This is a Dickie Toys radio controlled car, manufactured by Taiyo of Japan, and released into the German market in approximately 1985, potentially under the name Dickie 4×4 Wild Champ, or Willy Overland 4×4.
It’s exact local name isn’t known to us yet, as there are many photos available of the vehicle, but nothing of the original Dickie Toys packaging. Whatever it is, it’s clearly a local Dickie Toys variant of the 1985 Taiyo Off-Road 4×4 Champ.
If you have confirmed information on this model, especially photos of its box, please send us a comment below!
We’d recommend reading the full article on the Off-Road 4×4 Champ, otherwise here’s a snippet from its article.
Success
Following the success of the Big Roader / Big Foot, Taiyo would continue to capitalize on popular themes, creating the 1984 Off-Road 4×4 Champ which many have commented looks similar to the hugely successful Jeep, the Tamiya Wild Willy.
These cars would be so popular that they even began manufacturing them for their competitors, including RadioShack and Tomy, well into the next decade.
The Champ
With a 2-Speed Gearbox, huge monster truck style air-filled tires, and enough power through the 4xC batteries powering it all to make it fun.
It also shipped with Taiyo’s latest 27Mhz controller, a mild evolution of the ‘Four Circles’ controller from 1979’s Porsche 935 Turbo 78.
Recommendation
If you can find one, it’s worth having at least one early 80s Taiyo 4×4 Truck in your collection, whether that’s the 1983 Big Foot, or one of its successors all the way up to 1993’s RadioShack 4×4 Off-Road Tiger.
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