Mini 4WD

Mini 4WD is any miniature model within the mini scale of between 1/20 (1:20) to 1/48 (1:48) scale. Currently, in 2015, the term is popularized predominantly by a 1/32 (1:32) scaled, AA battery powered plastic model race car without remote control. All four (4) wheels are direct-drive, thus "4WD" for 4-wheel drive, as opposed to "AWD" or All-wheel drive. Horizontal side rollers guide the vehicle against the vertical walls of the un-banked track for steering, providing very fast speeds up to 65 km/H (40 mph) on the track. In Japan, Mini 4WD is also known as mini yonku (ミニ四駆) in Japanese. Though mostly popular in Asia, they are sold in many countries as Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy, United States and the Netherlands.

In 1980, a mini 4WD series of vehicles called Stomper 4x4, were invented by Adolph Goldfarb and produced by Schaper. A multitude of replicas produced by other companies led to lengthy lawsuits, and eventually the company sold the product to Tyco, after which, sales declined.

In 1982, 4WD Mini Racer (ミニ四駆) was produced by the Japanese company Tamiya as a powered variant of their plastic automobile model kits. Since then racing and tuning up mini 4WD cars have become a hobby for people across the world.

Beginning in 1982, Tamiya mini 4WD kits were sold by Model Rectifier Corp (MRC), the exclusive U.S. Distributor of Tamiya. The kits were manufactured in Japan while the boxes were printed in Canada. The kit parts were then packaged into the boxes in Edison, New Jersey, USA. MRC continued to sell Mini 4WD kits until at least 1990, which may be the year their Tamiya license expired.

In 1989, Tamiya commissioned Shogakukan, a Japanese publishing company, to produce two anime TV series based on the Mini 4WD cars: Dash! Yonkuro by Zaurus Tokuda, Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!, Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go WGP in 1996, Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go MAX, and finally Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! WGP: Bousou Mini 4WD Daitsuiseki.

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