In august 1983, a mere six months after its debut, a new Kyosho machine blew its more established rivals away at the 5th JMRCA 1/12 Electric Racing Car Japan Nationals, held at a specially built track at Nakayama Racecourse Chiba Prefecture. RC on-road racing was changed for a generation by the 1/8 FANTOM 20 EXP 4WD engine racing car, and its bloodlines ran strong in the FANTOM EP 4WD.
To celebrate the re-realese of the FANTOM EP 4WD (9th addition to the Vintage Series) Kyosho posted the original promotional video from the 80s!
The 1/12 on-road racing scene of the time featured a variety of designs such as 3-point suspension and 4-wheel independent suspension, 4WD ladder-chain drive + front one-way bearing system that normally didn’t produce front drive but drove the inside wheel when power was applied through turns for stable cornering and minimal drive loss.
The FANTOM EP 4WD pioneered specs such as the FRP chassis that created a suspension effect that delivered optimal weight balance on the inside wheel. The new version recreates the look and feel of the original and maintains the superior cornering speed and stability, even on low grip surfaces, with its part-time 4WD and front one way. As with all Vintage Series models, each key component is consistent with the original design but has been improved to handle the latest power sources.
Source: Kyosho