Tamiya Bigwig

A tribute to the Bigwig’s design heritage, this heavily modified build recreates an early concept from its original designer with a striking custom livery, rare yellow Boomerang tyres, bespoke Pargu wheels and a brand-new Tamiya Dynatech 01R motor.

The Bigwig has always been one of Tamiya’s most distinctive 4WD buggies, but this build takes a slightly different route from a straightforward reproduction. The inspiration came from the car’s original designer, who released a series of early concept designs showing how the Bigwig might have looked before the final production body was settled. One of those designs immediately stood out, and the goal became to recreate that vision as closely as possible in a working model.

The body was heavily modified and custom painted to capture the character of the chosen concept, with a deep metallic blue, white sections and bold yellow, red and orange detailing. The clear roof and cockpit area help retain the futuristic feel of the original design while giving the finished buggy a distinctly individual appearance.

The running gear was kept deliberately simple and sympathetic to the car. A brand-new Tamiya Dynatech 01R provides the power, paired with a Hobbywing 1060 ESC using a Deans connection. The gearing remains completely stock.

The wheel and tyre combination is perhaps the most unusual part of the build. Custom-order Pargu wheels are paired with an extremely rare set of yellow 1980s Boomerang-tread tyres, while the rear uses the original black kit tyres. The contrasting combination gives the Bigwig an unmistakable period-racing character.

The finished result isn't intended to be a factory restoration. It's a personal interpretation of an early Bigwig design — taking an idea from the car's original development and giving that forgotten concept a second life on the track.