The Tamiya FF-03 chassis is one of those RC platforms that really speaks to hobbyists who enjoy something a little different from the usual four-wheel-drive touring cars. Built around a front-motor, front-wheel-drive layout, the FF-03 is all about realism and handling quirks that reward smooth driving. It’s a bit of a niche favorite, but once you spend some time with it, you start to understand why so many RC enthusiasts keep one in their collection.
The chassis itself is slim and tidy, with a belt-like, elongated layout that puts the motor right up front over the drive wheels—just like a real-world hot hatch. That makes it a natural fit for bodies like the Honda Civic, Renault Megane, or any other compact front-driver that Tamiya offers in their lineup. Because the weight is concentrated at the nose, the car has a very planted front end and a lively rear. It’ll dig into corners with surprising grip, but if you get too greedy with the throttle, you’ll feel the tail step out in a way that’s both challenging and fun to master.
As with most Tamiya kits, the FF-03 is wonderfully upgrade-friendly. Out of the box, it comes with a solid baseline setup, but hobbyists love to tweak it with aluminum suspension mounts, oil shocks, and hop-up gear to fine-tune handling. Swapping in different tires makes a huge difference too—slicks for smooth asphalt, or radials for parking-lot bashing.
Building one is a treat in itself. Tamiya’s instructions are famously clear, and the chassis is designed with that “model kit” charm that makes the assembly process as enjoyable as driving. If you’re into wrenching, you’ll appreciate how accessible everything is; changing gearing or suspension settings doesn’t feel like a chore.
The FF-03 may not be the fastest chassis out there, but that’s not really the point. It’s about the driving experience—feeling the unique dynamics of a front-drive RC car, dialing in your lines, and enjoying a scale-like sense of realism. For hobbyists who like something with personality, the FF-03 is a gem that never really goes out of style.
Major book update: Apr 2025
This book focuses on the Tamiya FF03: https://www.lulu.com/shop/mike-yu/tamiya-ff03-onroad-rc-car-upgrade-maintenance/paperback/product-m2qmrzg.html
This training book (updated Apr 2025) has been developed from the ground up for beginners who know little about electric power RC technology. As part of our RC Technology Self-Paced Training Series, this book gives an introduction to the modern EP onroad architecture. The primary goal of this book is to explain the various technical concepts in very simple language.
This book focuses on the Tamiya FF03 chassis and its variants. The concepts do apply to cars with similar architecture (motor at the front with no belt in between).