tamiya mountaineer

[LOVE THE FOX]

Hi members

I have seen a few of these Tamiya Mountaineer's on Ebay and boy do they bring a hefty price tag.

My question is why? I don't remember them when I was a kid, but then I don't remember much either :-)

So what's so special about them? They are really cool for sure but man they are expensive! Any ideas?

Thanks,

Mike

[mongoose1983]

Hi Mike.

The Mountaineer was released in 1993. I uploaded the RCCA review a few years ago. You might want to read this: http://www.tamiyaclu...99674&sid=23692

They were very expensive when first released, and their performance would still be considered discrete by many RC fans. The main sex-appeal about this incredible piece of RC kit is the realism of the chassis. This truck was just another version of an older Tamiya kit, the Toyota 4x4 Bruiser, that was first released in 1985. The Mountaineer came out with cheaper parts, i.e. the one-piece wheels. Most TCers like the Mountaineer because they seem to be a little too fond of its roll-bar. Myself (as my avatar shows), I'm a fan of the Toyota Bruiser as it brings me some memories of the old Mud Bog races, before Monster truck racing became a popular motorsport.

If you plan to buy one, you might keep in mind these trucks are the most amazing shelf queens you might be able to find anywhere. They are fun to run, but don't expect much of a performance from them. Having said that, I would say they worth what they cost.

You have a good Thursday!

[LOVE THE FOX]

Thanks for the info Mongoose! That is really awesome. I didn't realize the mountaineer was also a 3 speed as well. So freaking cool they do that!

I almost bought a new, not vintage, Bruiser from Tower a few weeks ago but didn't. What made me nervous is that although I am fairly "handy" when it comes to tinkering around with things, this kit kinda scared me a bit :-) First the transmission looks scary to figure out. Also I didn't have the correct radio controller either. So your looking at a cool $1,000 for the kit, Radio and servos.

When I build a few more cars and get comfy doing that maybe I will step up to the big Bruiser or find a nice Mountaineer for my Mantle :-)

Thanks again Mongoose

Mike

[mongoose1983]

No problem, Mike.

And yes, I think you're right. $1000 is way too much for a kit. But still that does depend on what do you want from an RC car. If you plan to run it, I guess it would be better for you to try one first, otherwise you'd be up for some disappoint. If you plan to showcase it, then that changes. A three-speed transmission doesn't automatically mean that the ride would be better of more exciting in any way. It's a cool feature, though, but not much more than just that. The restoration process was the most exciting thing for me regarding these trucks.

Whatever you're going for, I'd recommend you to keep an eye out on local adverts and eBay. Believe me, there is no reason for anybody to even think in spending a big large one ($1000) when it comes to these kind of RC vehicles!

[Daves956]

The other appeal of the mountaineer is the body. They look really good and if all original with a body that hasn't been rolled repeatedly they do go for a bit of money. As far as the running gear you can't tell them from a bruiser or at least the original bruiser. With the rerelease of the bruiser and all the various bodies you can get it's not too pricey to switch out the body to whatever you like. I think that one of the best features of the 3 speed is the 4 wheel drive in low only with the other 2 just 2 wheel drive. One thing to think about is that the price of a vintage bruiser is really low right now.