An RC drift car is designed to be fun beyond the limit – when traction is no longer holding the car into line, and you can execute the insane sideways angles. If you’re a self-professed sultan of slide, then you’ll probably love powerslides, and even a shopping trolley can become a crazy drifting machine.
An incredible racing sim setup is another way you can get that sideways fix, because the bad news is, a lot of the peak Gran Turismo era JDM drift cars have either been crashed, appallingly modified or are worth an eye-watering amount of cash.
And even if you can get hold of one, turning it into a good drift car will cost a bit more than some new tyres and a welder for the diff. You have to consider a decent roll cage as well as extensive engine modifications to get the power firmly to the rear. It really isn't as simple as clicking hundreds of pieces together like a Lego car.
The best RC drift cars at a glance:
Editor's Pick: Tamiya 1:10 TT 300058584 02D Drift Spec Chassis - buy from Amazon.
The best RC drift car for kids: Jada Toys Fast and Furious RC Toyota Supra - buy from Amazon.
Best with a track: Scalextric C1421M Slot Car Racing Set - buy from Amazon.
But the good news is that you don't have to be reduced to sliding a hot wheels car with your fingertips. Drift cars in Radio Controlled form are immense fun and shouldn't go unrecognised. So, we've put some Eurobeat on the radio, checked our manifold, and can bring you our favourite RC drift cars.
The best RC drift cars
Editor's pick
Via TamiyaLooking for a more serious drift RC car? Tamiya is one of the heavyweights of model cars, and this drift spec chassis is the perfect starting point for an awesome drift r/c car. It's fundamentally the same as the already excellent TT-02 chassis but features Super Driftech tyres and new CVA shock units. You'll need to provide your own body shell but don't worry, Tamiya offer loads of awesome bodies that will simply clip onto the chassis.
A quick search reveals you could pair this chassis with a MK2 Escort, NSU Prinz TT, or even a McLaren Senna if you so wished. Or you could even try and make one yourself, if you felt brave enough.
Pros
- Very customisable, given you can switch and choose body shells
- Trusted name in the industry
- Great attention to detail
Cons
- It's only the chassis that's included
- Adult supervision required for children OR Less value for money than others
The best r/c drift car for kids
Via Jada ToysVin Diesel does it for family and now you can do it for yours too, with this RC drift car that makes a great gift for children. A 1:10 model of the iconic F&F Toyota Supra, it's a very impressive model and perfect for some indoor drifting. Best of all it comes with a spare set of drift tyres and the all-important 'turbo' button on the controller for even more power.
It doesn't quite represent the same value as a double cheeseburger and fries for $2.95, but it's as simple and tasteful as a tuna sandwich. Without crust, of course.
Pros
- Very effective drift car
- Comes with spare tyres
- USB charging technology included
Cons
- Battery life can be improved
- Isn't a ten second car
The best off-road RC drift car
Via TamiyaDesigned to evoke a custom 1950s Ford panel van, the Tamiya Squash Van is an incredibly fun piece of kit that can give you hours of sideways action on dirt surfaces. You can opt for either an unpainted set or one pre-painted in this green/turquoise spec.
It isn't primarily designed to drift, but put enough effort in, and it'll do so relatively effortlessly. Our resident Tamiya enthusiast, Alan Taylor Jones took one for a spin and was quite impressed.
You can read the full review of the Squash Van here.
Pros
- Easy and enjoyable set to build
- A fun thing to drive
- Styling is a huge plus
Cons
- Rivals have higher standard specification
- The motor has a tendency to get very hot
The best r/c drift car with a track
Via ScalextricScalextric has also embraced drifting with this cool figure-eight track complete with two Driftworks Ford Mustangs. Like any Scalextric set, it's a little more rigid than a pure RC car but it's still a lot of fun.
The Mustangs can spin 360 degrees on the track which makes for some really impressive drifts, and equally impressive donuts once you've overcooked it. The track is 3.6 metres long and can be used with other Scalextric sets too.
Pros
- A fun set for scaled-down, synchronised drifting
- Can extend track to make things interesting
- Cars won’t fall off as easily as traditional Scalextric sets
Cons
- The track is quite small at only 3.92 metres
- Unsuitable for children under 5 years old
The best r/c drift car on a budget
Via Hot WheelsNot the biggest or most advanced drift car, this 1:24 RC car from Hot Wheels is a fantastic beginner RC car for children. It's simple to set up and use, comes with spare rear tyres and is designed to deal with the inevitable knocks and scrapes from being driven into the skirting boards and coffee table.
It is perhaps a slight shame that it isn't based on a real car design, but you can see hints of Camaro and Firebird in areas. It possibly reminds us of a Local Motors Rally Fighter.
Pros
- A great value RC drift car
- Tough and durable, the hard-wearing body should withstand knocks and bumps
- Easy to set up and operate
Cons
- The design isn't based on any real car
- Remote control range may disappoint
The best RC drift car for style
Via TamiyaBig power and rear-wheel-drive usually mean a car is fairly capable at loosing the back end. Those attributes are shared with the 1990s Mazda RX7, and Tamiya can sell you one on its drift chassis.
It is quite pricey, bordering the £300 mark. But as far as quality, style, and drift ability goes, it doesn't get that much better than one of these.
Pros
- Superb for casual RC drifting
- Smooth tyres for less grip
- Chassis is compatible for many different shells
Cons
- Doesn't represent as good value as the others
- Not waterproof
The best r/c drift car you can drive
Via Hyperkartwww.argos.co.uk
Ok, this is a little bigger than your standard RC drift car, but our inner nine-year-old can't get over how amazing this would be to speed around. It may only have a top speed of 9mph and a 30-minute runtime, but it has smooth rear wheels for drifting, plus it looks awesome. It's suitable for children over eight and has a 70kg weight limit.
If you want to teach your little ones how to drift, this is the perfect starter vehicle.
Pros
- Incredible fun
- Ideal for teaching your children how to drift
- Foot operated acceleration
Cons
- It's a shame us adults can't have a go as well
- 5.5 hours to charge for 30 minutes run time
FAQs and things to remember with RC drift cars
Why go for an RC drift car rather than a normal one?
Easy - they do slides. And slides are much more exciting than plodding along in a straight line. We've probably all tried to make an RC car drift at some point, only to be disappointed that it grips like glue. You might've even stared at a Revell model car kit for too long and imagined what it might look like when drifting. Dedicated drift cars comfortably solve that issue.
There's a Scalextric set on the list - in theory, wouldn't they all drift?
That's one of the great characteristics of Scalextric sets, isn't it? Apply too much throttle, and you'll be underneath the sofa crawling your hand through dust and bits trying to retrieve your car. Apply too little, and it'll just handle like its on rails.
The great thing about those Mustangs is that they're designed to mimic a mini drift demonstration. Where else are you going to find a slot car that does a 360 spin and powers the opposite way?
Regarding the Tamiya chassis, what would be the best shell to marry it to?
Truth be told, there's a waft of great Tamiya RC cars out there. But we reckon the NSU Prinz TT that they offer. Simply because nobody else has thought to make a drift spec one of those.
Tamiya's customisation levels are a league above other manufacturers, so we'd greatly recommend grabbing its drift chassis and seeing what you can create out of it.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he's not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.