The Tyco STP Stocker (later rebranded as Petty STP) was a radio controlled car based on a real NASCAR, released in the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries worldwide in 1989.
Racing with a friend
The 1989 STP Stocker was the 49Mhz variant of a two car set, selling alongside the 27Mhz 1989 Tyco Pontiac Stocker Valvoline.
With a set of two cars, this allowed friends or siblings to race each other, a common feature in toy R/C in the 80s and 90s which sadly seems to be less common today in low cost (non-hobby grade) models, though has generally been made redundant by frequency hopping 2.4Ghz technology used by more expensive toy RC.
encouraging races between friends
Initially released under the ‘STP Stocker’ title, it was later repackaged with the name “Pontiac Stocker” which suited both STP and Valvoline cars (both Pontiacs), allowing Tyco to save on packaging costs, with the included instructions also written for both cars on the same paper.
Features and Performance
With 4xAA power these won’t break any Taiyo / Tyco speed records, but they’re decent looking models that are well made – the perfect first radio control cars for kids, and still make great collectors pieces. Best used indoors on a smooth flat surface, they’re plenty of fun.
Availability and Collectability
STP Stockers aren’t too difficult to find online, though boxed cars in good condition are getting more difficult to find.
As for whether they’re worth collecting, both fans of Tyco RC and NASCAR / US Motorsports fans would presumably be interested in these cars, and I’d assume there’s plenty of kids out there who got their Petty STP in ’89 or ’90 as a kid who would hold a great deal of nostalgia for these.
Living outside the US myself I’m not familiar with the STP brand or American motorsports generally, but I am interested in these cars due to their timeless late 80s / early 90s design and of course their link to the 1990 film Days of Thunder.
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