It’s been over two years since The Little Car Company showed off their first production concept of a life-size RC car. While it’s not actually meant to be operated with a remote control, the brand has officially taken the wraps off the Tamiya Wild One Max, a road-legal junior EV based on the 1980s RC icon.
The RC toy version of the Tamiya Wild One first arrived in 1985, quickly becoming a star in the scale car world. Due to its popularity at the time, the Tamiya truck was the perfect base for such a project. That said, things have changed quite a bit since The Little Car Company’s early prototypes were first shown. Based on customer input, The Little Car Company stretched the Wild One Max in almost every direction. The team added 3.9 inches to both the EV’s length and width in an effort to make it more comfortable for both drivers and passengers. The crew also adjusted the front suspension towers to improve visibility, while improving safety in pedestrian crashes.
Speaking of suspension, the Tamiya Wild One Max comes equipped to handle the kind of abuse a real RC car can take. The front suspension has been revised to a double-wishbone arrangement, bolstered by Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs at all four corners. Combined with the 14-inch all-terrain tires, the Wild One Max gives drivers approach and departure angles of 34.1 and 50.8 degrees, respectively. It also has a breaking angle of 28.4 degrees. Behind the steering wheel and tire package is a set of Brembo brakes, which will come in handy for stopping the electric vehicle.
There isn’t a ton of equipment inside the Tamiya Wild One Max, which is to be expected with an “RC” car. A pair of Cobra seats with four-point harnesses are about the extent of the conventions, apart from a single 5-inch screen with a marine-grade switchgear. However, the Little Car Company used this extra width to increase cabin space compared to the concept.
It is powered by eight removable battery packs, which combine to provide 14.4 kWh of power. The company says these batteries should provide the Wild One Max with enough juice for serious driving to speeds of up to 60 mph. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a “small” battery when the vehicle only tips the scales at around 1000 lbs. All Launch Edition models will also include a UK and EU Road Use Pack, which helps the Wild One Max meet all L7e quad regulations for use on public roads.
The Little Car Company plans to build just 100 examples of the Tamiya Wild One Max Release Edition. Pricing and delivery information is expected to arrive later this year as production nears. Other variants of the blown RC are sure to follow, but don’t expect them to come cheap. The Little Car Company is known for its incredible scale versions of the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, Aston Martin DB5 Junior and vintage Grand Prix Bugattis for what they can be. Regardless of this little detail, who hasn’t wanted to get behind the wheel of an RC car for an afternoon?
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, Associate Editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may drive an aging Mustang daily, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata take up most of his free time.
