Tamiya MB-01 M-Chassis: Compact On-Road Kit Guide for Australia

The Tamiya MB-01 is the current M-chassis platform for compact 1/10 on-road kits — Mini Cooper, Golf GTI, Fiat Abarth and similar scale bodies. It is a 2WD on-road chassis, not a dedicated drift platform. Tamiya designed it for fun scale driving with flexible setup options.

What the MB-01 actually is

According to Tamiya, the MB-01 is a compact 2WD chassis with:

• Three wheelbase options (short / medium / long) to suit different bodies
• Front- or rear-wheel drive — you can switch layout without stripping the motor and radio from the centre frame
• Four-wheel double-wishbone suspension with friction dampers
• Unitised motor mount and gear sections for easier assembly and maintenance

That makes it a good choice if you want a smaller on-road car that still looks like a real street or race car, not a full-size TT-02 touring chassis.

Drift? Only as a side option

Some hobbyists run M-chassis cars with hard tyres for casual sliding, and RWD setups can be more playful. That is a mod choice, not the MB-01’s purpose. For serious 1/10 drift, Tamiya’s drift-oriented kits (for example TT-02D-style platforms) and dedicated drift cars are the better fit. This article treats the MB-01 as what it is: a versatile compact on-road M-chassis.

What you need to complete a kit

• 2-channel surface transmitter and receiver
• Steering servo
• Battery and charger (many export kits include a brushed motor and ESC — check the product page)
• Polycarbonate paint for the body

Exact “required to complete” items vary by kit version, so always check the listing.

Why people buy MB-01 kits

Scale looks, smaller footprint than a full touring car, and the ability to try FWD or RWD on the same platform. Parts and hop-ups overlap with other Tamiya systems in places (for example some differential options shared with TT-02), which helps when you want to upgrade later.

Where to buy in Australia

RC One is an independent Tamiya specialist in Brisbane. We stock M-chassis kits including MB-01 models, with free Australia-wide shipping on orders over $250 and Kelvin Grove pickup by appointment.

Browse the M-Chassis collection or new in stock.