Porsche 934 Turbo RSR
History & Significance
Released in December 1976, the Porsche 934 Turbo RSR (item 58001) was Tamiya’s first-ever radio-control car. Its body was adapted from Tamiya’s existing 1/12 static display kit of the 934, paired with a new, purpose-built RC chassis — a release that helped launch the modern R/C car hobby.
Chassis Engineering
The 934 uses Tamiya’s original “pan chassis”: a flat aluminium plate chassis carrying a single rear-mounted motor driving the rear axle (2WD), with the Porsche 934 body shell mounted above.
Variants & Re-releases
The 58001 sold 100,000 units within its first year, prompting Tamiya’s first-ever limited edition RC model: a black-liveried Porsche 934 given away to racers, affiliates and special customers rather than sold through normal retail. In 2016, for the 934’s 40th anniversary, Tamiya released a kit recreating the car in Jägermeister livery, alongside the Vaillant livery modelled by this original 58001.
Manuals
Restoration Guide
As Tamiya’s first-ever RC kit (1976), common concerns on a surviving original are the same as its 58002/58003 siblings from the same era: aging foam and rubber tyre components, and the reliability of the original mechanical resistor-type speed controller. No model-specific restoration documentation beyond these general period concerns was found.