Front Wheel Drive Buggy Discussion

[TokyoProf]

Front Wheel drive buggies continue to fascinate me. It is a hard and challenging project. I love the rare instances where RC hobbyists give their go at creating a decent FF buggy.
What is the most promising design so far?

After the 1988 Kyosho Maxxum FF, has there ever been another front wheel drive off-road buggy offering? That is a long time!
If Kyosho were to design a new Maxxum FF today what would/should they do? What would a modernized Kyosho Maxxum FF look like?

1) Is it possible to place the motor in alignment with the front wheels? (most have a long overhang)
2) Have we considered longitudinal placement of the motor at the front?
3) Does it have to be complicated?
4) Can it look good (Maxxum FF was good looking).
5) Have we determined the perfect weight ratio/balance for dirt/carpet?

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard"
John F. Kennedy Sept 12, 1962.

[GoMachV]

There were buggies before (A-Main Bullet, Nichimo Spirit FF, and a few 4wd buggies sold as fwd like the coyote) and after (the ORB is a currently available buggy) as well as 3d printed buggies like the Badger.

[Phin]

After FF buggies were forced into the 4wd class for offroad there wasn't a good reason for a company to produce an FF buggy over a 4wd design. Since then FWD has been almost exclusively an onroad thing.

1) Unless someone makes wheel hub motors, and an esc that can simulate a diff your options for motor placement is going to be in front of, behind or over the trans (under ain't going to work).
2) Nichimo Spirit FF, and the Coyote had longitudinal motors...this custom one did too:

3) Steering on a mid motor FF car is a bit complicated.
4) All FF cars look good to me.

[THEYTOOKMYTHUMB]

Sandkil did a really cool one a few years ago.

https://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=42755

[Frankentruck]

After seeing a Maxxum in person when they were new and being friends with the owner and seeing how he suffered trying to drive that thing, I don't see a need for FWD off-road buggies. Just say NO to tail draggers.

[Phin]

These are pics of the custom FWD pics I've pulled from magazines (not including the Ryuz car):

[Phin]

A couple with Scorpion parts.

[Trass]

Manobet did something cool around 2010 with Ultima kyosho gear

Project name : " Y-not "






Jerome

[morrisey0]

A little goofing off I did awhile back. More designed for a 4wd onroad truck, but travel could always be added. It was just a proof of concept thing.

[Frankentruck]

A little goofing off I did awhile back. More designed for a 4wd onroad truck, but travel could always be added. It was just a proof of concept thing.

That is cool! It looks like you could just stack those as modules, one in front of another, in front of another, on front of.... like an RC10 centipede!

[1911Colt]

Manobet did something cool around 2010 with Ultima kyosho gear

Project name : " Y-not "






Jerome

Wow! That is cool!

[Janus]

I got an ORB FWD, based on a B6.1.

Nice piece of kit, works very well in low grip conditions

Schermafbeelding 2025-06-11 225618.jpg (18.28 KiB) Viewed 120 times

Schermafbeelding 2025-06-11 225618.jpg (18.28 KiB) Viewed 120 times

https://site.petitrc.com/setup/orbracing/setupforward/Fwd_Janus_BuildNotes/

[HS-YZ250]

Here's one I remember seeing over the years.

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/80017-fwd-buggy/

[RogueIV]

I had at one time modified a spare Rally Weapon into a shorter FWD monstrosity with intent on going after the Tamiya Minis. Probably could have adapted that to a Buggy with some rear swing arm suspension to get that wheelbase back. That project got dismantled years ago though.

A little goofing off I did awhile back. More designed for a 4wd onroad truck, but travel could always be added. It was just a proof of concept thing.
1000016874.png

That is cool! It looks like you could just stack those as modules, one in front of another, in front of another, on front of.... like an RC10 centipede!

an RC10 8x8 could be amusing.

[Trass]

I got an ORB FWD, based on a B6.1.

Nice piece of kit, works very well in low grip conditions

Schermafbeelding 2025-06-11 225618.jpg

https://site.petitrc.com/setup/orbracing/setupforward/Fwd_Janus_BuildNotes/

Cool,

Manobet made some special parts for a French customer for the ORB FWD









Jerome