Citroen Xsara WRC Rally Monte-Carlo 2004

This model is an XB Expert Build version like my Madbull and my Sand Viper. So I received it ready to run with a beautiful bodyshell already painted and decorated. The chassis is a 4WD shaft-driven TT-01: unlike what its name may let you think, this chassis is made for on-road use. This is very new to me as it is my first on-road chassis. The Citroën Xsara WRC is in version "Monte Carlo", which means asphalt setup. With the additional "Rally" tires I bought, it will be able to hit the ground as long as the track is clean enough since the ground clearance is inferior to one centimeter.

 

The TT-01 family

Released in 2002, the TT-01 chassis is aimed at leisure. Very easy to assemble, it provides interesting performances right out of the box. A full range of options can almost transform it completely. This chassis is one of Tamiya's biggest commercial success in this category. The range of models using it illustrates its success:

 

58302
Enzo Ferrari

Tamiya 58302 Enzo Ferrari

58304
Nissan 350Z Race Car

Tamiya 58304 Nissan 350Z Race Car

58305
Subaru Impreza WRC 2003

Tamiya 58305 Subaru Impreza WRC 2003

58308
Ford Focus RS WRC 03

Tamiya 58308 Ford Focus RS WRC 03

58313
Raybrig NSX 2003

Tamiya 58313 Raybrig NSX 2003

58314
Calsonic Skyline GT-R 2003

Tamiya 58314 Calsonic Skyline GT-R 2003

58318
Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM

Tamiya 58318 Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM

58319
Xanavi Nismo GT-R R34

Tamiya 58319 Xanavi Nismo GT-R R34

58323
Schnitzer BMW M3 Sport Evo

Tamiya 58323 Schnitzer BMW M3 Sport Evo

58327
Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo.II AMG

Tamiya 58327 Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo.II AMG

58330
Xanavi Nismo Z

Tamiya 58330 Xanavi Nismo Z

58332
Citroen Xsara WRC 2004

Tamiya 58332 Citroen Xsara WRC 2004

58333
Subaru Impreza WRC 2004

Tamiya 58333 Subaru Impreza WRC 2004

58335
Ford Escort WRC

Tamiya 58335 Ford Escort WRC

58339
Raybrig NSX 2004

Tamiya 58339 Raybrig NSX 2004

58341
Mercedes-Benz C-Class DTM 2004

Tamiya 58341 Mercedes-Benz C-Class DTM 2004

58342
Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Tamiya 58342 Lancia Delta HF Integrale

58343
Ferrari F430

Tamiya 58343 Ferrari F430

58348
TT-01R Chassis Kit (Ltd Ed)

Tamiya 58348 TT-01R Chassis Kit (Ltd Ed)

58349
Subaru Impreza WRC Monte Carlo

Tamiya 58349 Subaru Impreza WRC Monte Carlo

58355
Audi A4 DTM 2005

Tamiya 58355 Audi A4 DTM 2005

58363
Audi A4 DTM 2005 ABT Sportline

Tamiya 58363 Audi A4 DTM 2005 ABT Sportline

58364
Nismo R34 GT-R Z-Tune

Tamiya 58364 Nismo R34 GT-R Z-Tune

58373
Nismo Coppermix Silvia

Tamiya 58373 Nismo Coppermix Silvia

58377
Ferrari FXX

Tamiya 58377 Ferrari FXX

58379
AMG Mercedes DTM 2006

Tamiya 58379 AMG Mercedes DTM 2006

58382
Mazda RX-7

Tamiya 58382 Mazda RX-7

58385
BMW 320si WTCC 2006 Germany

Tamiya 58385 BMW 320si WTCC 2006 Germany

58386
Nismo Coppermix Silvia

Tamiya 58386 Nismo Coppermix Silvia

58388
Mazda RX-7

Tamiya 58388 Mazda RX-7

58390
Impreza WRC Monte Carlo '07

Tamiya 58390 Impreza WRC Monte Carlo '07

58392
Toyota Supra

Tamiya 58392 Toyota Supra

58393
BMW Z4 M Coupe racing

Tamiya 58393 BMW Z4 M Coupe racing

58402
Nissan Fairlady Z Ver Nismo

Tamiya 58402 Nissan Fairlady Z Ver Nismo

58407
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup VIP 07

Tamiya 58407 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup VIP 07

58408
Suzuki SX4 WRC

Tamiya 58408 Suzuki SX4 WRC

58410
Volkswagen Golf GTI Cup Car

Tamiya 58410 Volkswagen Golf GTI Cup Car

58411
Nissan GT-R

Tamiya 58411 Nissan GT-R

58413
Lamborghini Countach LP500S

Tamiya 58413 Lamborghini Countach LP500S

58419
Nismo R34 GT-R Z tune

Tamiya 58419 Nismo R34 GT-R Z tune

58422
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup KTR

Tamiya 58422 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup KTR

58426
Subaru Impreza WRC08

Tamiya 58426 Subaru Impreza WRC08

58428
Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Drift

Tamiya 58428 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Drift

58432
Toyota / Lexus GS400 Aristo

Tamiya 58432 Toyota / Lexus GS400 Aristo

58433
Mercedes AMG C-Class DTM 2008

Tamiya 58433 Mercedes AMG C-Class DTM 2008

58437
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X WRC

Tamiya 58437 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X WRC

58439
Cusco Dunlop Subaru Impreza

Tamiya 58439 Cusco Dunlop Subaru Impreza

58442
Team Studie GLAD BMW Z4

Tamiya 58442 Team Studie GLAD BMW Z4

58449
BMW M3 GT2 2009

Tamiya 58449 BMW M3 GT2 2009

58450
TT-01 Type-E R Chassis Kit

Tamiya 58450 TT-01 Type-E R Chassis Kit

58451
BMW M3 E30 Sport Evo

Tamiya 58451 BMW M3 E30 Sport Evo

58455
Nissan GT-R R35 Drift-Spec

Tamiya 58455 Nissan GT-R R35 Drift-Spec

58458
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Tamiya 58458 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

58462
Datsun 240Z Rally

Tamiya 58462 Datsun 240Z Rally

58468
Toyota Altezza Racing

Tamiya 58468 Toyota Altezza Racing

58473
Datsun 240Z Drift Spec

Tamiya 58473 Datsun 240Z Drift Spec

58474
Endless 370Z Drift Spec

Tamiya 58474 Endless 370Z Drift Spec

58478
Nissan 370Z

Tamiya 58478 Nissan 370Z

58479
Raybrig HSV-010

Tamiya 58479 Raybrig HSV-010

58480
JAS Motorsport Honda Civic

Tamiya 58480 JAS Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R

58481
Ford SVT F-150 Lightning

Tamiya 58481 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning

58487
Weider HSV-010

Tamiya 58487 Weider HSV-010

58491
Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16

Tamiya 58491 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II

58494
Honda CR-Z

Tamiya 58494 Honda CR-Z

58501
Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R

Tamiya 58501 Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R

58504
Audi R8LMS Nürburgring

Tamiya 58504 Audi R8LMS Nürburgring

58508
VW Scirocco GT24-CNG

Tamiya 58508 VW Scirocco GT24-CNG

58510
Ferrari 599XX

Tamiya 58510 Ferrari 599XX

58513
Toyota Celica LB Turbo Gr.5

Tamiya 58513 Toyota Celica LB Turbo Gr.5

58515
Toyota Celica GT-Four 1990

Tamiya 58515 Toyota Celica GT-Four 1990

58516
BMW 318i STW

Tamiya 58516 BMW 318i STW

58529
Toyota 86

Tamiya 58529 Toyota 86

58533
Volkswagen Golf 24

Tamiya 58533 Volkswagen Golf 24

58538
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Arai

Tamiya 58538 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Arai

58541
BMW M3 Jagermeister

Tamiya 58541 BMW M3 Jagermeister

58542
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII

Tamiya 58542 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII

58543
Subaru BRZ R & D Sports

Tamiya 58543 Subaru BRZ R & D Sports

58544
Nissan R390 GT1

Tamiya 58544 Nissan R390 GT1

58545
Subaru BRZ

Tamiya 58545 Subaru BRZ

58551
Toyota 86 Drift Spec

Tamiya 58551 Toyota 86 Drift Spec

58554
Petronas SLS AMG GT3

Tamiya 58554 Petronas SLS AMG GT3

 

81 models(!) over more than 10 years(!) Please note I only listed the kit versions: most of them are also available as XB versions and ES versions.

Sorry to insist but we're talking about an unprecedented phenomenon in the RC world (to my knowledge). Of course, figures include both generations (TT-01 and TT-01E) in addition to the "drift" variant. But still:

  • Over about the 250 kits released in more than a decade, 81 use the TT-01 chassis. Almost one third of the period catalog! Being an entry-level chassis, you can easily imagine Tamiya's factories were pretty busy producing it...
  • The TT-01 alone was used on more kits than all the ones based upon the TA-01, TA-02, TA-03, TA-04 and TA-05 altogether (not counting TA-01 / TA-02 and TA-02T "truck" variants).
  • Since its debuts in 1976, Tamiya released 178 four-wheel drive shaft-driven kits for on-road (or rally) use. This includes models like the Porsche 959 and the F-201 chassis (not counting the TL-01B or TA-01 / TA-02 and TA-02T "truck" variants). Only 97 of them do not use the TT-01 chassis (as per 31/01/13).

I am updating this article at the beginning of 2013: Tamiya has just presented the TT-02 chassis at the Nuremberg Fair. No doubt it is a major announcement, both for the whole RC industry and for Tamiya.

 

FlickR