1997 MX-4 Prototype “World Warm-Up Configuration” [ACTUAL]

You have seen the replica of this car I made last year from photos. This unique, one-off car was secretly tested by Masami and Masaaki during the practice of the Worlds Warm-up race in 1997. They were basically testing the concept that would win the 1997 Worlds 2 weeks later.

This is THE car that Masami actually ran. Most probably with a different bodywork and tires but these are the ones that Masaki shelved the car with.

This car sports different front-end delrin gearbox, front tower, top deck and a very interesting rear tower that mirrored the same toe setting configuration as the front with 3 alloy support holding the toe plate in place. This technical solution was later dropped, but I really like the fact it makes the MX-4 more balanced technically between the front and rear design solutions.

This car is basically the prototype of the prototype of the MX-4 🤣.

Body painted by Hyakutake Design for Hirosaka.