The Wild Willy 2 is a reproduction of the popular original Wild Willy from the 80s. This new Wild Willy has an all new WR02 chassis and larger tires allowing it to tread over rough terrain. It features a heavy duty monocoque which has side frames to increase rigidity. R/C unit, motor, and battery pack are positioned along the centerline of the chassis and the motor’s power is delivered to the rear wheels via a fully-enclosed gearbox equipped with a differential. A wheelie bar is fitted to enable exciting, wheels in the air driving action!
The primary goal of this book is to explain various RC technical concepts and essential DIY upgrade & maintenance techniques in very simple language. Modern features such as 2.4G radio, Lipo batteries and brushless systems are covered in addition to the more traditional RC terminologies, techniques and technologies. We believe that this book and its support materials have everything you need for an informative, interesting, challenging and entertaining RC experience with cars based on the latest Wheelie WR02 chassis.
Order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTYWVLZQ
So I finally picked up a Tamiya WR-02, and I’ve got to say — if you’re new to RC and want something that’s all about fun first, performance second, this is the one. Forget about lap times or precision handling — the WR-02 is basically a wheelie machine on four wheels, and that’s what makes it so addictive.
The chassis is super simple: it’s a 2WD setup with the motor hanging right over the rear axle, which gives it a ton of torque to lift the front wheels. The first time I pulled the trigger, I wasn’t even ready for it — the car just popped a wheelie and scooted across the parking lot like it was showing off. For a beginner, that’s hilarious and exciting because you don’t need a track or perfect driving skills to enjoy it.
Building it was classic Tamiya fun. The instructions are easy to follow, and the kit goes together pretty quick compared to some of their more complex cars. The WR-02 also uses a lot of shared Tamiya parts, so finding replacements or upgrades is simple. The body options are another highlight — everything from the Wild Willy 2 Jeep to the Farm King tractor to the Lunch Box Mini vibe. The goofy, cartoonish bodies just match the wheelie-popping personality of the chassis.
Driving it is more about laughs than control. It’s not super fast, and it doesn’t handle like a race buggy, but that’s kind of the point. The short wheelbase and high motor position make it intentionally a bit unstable — so you’re always trying to keep it on two or four wheels. As a beginner, it teaches you throttle control in a really fun way, because if you just floor it, you’ll flip over. But when you get it right, you can ride wheelies down the street and pull off silly tricks that no other Tamiya chassis can do.
The WR-02 is also pretty tough. I’ve rolled mine more times than I can count, and aside from a few scratches, it keeps going. It’s the kind of RC car that you can hand to a friend who’s never driven before, and they’ll be grinning in seconds.
If you’re new and you want something that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the WR-02 is perfect. It’s a crowd-pleaser, it’s easy to build, it’s durable, and it makes you laugh every time you drive it. Not every RC car has to be about competition — sometimes it’s just about wheelies, crashes, and fun.