The Sears Super Lobo, also sold as the Nikko Super Lobo was a 1/10 scale radio controlled car manufactured by Nikko (Japan), and released worldwide from 1987 during the peak of R/C popularity.
Note: there was another car called the Sears Super Lobo which was based on a newer Nikko design, we'll cover this later.
Origins
Once America's largest retailer, Sears Roebuck and Company (known as Sears) revolutionized commerce with its mail-order catalog business that began to grow in the late 19th century, offering everything from pots and pans to entire houses sold in kit form.
Eventually opening anchor stores in shopping malls across the U.S, it became a staple for shoppers throughout the year, but especially at Christmas time thanks to its 'Sears Wish Book' which became a part of American Christmas tradition. It's toy filled pages are a joy to read even today, and I'd encourage you to checkout the incredible Muse Technical website which has many of these archived.
Beginning in the 1970s Sears began offering a range of radio control cars, from popular names like Tamiya and Nikko, eventually offering Nikko cars branded with the Sears logo, packaging, and unique name.
In the 1987 Sears Christmas Wish catalog, Sears introduced the Sears Super Lobo, essentially a Nikko Bison F-10 Frame Buggy, though Nikko would also offer it as the Nikko Super Lobo in some regions.
https://christmas.musetechnical.com/
The chassis for this car is legendary amongst R/C enthusiasts as it was just so prolific throughout the mid-late 1980s, with Nikko and other brands offering so many variations, and even today restoration mods can be found with upgraded modernized and brushless versions that people have created themselves.
Features and Performance
Boasting a large Mabuchi RS-540S motor, the Super Lobo was no slouch and could offer some decent competition to any stock Tamiya in its day. With a large 1/10 scale, 7.2V hobby grade battery, front and rear suspension, rear differential, and 6 frequency bands available, it really was a legitimate option for those wishing to take to the track.
- Large 1/10 Scale
- Mabuchi RS-540 Motor
- 7.2V Hobby Grade Battery for motor and 4 x AA onboard for electronics
- 27Mhz with 6 Frequency Bands enabling competition racing
- Digital Proportional Steering
- Front and Rear Shock Absorbers / Dampers
- Air-filled off-road balloon tires
- Rear Differential
- Removable body shell / cowling
- Available in Blue and Yellow.
Availability and Collectability
While the F-10 Frame Buggy chassis is available virtually everywhere, the Sears version is a little bit harder to find, though those patient will eventually be rewarded.
As one of America's greatest retail icons of the 20th century, I dare say this Sears version of the F-10 is possibly even more valuable and collectable than the original Nikko F-10 Bison, however this would likely only apply to American buyers.
Check out the Nikko Rhino / Bison instead should you have trouble locating the Sears badged variety.
