Book updated Apr 2025.
The Tamiya TC-01 is a highly innovative 1/10 scale 4WD chassis that was first released in 2020. It was designed to bring something fresh and unique to Tamiya’s touring car lineup. At its heart, the TC-01 is a shaft-driven, full-time 4WD platform with a layout heavily inspired by real-world Formula E cars. In fact, it first launched as the chassis for Tamiya’s Formula E Gen2 car model, but it is fully adaptable to other body styles too, such as touring car shells. Its most distinctive feature is its fully enclosed monocoque chassis, which wraps over the drivetrain and electronics to create a very clean, aerodynamic shape and protect key components from debris.
Tamiya TC01 Chassis RC Car Practical Upgrade & Maintenance for Beginners has been developed from the ground up for beginners who are new to the Tamiya TC01 chassis. The primary goal 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 TC01 chassis.
TC01 on the track (NOT with the stock Formula E shell):
My thoughts on the TC-01
I’ve got to say, the TC-01 is in a whole different league compared to the TT-01 or TT-02—it’s sleek, purposeful, and wears its aspirations on its chassis.
When the TC-01 came out in August 2020, it felt like Tamiya was telling us, “We can still surprise you.” This isn’t your typical bathtub touring car; instead, it rocks a central motor layout set into a composite monocoque that immediately gives it that modern, stiff feel—something more akin to their TA or TB platforms.
You’re greeted with a low-slung profile right off the bat, thanks to inboard double-wishbone suspension and rocker-arm–driven oil dampers. Everything looks sleek and efficient, all in the name of dropping the car’s centre of gravity and letting those formula-style bodies sit flush.
But as pretty as it all looks, building one comes with some of that classic Tamiya love-hate relationship. Electronics are tight. You need a low-profile servo—or get creative making room for your ESC and receiver. Several hobbyists on Reddit shared how they shifted ESCs around and traded parts between sides of the chassis just to get everything to fit cleanly.
Where some of that itch of frustration turns to reward is in how the TC-01 drives. One user described their Cone-Track run, noting how this thing “eats corners for breakfast.” A few tweaks—softer rear springs, slick tires—smoothed out braking behavior, and the overall feel was surprisingly agile despite the chassis being heavier than an TA-07.
Speaking of tweaks—we’re swimming in hop-up options. Aluminum rocker arms and steering parts, carbon stiffeners for the front tub, spacer kits, sway bars, and even diff upgrades—Tamiya laid groundwork for serious customization. You can swap in TB-05 gear diffs or M-07 suspension parts if you want extra durability or tuning finesse.
From the build perspective, it’s a step up in challenge too. One builder called it “probably the toughest time I’ve ever had with electronics in an RC car,” but also one of the most satisfying—calling the end result “beautiful.” Another chimed in about the decals and body fit, which can be finicky, but once it’s all together, “looks sick.”
So, here’s how I see it, in that friendly hobbyist tone: the TC-01 is less of a gentle introduction and more of a “trust me, you’ll love this once you get it dialed in” kind of chassis. It’s less about simplicity and more about precision—and the reward is a nimble, shapely, and unique platform that turns heads on the tar—it’s fun to drive, but wishes you paid close attention during the build.