Rare and Collectible Tamiya RC cars

[Frankster 1892]

Hi Everyone,  

 

with lots of recent ReRe’such as the Nova Fox, Boomerang and Terra Scorcher family,  what do people think are collectibles RC cars these days?

My thoughts are:

1. Porsche 959

2. Nissan Kingcab / Toyota Monster Racer

3. Super Astute

4. Original Avante

5. Original Egress

6. Stadium Blitzer

7. TXT-1

8. Original Wild Willy

9.Dyna Storm

10. Twin Detonator 

11. DF-03 Dark Storm

 

Due to recent ReRe, these ones are probability not as collectible / rare anymore:

a. Sand Scorcher

b. Buggy Champ

c. Monster Beetle / Blackfoot

d. Blitzer Beetle

e. Wild Willy II

f. Lancia 037

g. Frog / Hornet / Grasshopper

Please add to the list when replying. 

[Saito2 6030]

Interesting question. Some of the answers might be subjective as the old adage of something is only worth what someone is willing to pay applies here. For example, a NIB Striker might be rare or collectable to some, but I personally wouldn't pay much for it since its probably my least favorite Tamiya buggy from the 1st 100. Just my personal opinion and no offense to Striker lovers. Hey, I still want a Sonic Fighter, so what do I know about style? I think anything NIB, re-re'd or no,t would be of interest to some collectors.

I guess I'd add: The original Holiday Buggy and Sand Rover, possibly the Ford Ranger F150, Toyota 4x4 Pickup (Hilux), Blazing Blazer, possibly the original Pajero, Falcon, Striker, Sonic Fighter, Toyota Celica 4wd, Astute, Madcap and possibly Saint Dragon, and maybe the Bear Hawk from the 1st 100. I don't know much about new stuff, but the Juggernaut(s) are collectable at this point too. I can't comment on on-road vehicles. I don't know the market.

The Super Astute and Stadium Blitzer have already been re-re'd and I'm not sure about the rare/collectible aspect of the Twin Detonator. If yes, great. I have one.

The original Lancia 037 was ORV based and would be collectable to the right person. 

So, NIB vintage whatever is valuable to the NIB collector. NIB and not re-re'd adds all those who want to experience one (and can't because there is no re-re yet) to those NIB  collectors, so bigger market.

Used market follows the same path, just at lower prices. There is likely a steeper drop in price from used, not re-re'd to used and already re-re'd. Its all about the market size, demand and intentions of the end buyer. Do you like NIB? restoration projects? shelf queens? or do you just want to run the thing? It all factors into what the end value is for each individual.

That being, said I think, in my area at least, everyone is hip to the "Tamiyas are collectable" game. From the inner city to the back country, most folks are asking foolish money for dirty often beat-up examples of all Tamiya products. Why would I pay more for a "barely run" re-re whatever, when a new one from Tower hobbies is cheaper? Looking for the uneducated and trying to make a quick buck I guess. I wonder how some of that stuff ever sells unless drop prices during negotiation.

 

[Kpowell911 1223]

The 934, and even 934 30th Anniversary will always be the grail for me, above even the original Avante. 

[Fuijo 859]

3 hours ago, Frankster said:

Hi Everyone,  

 

Frankster's lists.

I'm a bit confused as to why you have the Avante and Egress in one list, and the Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider in the other when all 4 have been re-released.

[Kowalski86 2167]

14 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

.That being, said I think, in my area at least, everyone is hip to the "Tamiyas are collectable" game. From the inner city to the back country, most folks are asking foolish money for dirty often beat-up examples of all Tamiya products. Why would I pay more for a "barely run" re-re whatever, when a new one from Tower hobbies is cheaper? Looking for the uneducated and trying to make a quick buck I guess. I wonder how some of that stuff ever sell unless drop prices during negotiation.

I've noticed this on auction sites, a lot of it is likely folks trying to flip a flea market find or two.

To me anything not re-re'd is collectible/rare, so as such I avoid it. Makes restoration and running it impractical.

[Frankster 1892]

17 minutes ago, Fuijo said:

I'm a bit confused as to why you have the Avante and Egress in one list, and the Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider in the other when all 4 have been re-released.

Good to know.  I am not as hardcore as I thought on Tamiya models 🤦‍♂️. Interesting these still command a high cost even for the ReRe

[Kowalski86 2167]

5 minutes ago, Frankster said:

Good to know.  I am not as hardcore as I thought on Tamiya models 🤦‍♂️. Interesting these still command a high cost even for the ReRe

Perceived value and with the Avante you're looking at a very iconic, elusive piece.

[markbt73 4929]

Why did you start two identical threads?

[Frankster 1892]

18 minutes ago, markbt73 said:

Why did you start two identical threads?

I posted and forgot what category.  Will fix mistake 

[Kowalski86 2167]

To add to my previous post, I consider all vintage Tamiyas to be "collectible" and not really fit for running, it doesn't matter if they've been "re-re'd" or not, any vintage RC is collectible to the right person.

On-road it's based on shell more than anything else, minis have some following due to Tamiya not making anymore at the moment.

 

[Chest Rockwell 34]

I guess with the Avante and Egress there are enough differences between the re-re and original to keep the value and desirability high? Re-re Egress doesn't have ti screws does it? Avante doesn't come with a proper Technigold. Also, they were both proper grail cars for most of us when we were young, halo cars that were too expensive for bashing about and released at the peak of Tamiya's powers.

[Dadio 126]

The Willy's wheeler is rare , my second car , long gone sadly but they rarely come up for sale , may be the rarest of the lot .

[Frankster 1892]

12 hours ago, Chest Rockwell said:

I guess with the Avante and Egress there are enough differences between the re-re and original to keep the value and desirability high? Re-re Egress doesn't have ti screws does it? Avante doesn't come with a proper Technigold. Also, they were both proper grail cars for most of us when we were young, halo cars that were too expensive for bashing about and released at the peak of Tamiya's powers.

I agree we grew up with these cars but could. It affords them.  They have been ReRe but still pricy and based on older technology/ design.  Most of us will buy them to be shelf queens

[Willy iine 17928]

21 hours ago, Dadio said:

The Willy's wheeler is rare , my second car , long gone sadly but they rarely come up for sale , may be the rarest of the lot .

Actually the @nicherotors 4WD Wheeler (right) is most rare.. probably only  3-4 exist in the world.    The center one is the original Willy's Wheeler which I bought NIB a few yrs ago and built.   More pictures in my profile page if interested.  

 

 

 

 

[Pablo68 995]

Yeah +1 to the Willy's Wheeler. Don't see em come up often, expensive when they do.

Even the re-re with the different chassis.

[junkmunki 829]

I would have to put forward the Brabham BT50 F1 car as one of the rarest and most collectible models.

I have a pasion for the vintage on road Tamiya models, but back in the day, they were unfasionable, and so sold in smaller numbers. The Brabham BT50 must be the rarest of the lot, and when they do rarely come up for sale, they command very high prices.

I have all the other F1 & F2 cars from that time, but the Brabham is the one thats missing.

J

[F-150 175]

I have the super Blackfoot(58110) still NIB. Not sure how collectable it is. I mean how desired I guess. I don't think anyone really is looking for one of these, except someone collecting the whole Blackfoot series.  With the red chassis, crappy graphics, pin spike tires, it's not the most desirable of the blackfoots, imo. It's cool to have a nib, vintage Tamiya tho.

[iron2dog 13]

On 4/29/2023 at 6:15 PM, Willy iine said:

 

Ok, what is this place? Where are you located in the US? I must find an house next to yours! ....impressive caveman! congrats!

[F-150 175]

On 5/22/2023 at 8:08 AM, iron2dog said:

Ok, what is this place? Where are you located in the US? I must find an house next to yours! ....impressive caveman! congrats!

This I wonder too... That is a nice display 

[SuperChamp82 739]

This question tends to get posted by diff members every 18 months or so 

Which is actually really helpful - as everyone gets a fresh view rather than being influenced by an older thread 

The answer is obviously hugely subjective - and the only immediately accurate list stems from searching auction sites (and the off market grapevine) to grade recent sales 

Unfortunately, that’s wholly reactive to what’s on offer - and when / if people decide to wait / hoard you end up losing sight of everything else 

So - in terms of trends, I’d suggest 70s / 80s vintage is becoming more focussed - simply because there are fewer of us around who are emotionally tied to those decades 

Which, in turn, invites investors / speculators -  who normally care more about objective rarity rather than the beauty / uniqueness of  something we love 

Conversely,  the 90s / 00s are broadening - because younger members are now hitting their peak earning power, having kids and want to relive their own childhoods 

There are also way more of those kits around atm - although they’re rapidly being hoovered up and prices are aligning with previous vintages 

There are clearly hot spots in each - and some kits will always appeal regardless - but it’s def not a vintage vs re re question 

It’s how about how a stroll down memory lane makes us feel 👍

[AshRC 212]

On 5/24/2023 at 1:54 AM, SuperChamp82 said:

It’s how about how a stroll down memory lane makes us feel 👍

For me, it's 100% this