The Tomy Skyline Turbo C was a revolutionary radio controlled toy manufactured by Taiyo (Japan) and released into the Japanese market in 1984.
Two years before they would release their game changing Jet Hopper MK1, Taiyo would preempt the market with an astonishingly sophisticated design that truly must have set the stage for their later releases.
Features and Performance
With 7xAA batteries, just 1 short of the magic 8xAA ‘9.6V Turbo’, 2 speed gearbox, slick tires, and classic Taiyo controller, it’s hard to believe they put this out the same year as the Taiyo 4WD Hilux.
Surely the speediest model they had at the time, the Skyline Turbo C was based upon the incredible real-life Nissan Skyline Turbo race car.
The actual Skyline Turbo C was a 151 kW/202 hp turbo intercooled race car built by GT-R Works and sponsored by Tomy / Tomica to run in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship.
Prototype controller?
During research we identified a very unusual version of the “R88 4 Circles” controller common to Taiyo cars at the time, with the unique feature being this controller is configured for 2xAA batteries instead of the 9V Taiyo has always used. In addition the two control sticks appear to be metal, and attach via screws. Interesting! A prototype perhaps?
Recommendation
The fact this isn’t a Taiyo branded car, yet we’re hosting it on this site tells you that this is one special model. Designed and manufactured by Taiyo, clearly a predecessor to its 1986 onwards designs, this is a unique car, a unique toy, and a little piece of history.
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