.6V Hi-Jacker would do this with the push of a button on the controller, the Mini Hi-Jacker requires a manual push on the top of the car to spring up and down, which is fine.
As with the larger version, there is no extra ground clearance added when the vehicle 'transforms' into off-road mode, it's more for visual effect. Still, it has good off-road tires and decent ground clearance anyway, so should be fine on either road or light terrain.
Running 4xAA batteries like most Mini cars, this is not especially fast, but was great for younger kids, especially if the elder sibling had a proper 9.6V Turbo version that was much too fast for them.
Collectability and Availability
Both the Hi-Jacker and Mini Hi-Jacker are available widely on eBay, however as they were popular and well played with, finding one that's not completely wrecked will be a challenge. If you like this model, we'd recommend looking for the Japanese version as in our experience they're usually more well taken care of!
Checkout this video we found of a collector re-assembling the Mini Hi-Jacker. Note the huge spring!
Re-assembling the Mini Hi-Jacker, post service.
