Real world cars that inspired Tamiya

[mr crispy]

Stumbled across these pics recently and thought "I recognise that bodyshell".

I hadn't realised how close Tamiya had got the HB to the original. I love the boot door, don't fancy weakening my HB2010 with the cut but I have a set of those bonnet catch decals that are going on ASAP!

So this got me thinking what else has Tamiya got spot on? Obviously the road cars are a given, but the only other buggy I can think of is the FAV.

There was one on eBay a few months ago and I couldn't believe just how close it matched the 1/10 kit. I had to study the pics to convince myself it was real.

You know of any?

[TA-Mark]

Sand Rover is a Meyer's Manx buggy. A beach buggy body that is made to fit on the VW beetle chassis.

And the Buggy Champ/Rough Rider and Super Champ is Funco buggy and Funco Mk2 respectively. The Super Champ Funco 2 was on a Knight Rider episode. There's an entry in my showroom about it (screen captures from TV).

[TWINSET]

Cue Funco in pickup and Blazer that's actually a Bronco

Have a look here too; http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=66465&hl=funco

Isn't that white HB a Stripper or something dodgy?

[Grastens]

TCer mongoose1983 posted this reference entry for the Tamiya Bigwig: http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=104764&id=23692

[bromvw]

Sand Rover is a Meyer's Manx buggy. A beach buggy body that is made to fit on the VW beetle chassis.

And the Buggy Champ/Rough Rider and Super Champ is Funco buggy and Funco Mk2 respectively. The Super Champ Funco 2 was on a Knight Rider episode. There's an entry in my showroom about it (screen captures from TV).

The Sand Rover is tamiya's attempt at the Mayer's Manx , but if you look closely the proportions,wheelbase and lines are all wrong . The earlier cox dune buggy is far nearer to the Manx .

[TA-Mark]

The Sand Rover is tamiya's attempt at the Mayer's Manx , but if you look closely the proportions,wheelbase and lines are all wrong . The earlier cox dune buggy is far nearer to the Manx .

One of my mates has a Meyer's Manx and I've done a lot of work on it for him, so I know the vehicle well. I've looked at the Cox version and thought it was terrible representation of the buggy. Neither are a licenced product so both will be off to avoid copywrite. The only true licenced Meyer's I've seen is a 1:24 static model kit.

The re-re botch up is not being considered, but the original Sand Rover is very close to my mate's buggy. Much the same as the HB2010 is not scale in any way on a DT02 chassis. DT02 is durable maybe, but in no way is it a scale chassis.

[beetlebanger1]

wish they would do a 1991 subaru legacy instead of that b4 abortion !

[TWINSET]

Just found THIS

[TWINSET]

And THIS

[mr crispy]

How did I forget the Sand Rover and Rough Rider???

The pics I found were from a classified sales section circa 2001 calling it a "stripper dune buggy". It looks to be built on a full length beetle chassis rather than a shortened one commonly used with the classic beach buggy. Anyone that's seen the Wheeler Dealers beach buggy episode will know what I mean, if not search it on YouTube it's quite entertaining.

Makes me wonder if the Tamiya road beetle chassis would be a good conversion for the HB body?

[Gruntfuggly]

The XR311 and Cheetah are both based on 1/1 vehicles.

And of Sonic Figher, of course. Not.

[Rockcrusher]

Sure the Sonic Fighter was! Its based, um, I mean inspired by a fighter jet, with an open cockpit, Yeah. Right. The Lunch Box, Clod Buster and Bullhead were inspired by the real deal too.

[Grastens]

Sure the Sonic Fighter was! Its based, um, I mean inspired by a fighter jet, with an open cockpit, Yeah. Right.

Custom auto maker Bill Carter was on the initial design team

[Tamiya1/10]

Not yet release or if ever...Tamiya should consider the Nissan power Delta Wing, which DIF in the recent 24hr lemans. Is a unique design not famous yet so Tamiya may not have to pay a huge copyright fees and good publicity for the car. Just a thought and not exact following the topic.

[atf300]

it would need a custom chassis , which probably would not be economical

[Thommo]

I struggled to find images searching here and on the interweb thingy, but the Ford F150 (Baja Version) is based on an Arizona desert racer. I think the Chevy SV10 and Toyota Prerunner are too ?

[TA-Mark]

I struggled to find images searching here and on the interweb thingy, but the Ford F150 (Baja Version) is based on an Arizona desert racer. I think the Chevy SV10 and Toyota Prerunner are too ?

This one:

[MadInventor]

There's actually a huge list. Think all the on-road touring / racing cars, the early F1 cars (tyrell 6 wheeler), F350 high lift (endorsed by ford), tundra hi lift. Then there's the Porsche 959, and the celica that went on the same chassis, 1/16 Kubelwagen, all the R/C tanks are of course accurately modelled on the real thing. Probably a lot more beside, but this is all I can think of at the moment that hasn't been mentioned already.