Tamiya Clod Buster

The Tamiya Clod Buster is a 1/10-scale radio controlled monster truck released September 21, 1987 by the Tamiya Corporation. With its four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, twin Mabuchi RS-540 motors and 165 mm tires it quickly became one of Tamiya's most popular radio controlled model kits.

The Clod Buster and its related models virtually spawned an aftermarket industry of modifications that could be done to it to improve performance and durability. Many small businesses have popped up over the years to cater to just the Clod Buster owner and a few have since gone on to have great success manufacturing parts for other R/C models. The model's body is a detailed replica of a Chevrolet pickup truck, but the current "Super Clod Buster" has a different grille and tailgate that makes no reference to Chevrolet, presumably for marketing and licensing purposes.

So large is the aftermarket for the Clod Buster that it is possible to build one entirely of aftermarket parts with no Tamiya parts whatsoever.

The main competitor to the Clod Buster was the Kyosho Double Dare. The Double Dare was released two years later by Kyosho and had many of the same features with some improvements. It did not sell nearly as well, but the introduction of a challenger to the Clod started the move to improve the technology of radio controlled monster trucks. Today, both trucks are regarded as pioneers of the genre.