The Sears Lobo 4WD is a 1/14 scale Radio Controlled Monster Truck manufactured by Nikko America, and released in Sears stores across the United States from the 1987 catalog season. It was also sold elsewhere as the Nikko Black Malibu 4WD and Nikko Big Bubba.
Features and Performance
My Sears Lobo 4WD (as Nikko Big Bubba) is yet to arrive, but it was an easy purchase since there are so many readily available online, for a reasonable price, and based on the videos I've seen online they are plenty of fun to blast around the park, with that signature 80s/90s brushed R/C motor whine. Weeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhh!
The specifications are modest, with a Mabuchi RS-360 motor driven by a 7.2V hobby grade battery pack, it's got enough power but will be held back a little by the weight of that pack, and the additional 9V battery onboard powering the electronics.
Specifications on paper
- Powered by a Mabuchi RS-360 Motor
- Vehicle takes both 7.2V Hobby Grade Battery and 9V Battery
- Shaft Driven 4WD with Rear Differential
- Front Suspension: Trailing Arm, Rear Suspension: Rigid Axle Differential Gear
- Mechanical Low and High Gear
- Jumbo Off-Road Air-Filled Tires
- Chrome embellishments and large front bumper
- Available as RDC-14003 in Red 49.860Mhz, and RDC-14280 in Black 27.xxxMhz
When buying always look for...
The missing exhaust. As with virtually every 'chrome' exhaust that pokes out on Nikko, Tyco, and Taiyo R/C cars, about 80% of them are missing, snapped off when the truck rolled again and again. It's not a major problem, just aesthetic, but if you want one fully intact, always look for that exhaust.
Starred in Terminator 2
A painted and modified Nikko that looks very similar to the Sears Lobo 4x4 appeared in the 1991 film 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day', when Sarah Connor is watching Miles Dyson's home, where he's working at a desk, and his kid drives an R/C car into the shot. As shown on the right (the actual car used in the movie) it looks similar to the Lobo 4WD, but is in fact a Nikko Thor or Nikko Hawg in larger 1/10 scale.
Video of the Lobo 4WD in Action
Here's a quick video of the Nikko Big Bubba (Aka Sears Lobo 4WD) blasting around to give you an idea of how it performs. You'll very quickly realize why those chrome exhausts snap off!
Availability and Collectability
There is no shortage of Nikko Big Bubba or Sears Lobo 4WD in loose format with controller online, and at very reasonable prices, so grabbing one of these was a no-brainer for me.
As for whether it's collectable, that's up to you. If you're like me, and didn't own anything like this car as a kid, but always wanted one, but all your family could afford at the time was a wired one from Tandy / Radio Shack (no radio control, instead a big long wire) that looked the goods, but as soon as it moved it sounded like the gearbox was eating itself alive, then yeah, you might be tempted to pick this up now you're a grownup with your own money 😉
