Kyosho Assualt

[Dangeruss]

In 1983 Kyosho released its second buggy based on their 1000 Series 1/10 2wd off-road chassis which they called, the Assault. Five models in total would use the 1000 Series chassis, itself an all metal design with square tube main rails, crossmember plates, and a tubular roll cage that quite accurately mimicked single seat racing buggies of the time. That theme would continue to its 4-wheel independent metal trailing arm suspension and red anodized oil-filled aluminum coilover shocks with adjustable collars at all four corners. Threaded front camber rods and a centered single bellcrank steering system with threaded links provided adjustment to the front end. Just behind sat the plastic electronics box which housed the radio receiver and batteries followed by the plastic servo mounting plate with z-bent linkages running forward over the electronics box to the steering and rearward to the O.S. .12 gas motor. Mounted to the extreme rear of the chassis just like its full scale brothern the little O.S. CZ-1 from Great Planes featured a beginner friendly pre-adjusted carburetor with no needle valve and multi-function starter cone that allowed the use of an airplane style electric starter, a pull cord, or the included "Zip" start system that utilized what was effectively a 12-inch-long plastic handled zip tie that when inserted and pulled would rotate the starter cone and start the motor. Initially a plastic gear was used for the Zip starter though later a metal gear was offered to eliminate issues with stripped starting gears. A single D-Cell battery attached to the front of the car to power the glow plug during starting. Power from the motor was then sent through a beveled gear differential that sat inside the metal transmission case just forward of the engine and output to a pair of metal dog bone axles. Traction was provided by two-piece plastic wheels, wide "phone dial" style in the rear with spiked Sand Super tires and narrow 5-spokes with ribbed Sand Supers up front. A three-piece clear lexan body with driver and wing was included with the kit, as was a plastic front bumper, plastic gas tank, air filter, a small metal muffler, and bushings, though a radio and electronics were not. Sold in Germany by Graupner this chassis was also imported to the US by COX as the Scorpion and Sidewinder:

[Elkcycles]

Thanks for posting this advertisement for my favorite Kyosho buggy! Even after owning three of them purchased on eBay and rebuilt, then sold in the early 2000's, I never knew about the battery on the bumper to power the glow start. None of the cars I rebuilt had the plug connector to the motor, and at the time, the manuals were not available online. I learned something new.

[GreenBar0n]

I was all set to buy the Kyosho Assault in late '86, had just turned 14, and kept poring over the TowerHobbies catalog, specifically for the Kyosho Assault.

Ended up buying a RAM expansion for the Commodore 64 instead, and traded away my '85 Frog for more C64 stuff, shortly thereafter.

If I could find a mint Assault, there's no telling what I'd pay for one.

[Dangeruss]

Thanks for posting this advertisement for my favorite Kyosho buggy! Even after owning three of them purchased on eBay and rebuilt, then sold in the early 2000's, I never knew about the battery on the bumper to power the glow start. None of the cars I rebuilt had the plug connector to the motor, and at the time, the manuals were not available online. I learned something new.

Very welcome! Always fun to learn new things about the stuff we like. I think the front battery setup wasn't grounded well enough to be reliable, so most people ditched it.

I was all set to buy the Kyosho Assault in late '86, had just turned 14, and kept poring over the TowerHobbies catalog, specifically for the Kyosho Assault.

Ended up buying a RAM expansion for the Commodore 64 instead, and traded away my '85 Frog for more C64 stuff, shortly thereafter.

If I could find a mint Assault, there's no telling what I'd pay for one.

Trading away RC stuff for computer stuff?? The horror!

I've shook the hell out of my Magic 8 Ball asking what a mint Assault cost... but I can't get a number out of him.

[morrisey0]

I picked one up quite awhile ago from a fellow member here, and I was going to Scorpionize it, but since I have started diving into the nitro world a little bit, I pulled it out a couple of weeks ago and put it in the near-future queue. I think part of the diff is busted and I just need to find that before too far deep into it. I remembered I didn't know much about Kyosho or nitro when I bought it, but I did know I loved the look of the Assault!

EDIT: Just looked on ebay for what they are selling for. Mine was $80 shipped.

[Elkcycles]

Yeah, I remember picking up all three cars for less than $100 each. I think one might have been $25.