5 Stunning Car Releases From Tamiya

Paul Onorato February 27, 2023 Stories

ABOUT THE TAMIYA TT-02 CHASSIS

Before we dig into the 5 stunning car releases from Tamiya let’s give you some insight on the key component that makes these vehicles possible…the Tamiya TT-02 chassis. There are very good reasons as to why Tamiya chose this versatile chassis.

First off, Tamiya designed the chassis so that it is extremely simple to build which makes it ideal for someone just starting out in RC. Tamiya furnished the TT-02 chassis with a clever design to help ensure it ends up being built correctly; like keeping the assemblies uncomplicated. For example the left and right suspension arms and uprights are identical to reduce that chance of using the wrong parts in the wrong place and the friction shocks are super simple and quick to build.

In order to enhance performance, the drivetrain is shaft driven with a longitudinal layout that places the battery on the left and the motor, servo, speed control and receiver on the right to offer excellent stability.

Over the motor is a plastic cover that has a removable cooling duct which is not shown in this image.

The TT-02’s design and layout allow for easy maintenance like the easy to access front and rear gearboxes. As for having adjustability, Tamiya covered that as well. The chassis offers two different wheelbases, two ground clearance settings and two tread setups in addition to a range of ten possible gear ratios.

And that is not all. Once you have mastered the TT-02 in its stock form, its overall performance, durability and appearance can be increased by adding the numerous hop-up option parts available from Tamiya as well as ones offered by aftermarket manufacturers.

The wheel hubs are shaped to look like full-size brake discs.

TT-02 CHASSIS SPECS

Scale: 1/10
Type: Build-up kit
Chassis: Molded bathtub-type frame
Drivetrain: Enclosed shaft-driven 4WD gearbox
Differential: Bevel gear diffs
Bearings: Metal and plastic bushings
Suspension (F/R): Lower A-arm w/ fixed upper / Lower H-arm w/ fixed upper
Shocks: Molded plastic, friction type
Steering: 3-piece steering tie rod
Motor: 540-brushed type
Speed control: Tamiya ESC (electronic speed control)

REQUIRED TO COMPLETE

2-channel radio system
Steering servo
Battery pack
Battery charger
Paint

ALFA ROMEO 155 V6 TI MARTINI—#58606

DIMENSIONS

Length: 18.19 in. (462mm)
Width: 7.28 in. (185mm)
Height: 4.43 in. (138mm)
Wheelbase: 10.12 in. (257mm)

We are psyched to see the return of the Tamiya Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI Martini touring car body. The classic livery authentically captures what the real Alfa looked like. Tamiya made sure to replicate the large front bumper spoiler along with the pronounced front and rear fenders. Then once you lay down the paint, the included stickers and the racing slick tires wrapped around fin-type wheels will bring it to life.

The full-size Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI sported a purpose-developed 450hp-plus 2.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission which made this sedan a terror on the truck. Along with ABS and traction control, the race engineers made the front, center and rear diffs electronically controlled for more hi-tech flavor. This car stayed a contender for the prestigious 1996 International Touring Car title right up to the final race.

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK AMG RACING VERSION—#58722

DIMENSIONS

Length: 17.48. in. (444mm)
Width: 7.28 in. (185mm)
Height: 4.92 in. (125mm)
Wheelbase: 10.12 in. (257mm)

The stunning Tamiya 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK AMG Racing Version kit is a bit of a homage to the German Touring Car Masters racecars from the no-too-distant past. This polycarbonate body is an awesome recreation of the CLK which is now being used to create the iconic race car as it appeared as the homologation version. Basically a racecar without the racing livery stickers. Back in 2002, the AMG Mercedes team performed quite well with former F1 driver Jean Alesi behind the wheel. The accentuated fenders around each of the tires with ducting for cooling and large racing wing is a dead giveaway as to what this car is designed for…racing. Tamiya gives you separate ABS plastic parts for the mirrors and rear wing along with 16-spoke silver wheels paired with racing slicks.

PORSCHE 911 GT3 (992)—#58712

DIMENSIONS

Length: 18.39 in. (467mm)
Width: 7.40 in. (188mm)
Height: 5.16 in. (131mm)
Wheelbase: 9.88 in. (251mm)

What a beautiful new release from Tamiya, the Porsche 911 GT3 (992). The actual Porsche is a 7th generation model that features double-wishbone front suspension (changed from MacPherson strut) and a horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine. Additionally, the 911 GT3 came with lightweight components and aerodynamic design that extensively boosted performance like its carbon fiber reinforced plastic front hood. It also featured hanging type wing stay that produced greater downforce and lower drag.

Tamiya expertly recreated the 911 GT3 in 1/10-scale polycarbonate staying true to all the details that make the full-size supercar such a show stopper. Separate plastic parts molded in black realistically depict the wing stays and side mirrors. The body comes out of the box clear and a single color paint job along with the detail sticker sheet is all that is needed to give you one fantastic looking finished product.

TOYOTA CELICA GT-FOUR (ST165)—#58718

DIMENSIONS

Length: 17.72 in. (450mm)
Width: 7.28 in. (185mm)
Height: 5.12 in. (130mm)
Wheelbase: 10.12 in. (257mm)

Like the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI Martini, the Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST165) rally car is a re-release of sorts. Meaning the body was used on previous kits starting all the way back in 1991 when it was debuted on the TA-01 touring car chassis. It was later made available on the TT-01 Type-E and today on the TT-02. Notice that the Celica comes with scale-looking rally dish wheels that are molded in white and mated to treaded racing radial tires. Tamiya also gives you a nice set of livery and detail stickers along with window masks so that you can recreate this famed rally car.

It makes perfect sense why Tamiya chose to offer the Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST165) once you consider what the full-size racecar accomplished. In 1990 it raced in the highly competitive WRC (World Rally Championship) and was able to take five wins including the Rally of Great Britain. On top of that it won the drivers’ title with Spanish driver Carlos Sainz helming the GT-4, which made it to the first Japanese to achieve this.

TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT/GR YARIS RALLY1 HYBRID—#58716

DIMENSIONS

Length: 16.38 in. (416mm)
Width: 7.48 in. (190mm)
Height: 5.75 in. (146mm)
Wheelbase: 10.12 in. (257mm)

The last of the 5 stunning car releases from Tamiya is also another ultra successful Toyota rally racecar. The Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT/GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid is modeled after a much more recent rally car than the Celica GT-Four (ST165) as it competed in the 2022 racing season. This past year it achieved bot the manufacturer’s and driver’s championships which is no easy feat. This hybrid competed in compliance with the Rally 1 restrictions. Underneath the compact Yaris body is a combination of a hybrid unit integrated with motor and generator where the engine is capable of over 500PS and 500Nm. This car was also equipped with regenerative charging during braking. The car uses non-fossil fuel and boast a 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder direct injection turbo engine. In order to cool down the hybrid unit, the Yaris Rally1 is equipped with air ducts on either side of the body and is fitted with side skirts and a massive rear wing.

Tamiya gets full credit in accurately recreating the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT/GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid. The lightweight yet durable polycarbonate body is expertly molded to match the shape of the full-size Yaris rally car. They then gave it separately molded black plastic parts for the 2-piece large rear wing, side mirrors and side ducts and caps. All of the detail and livery stickers shown in these phots are included in the kit as well as window masking to aid in the painting process. Lastly, Tamiya spec’d dark gun metal color multi-spoke wheels that spin with treaded racing radial tires.

For more information about Tamiya products, visit: TAMIYA