Kyosho Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver review

What earns the 7.8.

Five equally weighted categories assess documented equipment and buyer fit. No measured speed, handling, durability, runtime or reliability scores are assigned.

Scored for: Classic pickup fan with smooth outdoor running space.

The buying case: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The El Camino SS396 is for the classic-pickup enthusiast who wants a finished scale road model rather than a truck for working trails or rough-ground jumps. Its Cortez Silver body gives the long FZ02L platform a distinctive coupe-utility identity, with brushed power and fitted radio equipment underneath. My reservation is that the pickup silhouette can create the wrong use expectation. This remains a low touring car, and the manufacturer’s discontinued designation makes exact remaining stock and parts planning worth checking.

The reviewed complete car is 34419T2, verified by Amazon under the same manufacturer part number. The silver T2 is separate from the black T1 sibling, replacement shells and other Fazer muscle-car variants. The manufacturer’s product and body documentation identify this exact color and chassis length. Its finished body is supplied with an assembled car, so there is no kit-building stage or separate radio purchase before the power-equipment preparation.

I would choose it for open-pavement scale driving when the El Camino subject is a particular favorite. It is less compelling when the main goal is speed conversion or a versatile first off-road truck. This review supplies a research-led purchase judgment, not a tested handling or durability score. Older unboxing material of another color offers package context without becoming an exact silver-car drive test or proof that all current electronics revisions are identical.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗

The complete package: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The Readyset supplies the complete FZ02L chassis, finished silver El Camino body, G14L brushed motor, speed control, KS202W steering servo and Syncro KT-231P+ transmitter. Oil shocks and full bearings are part of the documented running package. Tools and setting parts accompany the assembled vehicle. You therefore buy a coordinated road car rather than a bare platform waiting for a body, motor and radio order.

You still need four AA transmitter cells, a compatible drive pack and a suitable charger. Kyosho recommends a 7.2 V NiMH route and names its SPEED HOUSE battery and charger options. Check the actual fitted connector and holder before assuming an existing pack will work. If choosing another battery chemistry, the present ESC instructions and model requirements have to settle voltage, settings and fit together.

The body’s light buckets can support optional LED units; working lighting is not an essential supplied feature. Keep illumination separate from the first running basket. Inspect wheel attachment, steering movement and wiring, then learn how the body comes off for battery access. A long body should be supported carefully during handling rather than lifted by its bed edge or decorative parts. The purpose of the complete package is to make preparation shorter, while still leaving enough ownership work to understand what you are about to drive.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗

Drivetrain and power: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The FZ02L uses shaft-driven full-time 4WD and front/rear gear differentials. The G14L is a brushed motor, and the manufacturer lists a 6.54:1 stock ratio. This is a conventional road-car driveline that shares broad hardware concepts with other Fazer Mk2 cars. It is not rear-wheel drive simply because the full-size El Camino was associated with that layout. Keep the RC drivetrain separate from the historical vehicle’s specification.

The differentials allow left and right wheels to accommodate different corner distances. Sealed gear housings reduce direct contamination paths but do not make the entire car dustproof. Check that the wheels turn freely and that debris is not building around exposed drive joints after a session. A tight joint or damaged wheel attachment should be resolved mechanically, not masked by selecting a more powerful motor.

The platform’s fixed-position motor mounting accommodates specified pinions, so later gearing changes have a documented process. The stock arrangement is the appropriate initial baseline. Replacing the brushed system with brushless power can be an enjoyable separate project, but its cost and setup would change the recommendation. I would purchase this Readyset when the finished El Camino and its supplied road package are desirable together. If a conversion is already mandatory, compare the total with a complete vehicle sold in that configuration before using the car-only price to declare the silver model a bargain.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗

Radio and setup: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The supplied KT-231P+ and installed servo mean you do not need to solve a radio integration project merely to drive the car. Check neutral trim, steering direction, braking and the controller’s startup procedure before placing it on open ground. A familiar transmitter shape is not evidence that every setting matches another Kyosho you have used. Read the actual instructions and keep the first drive straightforward.

Set steering travel so the servo does not continue to push at a stop. With the body installed, confirm that the tires can turn without rubbing. If the car tracks incorrectly, look at the mechanical alignment and tire condition as well as radio trim. Keep battery and electronics leads clear of the center shaft and steering linkage after each pack change. Those practical checks matter even when the exterior arrives beautifully finished.

Big Squid RC’s unboxing covers the black 34419T1 sibling. We credit it for visible package context and for demonstrating what kind of finished road car the El Camino concept represents. It is not an exact silver T2 driving test, a test of the current regional electronics or evidence that the reviewed model has a particular runtime. Manufacturer T2 documents establish the reviewed body and dimensions. This separation lets useful historical coverage inform shopping without borrowing a hands-on result from a different car.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗ · Independent coverage ↗

Steering and suspension: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The stock package combines independent suspension with oil-filled shocks and a fitted KS202W steering servo. Those are meaningful road-car components, already installed. The long FZ02L wheelbase is 274 mm, compared with shorter FZ02 shells elsewhere in the lineup. We report the configuration as a purchase distinction, without claiming that the longer car has been measured as more stable or slower to change direction.

For the first setup, inspect shock attachment and free movement, compare both sides and check that the wheels are properly seated. The body’s wheel arches need to clear the actual stock wheel offset through steering and suspension travel. An alternative wheel that looks more realistic can move the tire into the body. Choose replacements by fit as well as appearance, and check the manufacturer’s offset requirements rather than assuming every touring rim is interchangeable.

If you adjust suspension later, preserve the original settings and use a repeatable practice route. Do not change tires, shocks and gearing together and then assign the whole result to one component. The decorative brake-disc hubs are scale styling rather than working wheel brakes. Our rating credits understandable documented hardware and accessible service. It does not measure steering response, suspension absorption or the effects of a hypothetical lowered stance. For a vintage-road buyer, a functioning stock baseline is a more useful starting point than tuning to a look before learning the car.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗

Where to drive: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The El Camino belongs on smooth pavement and suitable on-road areas. Its pickup body does not make it a trail truck or monster truck. Vintage Touring Car tires and a low touring platform support a scale street-driving role. Walk the route and check for raised curbs, large cracks and stones before the first run; small RC wheels experience those features very differently from the real vehicle the body depicts.

Begin with controlled starts, stops and broad turns. Keep enough room around the long model to recover a poorly placed corner. The stock brushed package can still reach an obstacle quickly, so do not let the absence of a brushless label replace deliberate driving. We have not measured top speed or braking distance. Establish those practical limits through your own careful first sessions rather than attempting to reproduce footage of another model or electronics build.

After a dusty run, inspect exposed joints, shock shafts, wheel rotation and the battery area. The sealed transmissions help protect internal gears but do not eliminate external maintenance. Clean the body gently and check its mounts before storage. The servo’s waterproof designation is not a blanket guarantee for every connector, bearing and completed vehicle component. Follow the actual instructions for water and care. For the intended owner, dry scale-road use is the clearest way to enjoy the silver body while preserving its details and making ordinary chassis inspection manageable.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗

Body and service: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The silver El Camino is the reason to choose this exact Readyset. The long pickup bed, coupe cab and vintage wheel style create a subject that differs from another conventional muscle coupe even when the running platform is related. A finished shell saves trimming, masking and decal work. That convenience has real value if the buyer’s preferred hobby time is driving and looking at the model rather than preparing a body from clear plastic.

Kyosho lists 498 mm length, 210 mm width and 136 mm height. Allow for exposed details when selecting a transport case, and support the chassis instead of gripping the shell as a carry handle. The manufacturer page marks the T2 discontinued, so keep the body’s exact identity visible when asking about replacement availability. A similarly shaped T1 shell or another Fazer body may represent a different color or fit operation, not an identical replacement automatically established by this review.

Our gallery uses official body-off FZ02L chassis and underside views from the model page. Those photos explain the platform and service layout without presenting a black sibling’s exterior as the reviewed silver body. They are manufacturer images, not pictures of our test car. Optional lighting should be described as optional if shown in other coverage. I would preserve the stock appearance during initial ownership and choose a practice route with space away from walls, because body details are central to the value you paid for.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗

Startup basket: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

Tower Hobbies retains $289.99 for exact KYO34419T2 while marking the silver El Camino discontinued and not orderable there. The reference is archived retailer car-only pricing, not a current purchasable Tower offer. Kyosho’s exact T2 page also identifies discontinued status, while a separately verified Amazon listing may point to another seller’s remaining stock. Check that live offer independently. Older black-car prices or unrelated El Camino results do not settle the silver purchase, and the required pack, charger and transmitter cells remain outside the vehicle reference.

The required basket is the Readyset plus four AA transmitter cells, suitable drive battery and matching charger. Kyosho names 7.2 V NiMH pack options and supported chargers, but a complete set of current accessory USD prices was not verified together here. The article therefore lists every necessary category and asks the buyer to price the precise power equipment. Confirm connector, voltage and physical fit before counting an existing battery as reusable.

Optional lighting, another body, tires and a brushless conversion belong in additional budget lines. I would also check access to likely wear and damage parts before choosing remaining stock: wheels, body mounts and suspension pieces may matter more to casual ownership than another cosmetic accessory. Local availability has not been measured in this review. A sensible quote makes the complete standard car comparable with other finished road models, and makes clear whether the El Camino subject justifies choosing an older remaining-stock offer rather than a currently promoted alternative.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗ · Retailer price reference ↗

Real alternatives: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The gray Charger Supercharged VE is a complete-car option for a vintage American subject with brushless power fitted from the factory. It has a different body identity and additional optional scale features. Price its battery and charger requirements beside the car. If your El Camino plan starts with a major power-system replacement, the Charger’s coordinated VE package is worth considering before committing to the conversion cost.

The Toyota Celica GT 34429T1 offers a shorter finished vintage-road subject with standard brushed power. It is a useful alternative for someone whose main requirement is a handsome conventional road Readyset rather than the Chevrolet pickup specifically. The body, wheelbase and manufacturer stock status should remain separate in the comparison. We have no head-to-head driving data that would justify ranking them by steering or grip.

A Tamiya Midnight Pumpkin Metallic kit is the alternative when the pickup shape is attractive but wheelie-oriented playful truck behavior is the actual goal. It changes scale, purchase format, chassis height and required electronics. That is a deliberate category choice, not an equivalent RTR with a different shell. I would choose the El Camino for scale pavement driving, the Charger for its factory brushless muscle-car package, the Celica for a different vintage road subject and the Pumpkin when building a tall little truck is the activity wanted. Each is a real complete-car route with a visible completion commitment.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗ · Manufacturer manual / specification ↗

Buying verdict: Fazer Mk2 1969 Chevy El Camino SS396 Cortez Silver

The Cortez Silver El Camino is compelling when the exact pickup subject and an assembled road-driving package are the priorities. Fitted radio, brushed power, bearings and oil dampers create a complete standard car, while the finished body supplies the visual reward immediately. The cautions are the low-ground brief, separate power purchases and the manufacturer’s discontinued designation. Those are significant ownership details, not reasons to erase the appeal of the subject.

Our five categories assess complete-car preparation, scale presentation, documented running gear, service understanding and purchase value for a classic-pickup pavement driver. We do not score speed, grip, impact survival or reliability. The black T1 unboxing is labeled as sibling package context; it does not supply a measured result for the silver T2. Current manufacturer documents and exact API identity establish the reviewed variant independently of that older coverage.

I would take 34419T2 when it is specifically the El Camino you want, the stock brushed system fits your plans and a sensible source of parts and power equipment is available. Confirm the current offer, learn the stock controls and protect the shell while accessing the battery. I would pass for rough trails, frequent jumps or an immediate conversion that makes the supplied electronics redundant. Bought for smooth-ground scale driving, the long silver model has a clear role and a practical ownership case, provided the body style does not disguise the touring chassis underneath.

Know exactly what you’re ordering.

Published manufacturer specifications for model 34419T2. Conflicting figures are flagged rather than silently corrected.

Sources: Manufacturer ↗