The Lives and Deaths of RC Companies

[Tucsonan]

There are a few bright spots and silver linings.

My RC10 Graphite listed for $325 in 1989 and sold for around $300 retail. My ne w RC10B7 was $385 in 2024. That's a 28% nominal increase, but corrected for 35 years of inflation it's a net decline. $300 in 1989 is equivalent to ~$760 today.

The tech is better today. The plastics, the alloys, the machining and the injection molding have all improved, giving us better performing and more rugged cars and trucks.

The racing is very competitive between brands.
You can see Associated, Losi, Tekno, X-ray, Schumacher, Sworks and others in the top 10 or on the podium in major races.

[carloco8]

Its crazy but I also do remember rc10 kit prices being on the higher end but actually came down a little around the mid 90's when the B2 came out. I miss my old local hobby shack/hobby people store. I always bought all my stuff there from the 80's until they folded up. Always had deals or sales also, I remember getting my B3 and B4 team kits for $149 and my T4 factory team for $199 there.

[Dangeruss]

My RC10 Graphite listed for $325 in 1989 and sold for around $300 retail. My ne w RC10B7 was $385 in 2024. That's a 28% nominal increase, but corrected for 35 years of inflation it's a net decline. $300 in 1989 is equivalent to ~$760 today.

I dig the math, but... in 1990 Graphite's with bearings were selling for $170 to $200. Corrected for inflation that'd be $400 to $475. More comparable to the B7 would be an alloy chassis RC10 with bearings which in 1990 were selling for $150 to $190, or $355 to $450 today. Making the B7 ($370) and the Fan Graphite ($380) roughly in line with inflation. Arguments could be made that the B7 is higher tech, but the RC10 came with a motor/speed controller, and the Fan Graphite doesn't come with wheels/tires, etc. but... an RC10 with bushings less electronics was $115 in 1990 and $272 after inflation vs. $380 for the 40th kit today. And... don't forget to factor Made in the USA vs. Made in Tiawan into the price adjustment as none of the cars are currently made in America.

For better or worse the shift to foreign manufacturing has lowered retail prices throughout the hobby. However, if you look at the price of modern foreign manufactured televisions and stereo equipment which cost a fraction of what their US made counterparts did back in the day and draw a parallel to Associated... In 1995 a Made in the USA RC10ST was ~$120, or $244 after inflation vs. $380 for a Made In Tiawan RC10T Classic, while a 1995 RTR Rustler from Tiawan was ~$150, $290 after inflation, but only $200 today. Think of the profit Associated is generating if their cost is a fraction of what it was but the price of their kits has doubled and tripled.

For fun... some ads taken from various RCCA issues throughout 1990 with Bearing RC10's highlighted in red and Bearing Graphite's highlighted in blue:

Stomer Hobbies 1990.jpg (217.65 KiB) Viewed 521 times

Stomer Hobbies 1990.jpg (217.65 KiB) Viewed 521 times

[Tucsonan]

I dig the math, but... in 1990 Graphite's with bearings were selling for $170 to $200. Corrected for inflation that'd be $400 to $475. More comparable to the B7 would be an alloy chassis RC10 with bearings which in 1990 were selling for $150 to $190, or $355 to $450 today. Making the B7 ($370) and the Fan Graphite ($380) roughly in line with inflation.

Thanks for the classic price lists. MSRP on the Graphite was $325 and I paid very close to the $300 I quoted for mine. It was one of the first to reach my local hobby store so I likely was likely paying an early adopter markup.

New stuff being made in Taiwan is definitely a downer, but better than being made in mainland China I guess.

As for motors and speed controllers, my Graphite didn't come with any but it's totally fair to include that since some rc10 models did. Motor and ESC prices aren't really a bright spot though. They've inflated substantially since the early 90s. Admittedly brushless is better, but a motor and ESC can cost almost as much as a B7 kit.