Kyosho Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally review

What earns the 8.2.

Five equally weighted categories assess documented equipment and buyer fit. No measured speed, handling, durability, runtime or reliability scores are assigned.

Scored for: Vintage-rally fan wanting an assembled light-dirt car.

The buying case: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The Datsun 240Z Rally Readyset is for a vintage-rally fan who wants the car assembled, the body finished and a more deliberate mild-dirt package than an ordinary touring Fazer. Its rally-specific oil-shock hardware, larger tires and chassis cover give the exact model a coherent equipment case beneath the famous red shell. My reservation is that those changes do not make it an unlimited rough-ground buggy. Choose manageable ground and budget the battery, charger and transmitter cells before treating RTR as a complete first-session total.

The reviewed car is 34482T1 on the FZ02-R platform, verified by Amazon under that same part number. It is not the standard white 240Z touring car, a replacement rally body or a general Fazer chassis. The R designation matters because the manufacturer identifies rally-specific shock cases, pistons, towers and bumper hardware. Those details should not be erased by a family-wide description that treats every low Kyosho coupe as identical.

I would shortlist it for someone who wants scale rally-style driving on pavement and relatively even dry dirt without starting a kit build. It is less useful for deep lawn or large jumps. We have not driven it, measured tire grip or reproduced a rally stage. The rating concerns the documented complete purchase and named buyer, with historical full-size rally achievements kept separate from the actual capability of this small RC car.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

The complete package: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The Readyset contains the assembled chassis, finished red rally body, fitted G14L motor and speed control, installed steering/radio system and KT-231P+ transmitter. The manufacturer lists full bearings, rally tires, rally suspension parts and a chassis cover. Tools and setup-change parts are included. That makes the car a coordinated mild-rally starting point rather than a touring kit requiring a body, controller and radio shopping list.

You still need a drive battery, compatible charger and four AA transmitter cells. Kyosho recommends a 7.2 V NiMH route with named SPEED HOUSE packs and chargers. Match the actual connector and physical holder space. If you intend to use another chemistry, the present ESC manual and its settings must support it; the battery used in another Fazer video does not automatically establish compatibility with this exact regional car.

The body can support optional light equipment, but working lights remain a separate purchase. Some official gallery photographs show illuminated examples, so their captions must distinguish that optional configuration. First inspect wheel security, steering movement and the cover arrangement, then learn how to remove the body and access the pack. I would get the correct power gear and establish a stock baseline before fitting lights or changing tires. The Readyset's convenience is more useful when the first workshop tasks stay tied to making the standard car function correctly.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Drivetrain and power: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The FZ02-R is shaft-driven full-time 4WD with gear differentials front and rear. The supplied G14L is brushed, and the manufacturer's stock ratio is 6.54:1. This is a conventional powered-four-wheel package for road and mild-dirt driving, not the rear-wheel-drive configuration of a modern dedicated drift car. The red rally body tells you the subject; the actual shaft and differentials tell you the mechanism.

Sealed gearbox housings and full bearings are useful documented features. They reduce direct contamination paths and provide a complete running assembly, but do not make the entire car maintenance-free. Inspect exposed drive joints and free wheel rotation after dusty running. A caught stone or binding suspension shaft should be dealt with mechanically rather than overcome by adding power.

The standard motor and gearing should remain the first reference point. A brushless conversion can change the operating demands and the value calculation, and we have no test supporting one here. If faster power is already a non-negotiable objective, compare a complete car sold with that system before purchasing an RTR only to replace its electronics. I would choose this Datsun when its stock rally equipment and finished body are the desired package. Its reason for being is a coordinated mild-rally car, rather than a cheap entrance to an undefined motor, battery and suspension conversion.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Radio and setup: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The KT-231P+ transmitter is supplied with the installed radio system. Follow its documented neutral and trim setup, confirm steering direction and check the speed controller's startup and brake behavior before driving. A short first-session preparation is the benefit of a Readyset, but the presence of a finished shell does not establish that a control check can be omitted.

Set steering travel against the actual hardware range with the body installed. Watch for tire rubbing and a servo that keeps pushing after the wheels reach a stop. Check the pack lead and cover arrangement after every battery change so that wiring stays clear of the center drive and front linkage. If tracking changes, inspect the tires, linkage and debris before relying on more electronic trim.

Big Squid RC’s exact 34482T1 release coverage uses the regional 34482T1B identity and identifies the new FZ02-R equipment and vintage rally subject. That is attributable independent publication context, not a common-surface drive test or a reliability survey. An outlet's later embedded manufacturer video likewise remains manufacturer footage. We do not inherit handling observations from a standard FZ02 touring car or from the full-size Safari winner. The source separation is valuable here because the Datsun body has a powerful historical identity that can otherwise distract from the modest practical questions about pack fit, controls and intended ground.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Independent coverage ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Steering and suspension: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

Kyosho documents rally-specific shock cases, pistons and towers to provide the FZ02-R suspension arrangement. Oil dampers are fitted, and the altered towers support the model’s mild-rally brief. These are substantive equipment differences from a generic touring package. They do not establish measured bump control or guarantee that every pothole will be absorbed without damage.

The stock wheelbase is 260 mm and the tires are listed at 70 mm diameter and 28 mm width. That tire size is a meaningful difference from the smaller VTC road tires on some other Fazer bodies. Keep the original wheel offset and body clearance in view when ordering replacements. Another tire that fits a wheel may still rub the shell or alter the intended operating load.

Check suspension motion on both sides and preserve the stock setup before altering ride height or damping. If you adjust one item, use the same route to observe the effect. Changing gearing, tires and shocks together makes the result hard to interpret. The practical buyer benefit is a supplied rally configuration that can be understood and serviced, rather than the need to assemble one from touring-car options. Our score credits that documented starting equipment, not a measured steering or suspension win over another complete rally car.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Where to drive: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

Plan on pavement and comparatively even dry dirt. The cover, tires and rally shock hardware create a credible mild-rally brief, but scale still matters. Deep gravel, tall grass, large roots and broken ground can exceed what this low car's wheels and clearance can sensibly tackle. A dramatic rally photograph is not a universal ground recommendation, and the historical Datsun's success does not supply the model with full-size suspension travel.

Begin on a smooth area to verify tracking and braking, then move to a manageable dirt route with room to recover a turn. Use gentle undulations and open corners rather than jumps as the first experiment. Watch where the body and chassis contact the ground. If the car repeatedly catches, improve the route before deciding it needs more motor power or a large ride-height change.

After dusty use, remove the appropriate covers and inspect the joints, shocks, wheels and electronics area. The protective cover needs correct placement to be useful, and trapped debris should not be ignored because the model is marketed for rallying. Follow the actual instructions for water use and cleaning. We have no measured runtime, dust-ingress result or long-term reliability test here. A dry repeatable practice route gives the owner clearer feedback about stock setup and lets the finished red body remain part of the enjoyment instead of becoming a constant repair job.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Body and service: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The red 1971 rally shell, auxiliary-lamp appearance and period details are the Datsun's strongest visual reasons to buy. It is finished and mounted on the complete car, eliminating clear-body trimming and paint work. That is real value for someone whose preferred first project is preparing a running model and creating a mild-rally route rather than reproducing the livery from scratch.

The manufacturer lists 473 mm length, 194 mm body width and 142 mm height. Those dimensions help with transport and shelf planning, but exposed details need room beyond a tight box. Remove the body using its intended mounts and avoid lifting the car by lamps or mirrors. Optional LED units can add illumination later; the ability to accept them is not proof that they are factory-fitted in the normal Readyset.

The gallery shows official whole-car views with optional illumination, clearly labeled as that manufacturer's example configuration. They are not our night-driving photographs or evidence that we tested the LEDs. A body-off or technical layout can also explain the FZ02-R platform without borrowing an unrelated touring test. I would preserve the stock shell during the first ownership stage and keep routine battery access simple. The detailed rally identity is more satisfying when it remains convenient to remove for the cleaning and inspection that mild-dirt running will require.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Startup basket: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The directly verified Tower Hobbies exact KYO34482T1 Readyset listing is $309.99 at this check and marked in stock. It is a dated independent retailer complete-car reference, not manufacturer MSRP or a full startup total. Indexed manufacturer US material shows the same vehicle reference, but direct retrieval returned a server error. The exact Amazon identity is verified separately and its offer belongs in the expiring commercial box. Count the drive pack, charger, four transmitter cells and optional lighting separately before comparing this Datsun with a body-inclusive kit or another rally RTR.

The actual first-session basket adds four AA transmitter cells, suitable drive battery and matching charger. Kyosho lists 7.2 V NiMH packs and charger options, but current US prices for every chosen accessory were not verified together. The review therefore gives the complete equipment list and leaves the subtotal to an actual quote. Check connector and physical fit when using gear you already own, and follow the current controller instructions for any different chemistry.

Lighting, replacement bodies, venue-specific tires and power changes are extra decisions. I would price optional items separately and first compare the standard Readyset with complete alternatives. A lower kit tag can hide transmitter, servo, controller, paint and assembly work; a more expensive RTR can remove those stages. Conversely, buying the Datsun only to replace its electronics immediately weakens the value of the coordinated stock package. Make that plan explicit before ordering so that the attractive rally body does not conceal the total cost of the car you intend to finish with.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Retailer price reference ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Real alternatives: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The Tamiya Subaru Impreza Monte-Carlo ’99 58631-A is a relevant body-inclusive mild-rally kit with rally-block tires and a blue-body finishing project. It requires separate radio, servo and power equipment, and its regional controller package should be checked. Choose it when building and decorating the Subaru are activities you want. The purchase comparison is about work and equipment, not a tested claim that one car is faster through dirt corners.

The Fazer Mk2 Subaru Impreza FZ02-R Readyset is an assembled alternative for a buyer who prefers a later rally subject on a documented Kyosho rally platform. Verify its exact model and regional contents rather than transferring every Datsun detail automatically. Body dimensions, tire fit and parts listings still belong to the specific variant. Both should be priced as complete first-session baskets with drive power equipment included in the comparison.

A standard Fazer Skyline 2000GT-R is a category-adjacent option for someone whose actual ground is pavement and who mainly wants a vintage Nissan subject. Its ordinary touring equipment and VTC tires support a different role from the 240Z Rally's cover and rally shocks. I would take the Datsun for the finished classic-rally presentation and mild-dirt package, the Subaru kit for a build project, and the touring Skyline for scale road running. A bare chassis or replacement shell is not treated as a comparable complete car merely because it can be found at a lower headline price.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer regional specification ↗

Buying verdict: Fazer Mk2 1971 Datsun 240Z Rally

The 240Z Rally's recommendation rests on an attractive finished subject combined with documented rally-specific running equipment. Its supplied radio, brushed power, oil shocks, larger tires, bearings and cover give the RTR a coherent mild-rally role. The reservations are extra power gear, terrain limits and optional lighting that should not be mistaken for essential included hardware. These details make the whole purchase clearer without diminishing the classic red body’s appeal.

Our five categories assess complete-car preparation, subject presentation, documented rally equipment, service planning and complete-purchase value for a vintage-rally buyer. They do not score measured grip, speed, impact survival or reliability. Independent release coverage is credited for context; manufacturer documents establish the mechanical package; the API establishes the exact listing. No touring-car test or full-size rally result is carried across as evidence of this model’s performance.

I would choose 34482T1 when you want an assembled classic-rally car and have smooth pavement or manageable dry dirt available. Obtain compatible power equipment, check the stock controls and keep the cover correctly fitted while learning the route. I would pass for deep-ground bashing or a conversion plan that discards the supplied system immediately. On its intended terms the Datsun is a well-defined complete-car purchase: a finished vintage subject with useful mild-rally hardware, provided the first-session budget and the actual ground receive the same attention as the famous shape.

Know exactly what you’re ordering.

Published manufacturer specifications for model 34482T1. Conflicting figures are flagged rather than silently corrected.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗