Why Sand Scorchers?

[Shodog]

You know I used to Have a NIB ranger. I sold it because what I really wanted was a Scorcher. I always thought the ranger was dorky because of the way the rear wheels sat. Don't get me wrong, I love the body, in fact I have an '85 Ford F-150 that looks like a ranger. I later found out that the ranger was one of the rarest of all the buggy chassis

For me, I wanted a scorcher because I used to have one back in the 80's and the first time I saw one, I fell in love with it

Jim

[TWINSET]

Can't really agree with ranger being the prettiest - there's to much chassis showing below the line of the body. It reminds me of all those 'monster trucks' they're doing now, which are just 1/8 buggies with 4 foot body mounts.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the ranger and used to have one, but from the side.........

[DJTheo]

Yes, Darryn I also believe that part of its collectibility is that it has become a "must" for the Tamiya collector and we are a bit brainwashed about it being the holy grail.

Ok, the Ranger body doesn't fit so nice the chassis, but also the SS nose with those headlights next to each other isn't everybody's taste, now we are equal... LOL

http://www.vintagetamiyarc.com/

[RETRO R/C]

This is exactly the point - it is all subjective !!

Edited by - darryn1 on 20 Sep 2002 22:08:51

[Shodog]

Super Champ the ugliest? No way! What to not like? I would say the ugliest car was the Holiday buggy. The wheels are ugly and the swoopy fenders don't help. I would have to say that was the grandfather to the Whats that all about then? line of cars.

Jim

[TWINSET]

I had a holiday bug bod on a scorcher for a while - that looked cool.

Actually, if anyone want to swap and unbusted HB bod for a fair condition SS bod, lemme know. (No it doesnt have mirrors, wipers, front indicators, but I got the bottom half of an exhaust!)

[DJTheo]

I love the Holiday Buggy and Sand Rover, the Super Champ I also like the least of the Racing Buggies, especially due to its long rear chassis end, non realistic rear spike tires and lack of waterproof radiobox.

http://www.vintagetamiyarc.com/

[RETRO R/C]

Hold on Jimmy - I meant my least fav of the RB's was the Super Champ......

The all time Whats that all about then? car for me was the striker !! It looks like no car I have seen, it was disigned by a work experience kid on acid !! - badword - even the sonic fighter looks better than the striker......

Love the Sand Rover - my FAV car of all time - the holiday buggy - well - it is not beautiful - but at least it looks similar to the real cars of the time.

Cheers

Darryn

Visit my Web Page !!

[Bibbo]

As far as I can see the Sand Scorcher was the first really great RC car, from any manufacturer. When I was a kid just about all of my school mates know about it and wanted one. They where just a great toy a great model and a great item all rolled into one.

For me the Scorcher and the Hilux kicked off the RC car scene all by themselves. I would say that a lot of people in the 30 something bracket would feel the same about these cars being the definitive RC cars, not just from Tamiya but from anybody.

[njmlondon]

quote:For me the Scorcher and the Hilux kicked off the RC car scene all by themselves. I would say that a lot of people in the 30 something bracket would feel the same about these cars being the definitive RC cars, not just from Tamiya but from anybody.

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Absolutely... at 31 i cannot agree more... I still remember the Tamiya Catalogue with the Hilux's pulling the real one, and I loved the photo of the Hilux with the snowchains. Only thing is I cannot remeber any SS photos...

Its odd, but even though the SS was my first ever car, I really don't have a burning desire to buy it again. In fact, if I was to get one of the racing buggies it would have to be the RR which was in my opinion much cooler!

Just my two-pence worth of subjective unsolicited opinion!

[Bibbo]

I thought the RR was a nicer car than the SS, but the SS is growing on me for some reason. I still think the Ranger is very underated, this is a beatiful car with a lot of detail. I have just finished mine ( see showroom ) and it is lovely. Very difficult to paint and decal but nice when it's finished.

[J3cubfan]

I remember seeing these in my hobby shop. They sold for about $300USD and thought that one day, I am going to get one of those. I endded buying a Holiday Buggy instead after a summer of cutting grass. Yes, the SS performance wise is not up to snuff with the newer car. My Blitzer Beetle could run circles around it. For me, it purely nostagia plus the fact that I have always liked the Yellow and Red paint scheme. Its just a magnificent car.

[SJoerD]

WOW, where did THIS ancient topic come from? [:0]

This is prehistoric! [] Almost as vintage as the SS itself... []

[netsmithUK]

Its nice to see someone finding and posting to a relevent thread rather than just starting a new one.

[poulpit]

quote:Originally posted by Spike

What is about Sand Scorchers that make them so desirable that people are willing to spend loads on just about anything to do with them?

Some of the prices they go for on ebay amaze me. The chassis is the same as the RR and Ranger, so it can't be for the handling and raw speed! I think the Beetle body looks as ugly as sin. Yet I feel obliged to get one for my collection (which secretly annoys me)[]

Am I missing something?

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Take a look at the real 1/1 "BAJA 500" race! The most bodies used are beetle or rough rider! By default to have one real, we have one little tamiya! It doesn't matter for the price, the ss is a mystic car for a long time....[]

[)]poulpit.

[Supershot]

I don't understand why the SS is so desirable either.As a kid the car that I prefered most in the same league was the Superchamp!You can get one from e-bay in NIB form for dirt cheap.Has any one tried putting a SS body on a Superchamp?Can it be done(Interesting)??The performance will be better too!

It's also intresting to note that people in thier late twenties prefer cars like the Frog,Hotshot,Hornet ect,while people who are thirty plus usually like the older kits that Tamiya produced,like the Racig buggies!I think this has something to do with the earlier kits being more expensive,more complex to build,and eventually seeing buggies like I formely mentioned,becoming hugely popular during the Tamiya boom in the mid eighties!

[BiggusDitchus]

People in their twenties prefer the frog probably because that was what was popular when they were growing up, for me it was the rr and ss, but particularly the holiday buggy and sand rover, LOL can you tell im in my thirties.

[tanker(2)]

quote:Originally posted by BiggusDitchus

People in their twenties prefer the frog probably because that was what was popular when they were growing up, for me it was the rr and ss, but particularly the holiday buggy and sand rover, LOL can you tell im in my thirties.

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People emotionally attached to their first car (first love?) and I am sure a lot of us were drooling over our friend's cars while we could not have one when we were young. I think the chassis of the SS/RR/SC are marvelous. (though no perfect) They may not be the most competitive but after all, they are the first of its kind. They affect buggy designs since 1977!! Even though the RC10 stealth transmission is arguably the best gearbox out there, I think Tamiya was the true 'inventor' of the stealth transmission. Of course, those after market differentials (MIP and Thorp) completed the design.

[SJoerD]

quote:Originally posted by BiggusDitchus

People in their twenties prefer the frog probably because that was what was popular when they were growing up, for me it was the rr and ss, but particularly the holiday buggy and sand rover, LOL can you tell im in my thirties.

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Yes basicly it's like that, but there is always cross-over interrest. I see guys in their 20s have modified Sand Scorchers and the guys in their 30s with a nice shelf HotShot... []

I love the Sand Scorcher too, but technically seen I was only -7 years old when it was released. 1986 was the year of the Blackfoot, Bruiser, Supershot and Porsche 959 and of another great creation that took 9 months of developing and it wasn't from Tamiya... [8D] [] []

I must say it's mostly love at first sight. I still love the KBF since the day I saw it on that shelf and shouted "Monster Truck Madness!"... [] Somehow there was this mysterious glow around it, could bethat it's a mythical car or that the soda-pop bubbles went to my little head... []

But in case of the Sand Scorcher, following the crowd and the 'me too' factor as described earlier counts as well. Doesn't go much for me though: I always heared these great stories about 'metal beetles' in my Fighter Buggy days/daze, when I found out the shop owner threw it away my heart was torn (I was SOOO mad! [] ); but it made me even more determined to get one eventually... The shop owner told me "Impossible!" but after all those years he probably didn't know me well enough! []

It's good I didn't have my expectation super-high as in that case I'd probably be disappointed. I still love it though! [] But please don't get distracted too much about the fuss around it as vote for your favourite with your heart in stead of your wallet! [^]

[spiff84(2)]

there is something so satisfying about buying something you wanted but couldn't afford as a kid.

[Spacemate]

I've just dug out my dad's SS the other day. It was owned by his business partner at the start of the 80's, but the bloke's kids kept smashing it up. So dad brought it off him for AUS$50 in the mid 80's, with spare rear tyres and some parts. Since then It's been used three of four times. I didn't know it was worth anything until a couple of days ago.

Unfortunately it is in for repairs at the moment, it only goes backwards. No movement on forwards. And it needs a set of new front tyres.