Mini 4WD Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Mini 4WD Wiki

Mini 4WD cars are not toys! They are racing machines!
— Yonkuro Hinomaru in Dash! Yonkuro

The Dash-1 Emperor (Japanese: ダッシュ1号・皇帝エンペラー, Dasshu Ichi-gō Enperā) is a Mini 4WD car released by Tamiya on September 20, 1988.

It was featured in manga and anime Dash! Yonkuro as the primary machine for the protagonist, Yonkuro Hinomaru. It was also features in the on-going manga, Hyper Dash! Yonkuro.

General info[]

The Emperor features the typical R/C buggy design bodyshell with two-tone stripes. On the front is a mono-shock prop and a pair of upper arm props. There are headlight props mounted on the front side of the canopy while on the rear, there is a rear spoiler with a large 'DASH!' decal.

On the front is the CoroCoro Dragon logo and a decal with the numbers '496'.

Type-1 and Type-3 variants[]

The original Type-1 and Type-3 variants of the Emperor features the white body color, with blue canopy, red and orange stripes and yellow front mono-shock

Both Type-1 and Type-3 were equipped with the white, medium diameter 4-spoke Hotshot-type wheels, with the Type-1 comes with the black spiked tires and the Type-3 comes with the black high-profile slick tires. The chassis was molded in black.

Special Kit variant[]

The limited Special Kit variant, based on the Type-3 variant, comes with a polycarbonate-mixed ABS chassis frame and an additional Dash-2 Burning Sun bodyshell. Other than that, it is mostly the same as the Type-3 variant.

The Special Kit comes with the monochrome, downsized version of chapter 1 to 3 of the Shin Dash! Yonkuro manga.

MS variant and MS Black Special[]

The original MS variant features the same coloring as the original Type-1 and Type-3 variants. On the other hand, the MS Black Special variant features the black body color, blue canopy, silver highlights and front mono-shock and two-tone stripes of silver and carbon pattern.

The MS variant was equipped with the white, large diameter 4-spoke MS-type II wheels paired with the black low-profile spike tires. The MS Black Special was instead equipped with the metal gray, 5-spoke narrow lightweight wheels paired with the black arched tires. Both variant comes with the N-02 nose unit and the standard, light gray 16 mm lightweight plastic rollers. The standard MS variant has its nose, center, tail unit and the A parts were molded in black, while the MS Black Special has its nose, center, tail unit and the A parts were molded in neon yellow.

Premium variant[]

The Premium variant features the same coloring as the original Type-1 and Type-3 variants but with the body decals being changed from paper-type to foil-type to give it the metallic-like appearance.

It was equipped with the metal gray, large diameter 6-spoke Manta Ray-type wheels paired with the black Avante-type slick tires. The chassis frame was molded in black, while the A parts and the easy locking gear cover were molded in blue.

Imperial Force variant[]

The limited, Charatoru-exclusive Imperial Force variants, has the silver and two-tone red and black stripe-styled body decals, with the metallic red canopy. It has four color variants: Pearl, clear red, orange, and smoke. However, the body decals works best with the pearl color variant.

Depends on the color variants, it either came with the white chassis and white tires, or black chassis and orange tires. All variants were equipped with the black, large diameter 6-spoke Manta Ray-type wheels paired with the Avante-type slick tires.

Memorial variant[]

Based on the MS variant, the Memorial variant of the Emperor was released to celebrate 30 years of Tamiya Mini 4WD Japan Cup.

It features the silver plated bodyshell with the black and carbon-pattern body decals.

It was equipped with the white, large diameter low-profile 6-spoke wheels paired with the super-hard low profile tires. It was equipped with the N-02 and T-01 units molded in red and the center parts molded in black.

In media[]

Spoiler alert!

This section of the article may contains details concerning the progression of the plot. If you do not want it to be spoiled for you, skip this section!

Dash! Yonkuro series[]

Dash1inHDY

Dash-1 Emperor as seen in Hyper Dash! Yonkuro.

Before the race against the thugs who were causing trouble around the off-road track that he and his friends made, Yonkuro was given a mysterious box by Mr. Sumeragi.

During the race, the thugs employ a dirty tactic by detonating bombs that have been buried into the race track beforehand. Yonkuro's Boomerang Jr. was severely damaged by the explosions but remembering the box that Mr. Sumeragi gave him, he opened the box and found that it contained the parts of his new car. Yonkuro had only assembled the new car's body and had his busted Boomerang's chassis recycled into his new car. Thanks to the new car, now known as the Dash-1 Emperor, Yonkuro and company won the race against the thugs.

During one of the races in the Mini 4WD Championship arc, The Emperor was struck by lightning at the last minute before it could cross the finish line. Mr. Sumeragi later have it repaired but it was busted again during the semi-final against the Emperor trio in the National Tournament, forcing Yonkuro to use the Great Emperor in the final.

The car was later rebuilt and used in the 2nd round of the Hell Caravan rally during the Black Mistral arc until it was melted due to the high heat of the lava race track.

In Hyper Dash! Yonkuro, the Emperor was, once again, Yonkuro's primary machine. It was used to race against the Dash Warrior members and, later, against Kill Crow. However, the explosion caused by Kill Crow's Night Seek Trigger had severely damaged the Emperor's chassis, rendering it unusable. This forced Mr.Sumeragi to secretly replace the entire car with the new one with part of the Emperor's parts equipped without Yonkuro and co.'s knowledge.

Technical info[]

Variant Body Chassis Wheels Tires Motor Dimensions Gear

Type-1
(18012)

Color: White
Material: PS

Type: Type-1
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Medium
Type: Hotshot-Type
Spoke: 4
Fitment: Staggered
Color: White
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Medium
Type: Spiked
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 127
Width: 81
Height: 53

11.2:1
6.4:1

Type-3
(18025)

Color: White
Material: PS

Type: Type-3
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Medium
Type: Hotshot-Type
Spoke: 4
Fitment: Staggered
Color: White
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Medium
Type: Basic Slick
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 127
Width: 86
Height: 53

6.4:1
5:1

Type-1
Silver Plated

(94818)

Color: Silver Plated
Material: PS

Type: Type-1
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Medium
Type: Hotshot-Type
Spoke: 4
Fitment: Staggered
Color: White
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Medium
Type: Spiked
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 127
Width: 81
Height: 53

11.2:1
6.4:1

Special Kit
(94666, 95622)

Color: White (1st), Green (2nd)
Material: PS (Both)

Type: Type-3
Frame: Black, Polycarbonate-mixed ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Medium
Type: Hotshot-Type
Spoke: 4
Fitment: Staggered
Color: White
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Medium
Type: Basic Slick
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 127
Width: 86
Height: 53

6.4:1
5:1

MS
(18625, 94670)

Color: White
Material: PS

Type: MS
Config:
N-02/Normal/T-01
Nose:
- Color: Black
- Material: ABS
Center:
- Color: Black
- Material: ABS
Tail:
- Color: Black
- Material: ABS
A parts: Black

Size: Large
Type: MS II
Spoke: 4
Fitment: Staggered
Color: White
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Spiked
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 152
Width: 92
Height: N/A

4:1

MS
Black Special

(94704, 95296)

Color: Black
Material: PS

Type: MS
Config:
N-02/Normal/T-01
Nose:
- Color: Fluorescent Yellow
- Material: ABS
Center:
- Color: Fluorescent Yellow
- Material: ABS
Tail:
- Color: Fluorescent Yellow
- Material: ABS
A parts: Fluorescent Yellow, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Narrow Lightweight
Spoke: 5
Fitment: Square
Color: Gun Metal
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Arched
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 152
Width: 92
Height: N/A

4:1

Premium
(18069)

Color: White
Material: ABS

Type: Super-II
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Blue, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Manta Ray-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Gun Metal
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 150
Width: 97
Height: N/A

4.2:1

Imperial Force
Pearl

(92267)

Color: Pearl
Material: ABS

Type: VS
Frame: White, ABS
A parts: Red, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Manta Ray-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Black
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: White
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 145
Width: 92
Height: 50

4.2:1

Imperial Force
Clear Red

(92268)

Color: Clear Red
Material: ABS

Type: VS
Frame: White, ABS
A parts: Red, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Manta Ray-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Black
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: White
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 145
Width: 92
Height: 50

4.2:1

Imperial Force
Orange

(92269)

Color: Orange
Material: ABS

Type: VS
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Blue, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Manta Ray-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Black
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: Orange
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 145
Width: 92
Height: 50

4.2:1

Imperial Force
Smoke

(92270)

Color: Smoke
Material: ABS

Type: VS
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Blue, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Manta Ray-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Black
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: Orange
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 145
Width: 92
Height: 50

4.2:1

Memorial
(95110)

Color: Silver Plated
Material: ABS

Type: MS
Config:
N-02/Normal/T-01
Nose:
- Color: Red
- Material: ABS
Center:
- Color: Black
- Material: ABS
Tail:
- Color: Red
- Material: ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Low-Profile
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Squared
Color: White
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Low-Profile
Color: Black
Material: Super Hard Elastomer

Standard

Length: 151
Width: 92
Height: 53

4:1

Gallery[]

Boxarts[]

Manga and anime[]

Custom models[]

Artworks[]

Trivia[]

  • It is the first Mini 4WD car to have more than one chassis variants.
  • Although they share the same bodyshell design, the MS variant is not compatible with any shaft-driven chassis.
  • It is the first to be not based on any Tamiya R/C buggy.
    • It is also the first to have the R/C buggy (albeit a Quick Drive 1/14 scale R/C buggy) based on the Mini 4WD car.
  • The original Type-1 variant of the Emperor was chosen to be a cover car for the 1988 and 1989 seasons of Tamiya Japan Cup, while the Memorial variant (Which was equipped with the MS Chassis) was chosen to be the cover car for the 2018 season to celebrate 30 years of Japan Cup.
  • In Dash! Yonkuro, the Emperor was seen equipped with the wheels from the Speed Roller and Wheel Set paired with the Slick Sponge Tire Set.
  • Starting with the Premium variant of the Emperor, most future Mini 4WD car with Super-II Chassis were came equipped with the easy locking gear cover.
  • In Hyper Dash! Yonkuro, much like the Dash-2 Burning Sun, the Dash-1 Emperor was seen equipped with the Type-1 Chassis instead of Type-3 Chassis. This is because both cars were originally made for Type-1 Chassis.
  • In the CoroCoro Comic x Sanrio collaboration project by Shogakukan and Sanrio, the Emperor was being 'sanriolized' along with its owner Yonkuro Hinomaru.

See also[]

Yonkuro's Emperors[]

Related[]

External links[]

Tamiya Japan[]

Tamiya America[]

Mini 4WD cars from Dash! Yonkuro franchise
Dash Warriors Mini 4WD Championship arc Boomerang Jr. · Monster Beetle Jr. · Hotshot Jr. · Falcon Jr. · Super Dragon Jr. · Hornet Jr. · Dash-1 Emperor · Dash-2 Burning Sun · Dash-3 Shooting Star · Dash-4 Cannonball · Dash-5 Dancing Doll · Dash-01 Super Emperor · Dash-0 Horizon · Dash-W1 Wild Saurus · Dash-02 Neo Burning Sun · Dash-001 Great Emperor
Black Mistral arc Horizon Boundless · Liberty Emperor
Shin Dash! Yonkuro Dash-CB1 Geo-Emperor · Dash-CB2 Blazing Sun · Dash-03 Super Shooting Star · Dash-04 Cannonball Wail · Dash-05 Dame the Dancing Doll · Dash-CBW Command Saurus
Hyper Dash! Yonkuro Rise-Emperor · Shooting Proud Star · God Burning Sun · Cannon D Ball · Dancing Divine Doll
Mini 4WD Championship participants Fire Dragon Jr. · The Fox Jr. · Thunder Dragon Jr. · Rising Bird · Bigwig Jr. · Avante Jr. · Thunder Shot Jr. · Clod Buster Jr. · Lunch Box Jr.
U Team and U Team 2 Dash-X1 Proto-Emperor · Crusader · Black Chopper · Black Bomber · Black Fighter · Black Attacker · Proto-Emperor ZX · Proto-Emperor Coretank
Team Momotaro Samurai Crimson Glory · Crimson R · Crimson T · Crimson E · Crimson A
Team Ninja Warriors Terra Scorcher Jr. · Dash-X5 Shadow Emperor
Team Heavy Metal Dash-X2 God Emperor · Dash-X3 Hurricane Emperor · Dash-X4 Devil Emperor
Amazon Horizons Sid Horizon · Buzz Horizon · Gal Horizon · Luke Horizon · Coco Horizon
from Black Mistral arc Aero-Solitude · Manta Ray Jr. · Black Mistral
Dark Dominion Night Seek · Night Seek Trigger · Night Seek Shield · Night Seek Rod · Night Seek Edge · Night Seek Saucer · Night Seek G · Over the Horizon · Dancing Bloom Doll · Beast Emperor · Big Burning Sun · Shooting Billion Star · Cannon Bad Ball
Others Daihatsu Kopen XMZ · Astralster · Abilista · Raikiri · Festa Jaune · Silwolf
Racing Mini 4WD series
Type-1 Hotshot Jr. · Hornet Jr. · The Fox Jr. · Boomerang Jr. · Bigwig Jr. · Falcon Jr. · Super Dragon Jr.* · Thunder Dragon Jr.* · Thunder Shot Jr. · Super Sabre Jr. · Fire Dragon Jr.* · Dash-1 Emperor* · Dash-2 Burning Sun
Type-2 Avante Jr. · Grasshopper II Jr. · Vanquish Jr. · Terra Scorcher Jr.
Type-3 Rising Bird · Dash-3 Shooting Star · Saint Dragon Jr.* · Dash-4 Cannonball* · Dash-5 Dancing Doll* · Winning Bird · Dash-01 Super Emperor* · Nissan Be-1
Type-4 Egress Jr.
Zero Dash-0 Horizon* · Avante 2001 Jr. · Astute Jr. · Manta Ray Jr. · Dash-001 Great Emperor* · Super Astute Jr. · Proto-Emperor ZX · Dyna Storm Jr. ·
FM Crimson Glory · Dash-02 Neo Burning Sun · Aero-Solitude
Type-5 Bear Hawk Jr. · Top-Force Jr. · Terra Conqueror Jr. · Dash-03 Super Shooting Star · Super Avante · Dash-CB1 Geo-Emperor*
Super TZ-X Mad Bull Jr. · Baja King Jr.
VS Dash-X1 Proto-Emperor* · Slash Reaper · Super Sabre Open Top · Top-Force Evolution Open Top · Daihatsu Kopen RMZ and XMZ · Daihatsu Kopen RMZ · Mini 4WD Lupine Racer · Mach-Bullet · Mini 4WD Koala Racer · Little Ryan Mini 4WD Special
Super-II Astute Open Top · Terra Conqueror Open Top · Racing Miku 2012 ver. drives Astute Special · Saber drives Super Sabre Special · Mikoto Misaka drives Thunder Shot Special · Daihatsu Kopen XMZ · Mini 4WD Shirokumakko · Mini 4WD Panda Racer · Mini 4WD Kumamon Version · Mini 4WD Merlion Edition - Singapore 50th Anniversary · Mini 4WD Dog Racer · Mini 4WD Hawk Racer · Mini 4WD Owl Racer · Mini 4WD Pig Racer · Mini 4WD Panda Racer 2 · Mini 4WD Cat Racer
Super XX Thunder Shot Open Top
AR Mini 4WD Lupine Racer 2
VZ Neo-VQS · Dual Ridge Jr. · Toyota GR Yaris · Honda e · Iron Beak · Ray Spear · Mini 4WD Elephant Racer · Mini 4WD Penguin Racer · Eleglitter · Super Avante Jr. (TD4) · Cross Spear 01
Starter Pack Zenquish Progress · Azente Progress · Neo-VQS Advanced Pack
* denotes Premium version available
Mini 4WD PRO series
MS Nitro Thunder · Nitro Force · Torcruiser · Veldaga · Rayvolf · Exflowly · TRF-Racer Jr. · Avante Mk.II · Manta Ray Mk.II · Avante X · Neo Falcon · Keen Hawk Jr. · Nitrage Jr. · Thunder Shot Mk.II · BisonMagnum · RodeoSonic · Savanna Leo · Hotshot Jr.* · Dash-1 Emperor* · Avante Mk.III · Dash-2 Burning Sun* · Tridagger XX · Dash-3 Shooting Star* · Spin-Axe Mk.II · Dash-01 Super Emperor* · Rising Edge · Slash Reaper Red Special · Astralster
MA Blast Arrow · Heat Edge · Festa Jaune · Tri Gale · Abilista · Raikiri · Shooting Proud Star · Spark Rouge · Rise-Emperor · Kumamon Mini 4WD - Supporting Kumamoto · God Burning Sun · Silwolf · Mini 4WD Shirokumakko GT · Mini 4WD Panda Racer GT · Mini 4WD Kumamon Version GT · DCR-01 · Hyundai Avante Sport · Cannon D Ball · Mad Laser · Mini 4WD Lupine Racer GT · Mini 4WD Dog Racer GT · Mini 4WD Hawk Racer GT · Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid · Mini 4WD Owl Racer GT · Dancing Divine Doll · DCR-02 · Hexagonite · Mini 4WD Pig Racer GT · Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT/Yaris WRC · Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC · Toyota GR Supra · Roborace DevBot 2.0 · Ignicion · Chevalier · Estoura
Starter Pack Avante Mk.III Race-Ready Set · Mini 4WD Starter Pack MA Power Spec
* denotes Mini 4WD PRO chassis re-release of a Racing Mini 4WD car
Advertisement