The RadioShack Porsche 962C is a radio controlled model, manufactured by Taiyo of Japan, and released into the US market in 1987.
Differences between Taiyo and RadioShack version
Despite the packaging, enthusiasts will immediately notice that this RadioShack (or Tandy) model is actually a rebadged Taiyo Porsche 962C released in the same year, with some key differences in this model:
- Striking Yellow/Black Paint
- Taiyo's best Pistol Grip HG Controller
- 'RadioShack' molded into the battery cover
- Absolutely f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c box art!
- Potential mechanical differences (unknown)
For further detail, we recommend you read the main article for the Taiyo Porsche 962C here.
Custom Radio Shack mold - a sign of bigger plans?
This is actually kind of a big deal. RadioShack would have paid extra, a lot extra, to have their own steel injection mold created to allow the RadioShack logo to appear on this part, instead of 'Taiyo'
While this was normal for Tyco who sold hundreds of thousands of Taiyo toys, it seems unusual for Radio Shack to do this given they only sold perhaps 2-3 Taiyo models. Or perhaps, was RadioShack planning for a longer term relationship with Taiyo? Many more cars in the future? Sadly we'll never know.
Do you know of any other RadioShack cars manufactured by Taiyo? I'm aware of this, and the 4x4 Jeep style R/C from the early 80s. Anything else? Let us know below!
Incredible box art
I'm often drawn to the box art of these R/C cars, especially Tyco's work during the late 80s - early 90s by Ken Smith. Many of Tyco's best products had his artistry on the front, including the Turbo Bandit, Scorcher 9.6V, and Lamborghini Countach.
I was so inspired by his artistry that I recently collected as many of his artworks as I could and fed them into an AI image generation model to train it to paint like him. And the results were pretty spectacular, I think you'll agree! Check out my AI designed RC cars here!
Yet the artwork on the Radio Shack's box is on another level again - the realism and finish clearly had far more time and attention paid than a typical Tyco box... Radio Shack really wanted to make this special and understood the value of great packaging.
Availability and Collectability
The Taiyo Porsche 962C in whatever form it's in is an absolute classic, and a beauty. However this RadioShack version actually manages to improve on it with its striking yellow and black paint scheme, and absurdly good box art.
If you can afford a good clean one, you won't be disappointed. For the rest of us, an unboxed model that can possibly be repaired is probably the best you'll find without remortgaging your house!
Special thanks to zapatosenlamound (ebay) for many of these photos. Porsche for sale here, and other items here.
Price History Note:
So far we've only seen low-value sales around $30-60 USD recorded in price history, however these are all broken/damaged cars without the box. A 'Mint In Box' or even just an 80% car and box would be highly valuable. I'd estimate several hundred or more for one as shown here, though ultimately it depends if the right buyer is looking on the day.
