The Taiyo Porsche 956 Turbo is a radio controlled car, released onto the international market in 1985.
A preview of things to come
One year before the game-changing 1986 Taiyo Jet Hopper, this Porsche 956 Turbo appears to be the first Taiyo to feature ‘Turbo’ Power boost, although with slightly reduced 7xAA (8.4V) compared to the 8xAA (9.6V) that Taiyo would come to rely upon for the next 15 years for its performance vehicles.
Designed for ‘Competitive Racing’ against a 27Mhz or 49Mhz partner, the Porsche 956 Turbo was the beginning of Taiyo’s efforts to make the R/C of the 1980s accessible to the masses, with a low price entry point, and pre-built ready-to-run models. In many ways, they paved the way for Traxxas who revolutionized the market many years later by making pre-built ready-to-run models the standard.
Features and Performance
- Full function
- 8.4V 7xAA Batteries with ‘Turbo Boost’ on controller
- 2 Speed Gearbox
- Slick Racing Tires
While no official speed is documented on any version, given the specifications we’d estimate a top speed of 20km/h (12mph).
Several versions were released, including the original Japanese version (released under Tomy), this Global/English version, and the German (Dickie) version.
Recommendation
The Porsche 956 is a popular model for toy makers due to its undeniable good looks, and this 1985 Taiyo version captures it well. Future versions would look even better, particularly its spiritual successor, the Taiyo Porsche 962C.
As for which one to get, I’m still hanging out for the 962C, though if a 956 Turbo became available at the right price I’d be hard pressed to say no!
For more information on the 956, check out this excellent design review by someone who got their hands on a Tomy branded model in Hong Kong during the mid-80s.
We’d also highly recommend checking out Wolf Architects Review of the Porsche 956. We’ve asked them for any confirmation of the 1983 year, but regardless it’s an excellent resource.
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