How He Turned a Tamiya Buggy Into an 85-MPH Speed MachineMotorBiscuitAlex HarringtonSat, September 19, 2026 at 3:28 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleA Tamiya Fighter NXGEN isn't usually where we'd start if we wanted an RC car to shoot for an 85-mph speed run. This vehicle is a 1/10-scale buggy that features rear-wheel drive and is constructed on the DT-04 framework. It includes a motor positioned at the rear, independent double-wishbone suspension, and a body style that mimics a compact racing buggy. RC Kicks took that familiar recipe to ROSSA's Lambada Airfield in Wales and turned it into his fastest Tamiya yet.The result was an astonishing 85 mph. That beat his previous Tamiya best of 83 mph, although it remained well short of the 100-mph goal he was fighting for.It Was An Exercise in StabilityTamiya provides two options for the DT-04's wheelbase, measuring 265 mm and 280 mm, with the extended wheelbase giving obviously a better level of stability. If anything, that's more important hat outright acceleration when it comes to a buggy moving quickly (as long as you've got the runway to launch it on). So for this reason, the build used the extended option. The chassis gains advantages from components that are interchangeable with the previous DT-02 and DT-03 models, meaning there were plenty of upgrades to choose from to bring them closer to their goal.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd there were plenty of upgrades on the list. RC Kicks fitted titanium links, carbon-fiber shock towers, alloy steering parts, C-hubs, steering blocks, and rear hub carriers. He replaced the unmarked steering servo with a fast AGFRC slimline unit and moved toward direct steering rather than relying heavily on the stock servo saver. At speed, keeping the front wheels centered is more important than preserving every component during a crash. The objective here was to not launch the buggy into the surrounding scenery.The suspension was lowered and stiffened. Spacers inside the shocks limited travel, 65-weight oil controlled movement, bump stops prevented the chassis from slamming into the ground, and firmer springs helped maintain the correct ride height. The setup left the front end lower than the rear, creating a modest rake while keeping the driveshafts close to level.The body panels were also changed and painted a brighter color, making the car easier to see across the runway. While it makes it look more badass, it's definitely more important to not lose sight of an 80-mph RC car.The Powertrain Was Built for SpeedThe stock Fighter NXGEN uses a 540-class brushed motor and Hobbywing THW-1060 brushed ESC. This car received a much more serious system: a Castle Creations 1406 brushless motor rated at 7,700 kV, paired with a Castle Copperhead 10 ESC.AdvertisementAdvertisementGearing was altered with a 50-tooth Stadium Blitzer gear and a 22-tooth Traxxas pinion. The builder used bearings as spacers to make the combination fit, while 7-mm wheel spacers addressed rear-tire rubbing. The motor was capable of 100,000 rpm, at least on paper. The gearing eventually proved too ambitious…Initial testing on 2S produced 48 mph on the timing run and 59 mph on GPS. Switching to 4S raised the speed to 78 mph, but the buggy lifted its nose, forcing the addition of front ballast. With the throttle reduced to 70 percent, it reached 83.97 mph. At full power, the best run showed 84.33 mph, which became an 85-mph personal best.The attempt did not end cleanly. The Castle motor overheated and seized after repeated 4S runs, while the logs showed the motor reaching roughly 57,000 rpm under load. The builder approximated that the unloaded 4S RPM could reach around 125,000, indicating that the gear setup was likely overstraining the motor. The ESC also reported a temperature above 200 degrees Fahrenheit.That makes the 85-mph result mightily impressive. The DT-04 survived a single roof flip and remained stable once ballast controlled the front lift, but the project still has unfinished business. RC Kicks plans to revise the electronics, conceal the front weight, and keep working toward three figures at a future runway event.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor now, the fastest Tamiya in his collection is a classic-looking buggy that reached 85 mph without anything like a sleek touring-car shell. It missed the 100mph target, destroyed a motor, but proved that making a recognizable Tamiya really – really – fast is much more interesting than simply bolting power onto an aerodynamic missile.