The Tyco Viper is a futuristically styled Dodge Viper radio controlled car, based on the 90s TV show of the same name. While the car is marked “1993 Paramount Pictures”, it is likely this is simply when the Viper TV show concept was trademarked prior to its release. As the show screened from January 1994, it’s likely the Tyco RC car was released around the same time, or just prior.
Design and Concept
The car from the TV series “Viper,” which aired from 1994 to 1999, was a futuristic sports vehicle known as the “Defender.” It was a central element of the show, transforming from a red Dodge Viper RT/10 roadster into a grey armored crime-fighting vehicle. Equipped with advanced technology and weaponry, the Defender was used to combat crime and became an iconic symbol of the series. Its sleek design and unique capabilities made it a memorable part of 90s television culture.
with fast cars, bad guys, and quote “plenty of curves”
The show itself was an action-adventure TV series following the story of Metro City’s Viper Project, a special task force created to fight crime. The main character, Michael Payton, a former criminal with a new identity as Joe Astor, was chosen to drive the high-tech Viper Defender. Alongside him were the project’s creator, Julian Wilkes, and later, mechanic Frankie Waters. Together, they used the Viper’s advanced capabilities to take down criminals and protect the city. The series combined elements of crime-fighting, drama, and science fiction, with the Viper car being a central character in its own right.
During the time “Viper” aired, it faced competition with other popular TV shows of the mid-90s including “The X-Files,”, “Baywatch”, and “Star Trek: Voyager”. What a great time for TV! These shows created a competitive environment for “Viper,” as they all vied for viewers’ attention in a time when action, adventure, and science fiction were gaining in popularity, particularly with Hollywood style special effects becoming mature enough, and economical enough to create on TV show budgets.
Features and Performance
Taiyo / Tyco took the economical route with this one to keep the cost down, as they seemed to with most licensed properties, no doubt due to the licensing costs hitting their margin and threatening to make the RRP unreasonable to the average buyer – understandable. Sadly though, they went much further than usual, not just by going for the average 4xAA battery power, but by making it a single channel reverse-turn model! That’s right folks, the technologically sophisticated Viper Defender can’t even make a left/right turn! Bummer dude.
But that’s not so bad – because this car is an incredible reproduction of the TV car, and it looks fantastic!
faithful reproduction, making an excellent shelf piece.
Availability and Collectability
The Viper comes up for sale rarely, perhaps once per year on eBay by a collector moving some of their items, however it’s collectability is indisputable. Whether it’s for fans of the 90s TV show, or fans of movie / TV / Hollywood movie cars or Sci-Fi vehicles in general, it’s a beauty of a model and one of the very few reverse-turn models I’d pay good money to have in my collection.
If you’re a fan of the Viper Defender car or the TV show itself, don’t forget to check out the 1994 Tyco Viper Electric Racing set!
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