You don’t just own an Optima Mid. You pledge allegiance to it. In the pantheon of legendary RC cars, few models command the reverence, the nostalgia, and the sheer legendary status of the Kyosho Optima Mid. It wasn’t just a car; it was a cultural reset for off-road racing in the mid-1980s.
So why does this particular buggy, with its iconic blue anodized chassis and futuristic “Mid” motor configuration, occupy such hallowed ground? Let’s break down the legend.
1. It Was a Technological Revolution
Before the Optima Mid, the standard layout for 2WD buggies was the “rear motor” design (like the associated RC10 or Tamiya’s offerings). The motor sat way out back over the rear axle. Kyosho’s engineers asked a radical question: What if we moved it forward?
The “Mid” stood for mid-ship motor placement. By mounting the motor centrally, just behind the front bulkhead, they achieved near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution. This was a game-changer. The result was a buggy that was incredibly balanced, more agile through corners, and less prone to traction-rolling. It wasn’t just different; it was objectively better from an engineering standpoint. It forced the entire industry to rethink chassis design.
2. It Was Built Like a Tank (A Beautiful, Blue-Anodized Tank)
The Optima Mid wasn’t a toy. It was a precision racing instrument. Its chassis was a work of art: that iconic blue-anodized aluminum ladder frame, complemented by gold-anodized shock towers and suspension parts. It looked like it came from the future. More importantly, it was indestructible by the standards of the day.
The combination of a rigid chassis plate, a sturdy roll cage, and a rugged gearbox meant you could crash it, bash it, and send it flying—and it would keep going. This durability made it a favorite not just for racers, but for backyard bashers who wanted a car that could survive their enthusiasm.
3. It Dominated the Race Scene
In the mid-to-late ’80s, if you showed up to a club race, you saw a sea of blue and gold. The Optima Mid wasn’t just a cool idea; it was a proven winner. Its superior handling and robustness made it the platform of choice for countless amateur and professional racers. It collected trophies and established Kyosho as a dominant force in off-road racing. Owning an Optima Mid meant you were serious. You weren’t just playing with cars; you were racing.
4. The Aesthetic is Timeless
Good design never gets old. The Optima Mid’s look—the sleek, low-slung white body with its red and blue stripes, the jewel-like anodized parts, the aggressive stance—is instantly recognizable. It defined the aesthetic of high-performance RC in the 1980s. Even today, sitting on a shelf, it looks fast, technical, and purposeful. It’s the Lamborghini Countach of RC cars.
5. It Spawned a Dynasty (and a Religion)
The original Optima Mid was just the beginning. It launched the legendary “Optima Series”: the Turbo Optima, the Lazer ZX, the Inferno (the first 1/8 scale buggy from this lineage). Each built upon the Mid’s revolutionary principles. This created a family of legendary vehicles, with the Mid as the revered patriarch. For fans, collecting and restoring Optimas and their descendants became a lifelong hobby in itself.
6. The Modern Resurrection Cemented the Legend
Kyosho knew what they had. In the 2010s, they began releasing faithful re-releases of the Optima Mid (and its siblings) under their “Classic Series.” This wasn’t just a cash grab. It was a genius move that proved the legend was alive. A new generation of hobbyists could experience the magic of building the exact kit their heroes raced. The re-releases flew off shelves, not because they were the most advanced, but because they were the Optima Mid. The legend was now accessible.
The Bottom Line: It Earned Its Crown
The Optima Mid is legendary because it changed the game, dominated its era, and looks doing it. It represents a perfect storm of innovative engineering, unbeatable durability, competitive success, and timeless style. It’s a benchmark against which other buggies are still measured.
It’s more than a model number. It’s a symbol of RC’s golden age—a reminder of when a single, brilliantly designed car could capture the imagination of an entire hobby and alter its trajectory forever.
That’s not just a legend. That’s history.