CC-01
The CC-01 chassis represents Tamiya’s first attempt to re-enter the world of high-wheel drive off-road vehicles with four-wheel drive after the first models in the early 80s. The acronym CC stands for Cross Country. From the same chassis, it is possible to obtain 3 different wheelbases simply by installing the rear axle differently. The various models are associated with Lexan and ABS bodies that are characterized by their details. The following models are part of this family:
– Mitsubishi Pajero Metaltop Wide, model number 58132 released in 1993 and available on the market until 2000 ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Jeep Wrangler, model number 58141 released in 1994 and available on the market until 1997 ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Isuzu Mu, model number 58152 released in 1995 and available on the market until 1997 ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Isuzu Mu Type X, model number 58166 released in 1995 and available on the market until 1999 ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Honda CR-V, model number 58178 released in 1996 and available on the market until 1999 ABS body, long wheelbase 267 mm
– Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Pajero, model number 58249 , model never released for sale with this numbering, ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
After these first five plus one sets, we have to wait almost ten years before seeing a new set with this chassis on sale:
– Volkswagen Race-Touareg, model number 58324 released in 2004 and available on the market until 2011 Lexan body, long wheelbase of 267 mm
– Toyota Land Cruiser 40, model number 58445 released in 2011 and available on the market until 2011 Lexan body, intermediate wheelbase of 252 mm
– Mercedes Benz Unimog, model number 58457 released in 2010 and available on the market until 2011 Lexan body, short wheelbase of 242 mm
– Ford Bronco 1973, model number 58469 released in 2010 and available on the market until 2011 Lexan body, short wheelbase of 242 mm
– LandFreeder, model number 58579 released in 2013 and available until 2014 Lexan body, 242 mm short wheelbase
– Toyota FJ Cruiser, model number 58588 released in 2014 and available until 2015 Lexan body, 267 mm long wheelbase
– Mitsubishi Pajero Rally, model number 58602 released in 2015 and available until 2016 Lexan body, 242 mm short wheelbase
– Mercedes-Benz Unimog 425, model number 58609 released in 2015 and available until 2015 Lexan body, 242 mm short wheelbase
– Volkswagen Amarok, model number 58616 released in 2015 and available until 2016 Lexan body, 267 mm long wheelbase
– Mitsubishi Pajero Lowrider, model number 58627 released in 2016 and available until 2017 Lexan body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Land Rover Defender 90, model number 58657 released in 2018 and available until 2019 Lexan body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Toyota Hilux Extra Cab, model number 58663 released in 2019 and available until 2020 Lexan body, long wheelbase 267 mm
Tamiya designed the CC-01 chassis in the early 90s, in these years the categories (in mere alphabetical order) “crawler”, “scale crawler” or “trail off-roader” did not yet exist. Tamiya therefore presents itself on the market with a product that reproduces in scale a category of 1:1 cars that is gaining ground in the 90s: SUVs. Surely the CC-01 was not studied and developed to satisfy the demands of the RC market for racing or belonging to any of the categories indicated above. The CC-01 was released as a scale reproduction of SUVs to move both on and off-road with a body rich in details. Of course, the presence of the necessary components for the differential lock confirms that Tamiya has foreseen in the design phase the possibility of using the CC-01 also as an off-road vehicle.
The chassis has a low ground clearance and a small frontal attack angle, the steering is also not very efficient and not very precise, limiting the performance of the turning radius which is very large; despite this, the suspensions offer good absorption of bumps, ensuring good off-road operation. Knowing where the engineering of this chassis began, it is reasonable to say that Tamiya has achieved its goal, the success that this chassis still has today has then convinced Tamiya and other companies to introduce a series of accessories to the market that improve the front suspension, rear suspension, steering system, differential lock.
The main technical features of this chassis are:
– central shell chassis with wheel arches to protect the electronics from mud,
– permanent four-wheel drive,
– front and rear differential with gears with 3 satellites. For driving on rough terrain and with little grip, the package includes a system to lock the rear differential; the front and rear differentials are both geared with three satellites so it is potentially possible to lock the front differential as well. Part “G” contains the two toothed shells needed to block the action of the rear differential, code 9005422 (see image below on the left). Once the rear differential is locked with the toothed shells “G5”, it is simple to lock the front differential by inserting an unused satellite for the rear differential inside the front differential (highlighted in green in image below on the right)
– four spring and oil shock absorbers of the CVA series (see image below on the left the two shock absorbers of the rear axle and on the right the shock absorber of the front right suspension),
– electric motor positioned longitudinally in the center of the chassis,
– rear suspension with axle transmission with cardan joint (see image below on the left)
– independent front suspension (see image below on the right),
The ABS bodies are rich in details in the best Tamiya tradition and the Lexan bodies include:
– separately molded ABS plastic parts for the engine cooling grille, side mirrors, rear lights and/or wheel arches,
– some models are complete with headlights compatible with the LED lighting system
– the tires have a realistic tread.
It is possible to change the distance between the front and rear axle by moving the rear suspension attachment point by changing the wheelbase. In the image below the red arrows highlight the attachment points of the suspension arms and shock absorbers to obtain the short wheelbase, the yellow arrows highlight the attachment points of the suspension arms and shock absorbers to obtain the long wheelbase.
To get the medium wheelbase you need to install two plus two plates between the long wheelbase and short wheelbase mounts to install the shock absorbers and rear suspension arms. The part that is unique to the medium wheelbase chassis is the “M” part number 19115264, the plates are highlighted in red below in the pictures.
To do this, you need to change the rear axle:
– axle for short wheelbase chassis, code number 4135043
– axle for medium wheelbase chassis, code number 4135066
– axle for long wheelbase chassis, code number 4135050
Obviously the various models differ in the towers that support the body, in the body, in the body accessories and in the bumpers
Special series
To date (2025) several special series have been released for sale
Toyota Land Cruiser 40 – Black Special, model number 58564 put on sale in 2013 and available on the market until 2014 Lexan body, intermediate wheelbase of 252 mm
Toyota FJ Cruiser Black Special, model number 58620 put on sale in 2014 and available on the market until 2015 Lexan body, long wheelbase of 267 mm
Re-releases
This chassis was also released in other series complete or not with electronics, already assembled or to be assembled:
– Mitsubishi Pajero Rally Sport model number 57701 put on sale in 2000 and available on the market until 2001, Lexan body, factory assembled, complete with electronics, short wheelbase of 242 mm
– Mitsubishi Pajero Metal top Wide model number 49490 put on sale in 2008 and available on the market until 2008, ABS body, short wheelbase of 242 mm
– Mitsubishi Pajero Metal top Wide model number 57782 put on sale in 2009 and available on the market until 2010, ABS body, factory assembled with electronics, LED lighting system, battery charger and battery, short wheelbase of 242 mm
– Jeep Wrangler model number 84071 put on sale in 2009 and available on the market until 2010, ABS body, 242 mm short wheelbase
– Toyota Landcruiser 40 model number 57810 released in 2010 and available on the market until 2011, Lexan body, factory assembled with electronics, battery charger and battery, 252 mm intermediate wheelbase
– Landfreeder matte black special model number 47361 released in 2017 and available on the market until 2018, Lexan body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Mitsubishi Pajero Metal top Wide Black Metallic model number 47375 released in 2018 and available on the market until 2019, ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 Series U900 model number 57815 released in 2011 and available on the market until 2012, Lexan body, factory assembled with electronics, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Ford Bronco 1973 model number 57818 released in 2011 and available on the market until 2012, Lexan body, factory assembled with electronics, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 Series U900 (orange body) model number 57843 released in 2012 and available on the market until 2014, Lexan body, electronics, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Toyota FJ Cruiser model number 57877 released in 2014 and available on the market until 2015, Lexan body, factory assembled, long wheelbase 267 mm
– Toyota FJ Cruiser (orange body) model number 84401 released in 2015 and available on the market until 2016, Lexan body, long wheelbase 267 mm
– Mercedes-Benz Unimog 425 model number 57896 released in 2016 and available on the market until 2017, Lexan body, electronics, battery charger and battery, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Mitsubishi Pajero Metal top Wide model number 47331 released in 2017 and available on the market until 2018, ABS body, complete with BLE-02S ESC, 242mm short wheelbase
– Landfreeder matte black special model number 47361 released in 2017 and available on the market until 2018, Lexan body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Mitsubishi Pajero Metal top Wide Black Metallic model number 47375 released in 2018 and available on the market until 2019, ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Isuzu Mu Type X model number 58564 released in 2018 and available on the market until 2019, ABS body, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Isuzu Mu Type X Black Metallic model number 47383 released in 2019 and available on the market until 2019, ABS body, complete with BLE-02S ESC and LED system, short wheelbase 242 mm
– Toyota Hilux Extra Cab model number 57921 released in 2020 and available on the market until 2021, ABS body, electronics, battery charger and battery, long wheelbase of 267 mm