Tamiya Avante Project

The original 58072 Tamiya Avante buggy was released in March of 1988 to much fanfare because it was so complex and deluxe compared with anything else available at the time.  Sadly, the performance does not appear to have lived up to expectations because it was superseded only a year later with the Egress, using a simplified chassis with better handling and durability.  On the other hand, nothing compares to the sheer curb appeal of the Avante.  Several people I've shown it to have used the phrase "work of art", and I've thought the same thing myself.  It is a real beauty through and through and many unusual features are employed.

This is a 1/10th scale, 4WD electric buggy with carbon chassis (the original was FRP), many aluminum parts including all rod ends, and steel links.  It has aluminum oil filled dampers, unique cam-loc wheel attachments, and a lovely scale body with driver and under tray.  The spiked tires are a bit dated, but that's part of the charm.  Of course you could easily use more modern wheels and tires, and the kit even comes with a set of standard wheels to use if you prefer.  I find the performance to be quite good for a brushed Tamiya kit.  It is certainly quicker than the standard 540 Mabuchi motor products.  I've driven a lot of buggies but I don't race them, so my opinion is probably mostly useless, but I find driving it a lot of fun.  On the other hand it is not cheap and it is not easy to find.  There are cheaper and better performing buggies out there, but if you want pure class then you want the Avante.

Because the Avante was around for such a short time and was so expensive, it has always been pretty rare.  At least that's true in the original incarnation.  The name "Avante" has appeared on a host of other (marginally) related cars over the years.

• The 58085 "Avante 2001" was not released in 2001.  It actually came out in 1990 (only 2 years after the original) so presumably the 2001 title was just to imply that it was futuristic.  This was a reasonably close approximation of the original but with different front suspension and steering geometry and no metal rod ends.  The retail price was about 30% less than the original Avante.
• The 58387 Avante Mk II was based on the DF-03 chassis and came out in 2007.  With a totally different chassis, it is really only a successor to the original in appearance.  This was only half the cost of the original.
  
• The 58489 Avante is the one I have and is a 2011 re-release of the original with a few updates, most notably the electronic speed control.  This later came in a 84270 pre-painted Black Special edition with different stickers.  The production run of the 2011 edition was repeated in 2017 which allowed me to get one, and an additional batch became available in 2020.
  
• The 58550 Aero Avante was released in 2012, is based on the DF-02 chassis and has virtually nothing in common with the original except the general appearance and decoration.  It is actually intended as an upscale of the 18701 JR Aero Avante Mini 4WD.
• The 58678 Comical Avante was released in 2020 on the GF-01CB chassis.  This is a "chibi" version of an Avante on a short wheelbase wheelie chassis.  It's not really even a buggy, but it does share the basic appearance of the Avante and actually looks pretty good, especially compared with some of the other pretenders.
  
• The 58696 Super Avante was released in 2021 on the brand new TD-04 chassis.  It is really an Avante in name only since it has nothing in common with the original, or even with any of the later generations.  It is a fairly high end chassis with inboard front shocks, but not like a TRF or an original carbon Avante.
  

Description	Manufacturer	Model #
Avante (2011) 1/10 Scale R/C 4WD High Performance Off Road Racer Kit	Tamiya	58489
GT-Tuned 25T Rebuildable 540 Brushed Motor	Tamiya	53779
22 Tooth 0.6 Mod Steel Pinion	Robinson Racing	1122
Quicrun 60A Brushed Electronic Speed Control	Hobbywing	1060
2 Channel 2.4 GHz DSMR Receiver	Spektrum	SR210
Low Profile Super Speed Metal Gear High Voltage Metal Case Steering Servo	ProTek RC	160SS
PS-16 Metallic Blue Paint	Tamiya	86016

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