Outstanding video. I can remember the days when I'd stare at the Tamiya catalog for hours on end at this very car. Excellent job with the car. First real video I've seen of this in action. Trying to get my hands on a vintage Bruiser, then possibly one of these.
I had one of these as well. I bought one of these new back in the 80's. Fastest rc I had ever driven at the time (had only nikko and some sears rc cars). That Technigold motor was a beast back then.
lol, I'm 10 minutes from Castle Hill off road.... Very late in the piece but it's so lovely to see one actually running. Usually they are at two extremes, either shelf queens or too broken to run. I've just bought my childhood dream car The Avante (1988) but the 2011 Re-Re Already put a very fresh Technigold motor in it. Looking at getting a 959 for extremely light tarmac running/shelf queen duties. Shame they were so brittle and parts are big money. Still cheaper than buying an X-Maxx or XRT lol.. Modern stuff is heaps tougher and faster and easier to work on...BUT the 80's nostagia is what brings me back...damn Tamiya. Now with MCI decals and TBG bodies they're easier to get looking great aesthetically. Parts are available as guys are making 3d print out of nylon powder so they look close and are stronger than originals.
Tamiya might re-release it one day, who knows?! With racing cars they need to get sponsor licensing permissions before they can start remaking decals which are a big part of the look of these cars. I wasn't a huge fan of the Celica Group B until I got one and restored it. It is a boxy car next to the 959 but it looks tough. I will have to do a video of the Celica soon.
This was the kit that got away. I so very wanted this kit when I was a teenager. They were so expensive and didn't want to ask my parents to get it for me because I felt undeserving of such an expensive kit. So glad to see it in this video and it's nice to read about all the posters experiences with the car. Now as an adult, I still feel like I'm unworthy of such kit.. Searched Amazon to see how much they are going for now and couldn't find one. Oh well, guess it wasn't meant to be.
Thanks for your comments. When these cars were released by Tamiya my cousin bought one, so I was lucky to be able to see it in action. Many years later I saw one and had to have it! The Bruiser is cool, Tamiya have re-released this so vintage ones come up for sale more frequently now. I really like the original Hilux 4x4 which the Bruiser was based on.
Agreed, I now have a run body and a display shell, either way the antenna just pulls from the authenticity of the car. Good to know I can get away with not having to use it. Thanks. Excellent job on the car btw.
Thanks Pete, the 959 must be one of Tamiya's most beautiful and detailed polycarbonate bodies ever! It has too much speed for the standard old tyres, very tricky to drive quickly. Next time I take it for a run I will need better rubber!
Yeah i will restore her one day. I did have it going a couple of years back on the orig battery and she still run fast. The rear shocks got bent years back and are poor. I used to like to remove the propshaft and run it on RWD with slick tyres to practice drifting. Great fun.
Agreed, this makes me want to go after one of these to restore first. I have yet to understand why they haven't re-released this and the Celica. There's a demand for these just as much as the Bruiser and The Frog. I know I'd buy one in a heart beat.
That's true, I hadn't considered copy right issues. Truth is I'm not as much of a fan of the Celica compared to the 959, the 959 just looks more aggressive and is just plain eye catching. That's not saying I would pass one by. I'd love to see it action though.
Finally got one of my own on EBay, should be here soon. Having a seriously difficult time finding even reproduction decals. It will be mostly for show but I would like to run it like yours one day
No antenna mast required as I use a 2.4g radio system which has a short antenna. I also don't like the look of the antenna mast, I think it was designed to protect the body in case of a rollover.
Jeez,that 959 used to occupy a lot of my daydreams when I was 13 or 14,couldn't afford 1 so I had 2 make do with 2nd hand boomerang,then when I got a job at 16 it was all motorbikes,I never did get that damned Porsche.It did look a bit delicate though,I never understood why anyone would pick the Celica.
Finally got one of my own, in rather good shape too! Hopefully I'll be able to post something like this one day... Do you know where I can find reproduction decals?
I noticed you don't run with the antenna mast set up. Do you get decent enough radio range like that? I only ask because I have yet to run mine and was considering running it the same way.
Argh one the best tamiya models ever made. I have a soft spot for this. I begged my dad to buy it 4me then found it too fast and smashed it into a car tyre ouch..dont know where it is now. I raid my parents loft. I think.
A rare pleasure to see one running 😀👌🏻👍🏻
Outstanding video. I can remember the days when I'd stare at the Tamiya catalog for hours on end at this very car. Excellent job with the car. First real video I've seen of this in action. Trying to get my hands on a vintage Bruiser, then possibly one of these.
My buddy back in grade school had the 959, that thing was so fast as well as quick. Cool video
I had one of these as well. I bought one of these new back in the 80's. Fastest rc I had ever driven at the time (had only nikko and some sears rc cars). That Technigold motor was a beast back then.
2 year slater i m back here discovering my comment ( i forgot about it !) Ahaha. The Most beautiful car with bigwig. Gorgeous car.
lol, I'm 10 minutes from Castle Hill off road....
Very late in the piece but it's so lovely to see one actually running. Usually they are at two extremes, either shelf queens or too broken to run. I've just bought my childhood dream car The Avante (1988) but the 2011 Re-Re Already put a very fresh Technigold motor in it.
Looking at getting a 959 for extremely light tarmac running/shelf queen duties. Shame they were so brittle and parts are big money.
Still cheaper than buying an X-Maxx or XRT lol.. Modern stuff is heaps tougher and faster and easier to work on...BUT the 80's nostagia is what brings me back...damn Tamiya.
Now with MCI decals and TBG bodies they're easier to get looking great aesthetically. Parts are available as guys are making 3d print out of nylon powder so they look close and are stronger than originals.
Tamiya might re-release it one day, who knows?! With racing cars they need to get sponsor licensing permissions before they can start remaking decals which are a big part of the look of these cars. I wasn't a huge fan of the Celica Group B until I got one and restored it. It is a boxy car next to the 959 but it looks tough. I will have to do a video of the Celica soon.
This was the kit that got away. I so very wanted this kit when I was a teenager. They were so expensive and didn't want to ask my parents to get it for me because I felt undeserving of such an expensive kit. So glad to see it in this video and it's nice to read about all the posters experiences with the car. Now as an adult, I still feel like I'm unworthy of such kit.. Searched Amazon to see how much they are going for now and couldn't find one. Oh well, guess it wasn't meant to be.
I ve got this model in the loft. Still runs but the shocks are knacked. Had some gret fun with it back in the days.
brilliant..had one in 1989
Thanks for your comments. When these cars were released by Tamiya my cousin bought one, so I was lucky to be able to see it in action. Many years later I saw one and had to have it!
The Bruiser is cool, Tamiya have re-released this so vintage ones come up for sale more frequently now. I really like the original Hilux 4x4 which the Bruiser was based on.
A real beauty Ed, looks like it has plenty of speed to
Agreed, I now have a run body and a display shell, either way the antenna just pulls from the authenticity of the car. Good to know I can get away with not having to use it. Thanks. Excellent job on the car btw.
Thanks Pete, the 959 must be one of Tamiya's most beautiful and detailed polycarbonate bodies ever! It has too much speed for the standard old tyres, very tricky to drive quickly. Next time I take it for a run I will need better rubber!
Yeah i will restore her one day. I did have it going a couple of years back on the orig battery and she still run fast. The rear shocks got bent years back and are poor. I used to like to remove the propshaft and run it on RWD with slick tyres to practice drifting. Great fun.
Agreed, this makes me want to go after one of these to restore first. I have yet to understand why they haven't re-released this and the Celica. There's a demand for these just as much as the Bruiser and The Frog. I know I'd buy one in a heart beat.
Damn that little thing is quick lol
Also dreamed of that one. My god you are owning all the car i ve been dreamin of. Not sure you had a Javellin :D
That's true, I hadn't considered copy right issues. Truth is I'm not as much of a fan of the Celica compared to the 959, the 959 just looks more aggressive and is just plain eye catching. That's not saying I would pass one by. I'd love to see it action though.
Still have mine with the original motor and body. Lost a dog bone and the speed control got a little oxidized, but it still runs.
Finally got one of my own on EBay, should be here soon. Having a seriously difficult time finding even reproduction decals. It will be mostly for show but I would like to run it like yours one day
Nice video! After reading its build manual, I got doubted it could be re released. Almost parts of it seemed dedicated ones.
Cool mate, post a video of it when you get it running!
No antenna mast required as I use a 2.4g radio system which has a short antenna. I also don't like the look of the antenna mast, I think it was designed to protect the body in case of a rollover.
Jeez,that 959 used to occupy a lot of my daydreams when I was 13 or 14,couldn't afford 1 so I had 2 make do with 2nd hand boomerang,then when I got a job at 16 it was all motorbikes,I never did get that damned Porsche.It did look a bit delicate though,I never understood why anyone would pick the Celica.
You should get your 959 fixed up and have a bit of fun with it!
Absolutely.
Finally got one of my own, in rather good shape too! Hopefully I'll be able to post something like this one day... Do you know where I can find reproduction decals?
I noticed you don't run with the antenna mast set up. Do you get decent enough radio range like that? I only ask because I have yet to run mine and was considering running it the same way.
tokdl, send me your details so I can let you know where to get the decals from.
Argh one the best tamiya models ever made.
I have a soft spot for this. I begged my dad to buy it 4me then found it too fast and smashed it into a car tyre ouch..dont know where it is now. I raid my parents loft. I think.
Mark C
Righ N
Nope never found it !
I did find my old Schumacher procat and boss cat I used to race 1:10 electric off road