Personal Project: TycoCollectors.com Guide to 80s 90s Toy RC Cars eg. Metro RC, Tyco RC, Taiyo

Associatedibfragalot @ tycocollectors.com on 08/06/2023 - 20:04
Last edited 09/06/2023 - 11:01 by 1 other user

So during lockdown in Melbourne I began collecting Toy R/C cars from when I was a kid in the 80s, 90s - beginning with the Metro Jet Hopper. Well that turned into a slight obsession, and I've… a very large collection now! Being an IT geek, it also inspired me to make a website, and fully document all the models.

That's how I ended up with 395 documented models so far, covering Tyco RC (USA/Global), Taiyo (Japan), GTi Metro (Australia), and more.

https://tycocollectors.com/

I've also done quite alot of research into the Australian distributor, GTi Metro, or George Tauber Imports, and am collecting enough info to write a story on them. You can see the beginning of my research on the Metro RC Jet Hopper page here: https://tycocollectors.com/product/1986-metro-jet-hopper-mk1…

Question for OzBargainers. I swear when I was a kid that Agro's Cartoon Connection would hold races with RC cars as short competition/segment, just in a small round course, and kids would win the car. But I can't find any video or evidence of it, and am starting to wonder if it was my imagination. I know 100% they gave away Metro RC cars, and had that relationship with GTI/Metro, but would love to find some footage or hear from someone who recalls the same.

Finally, in true OzBargain spirit, I created an eBay Deal Finder. Collectors like me are constantly searching eBay which is a grind, so I made a page with my secret sauce (about 40 keywords) that filters out all the junk, and displays stuff I'm likely to want. I'm hopeful that eventually the few bucks I get from affiliate clicks to eBay will pay for the site, though we're not even close yet, but I think it's doable.

https://tycocollectors.com/ebay-deal-finder/

Anyway, enjoy. I welcome any feedback, though keep in mind this is just a hobby for me, I'm no professional developer.

Bonus question - Does anybody else here collect toys, or unusual stuff? There's just something so calming about walking into see my collection, it just smells like the 80s I swear, working slowly to restore an old model, clean it up… it's nice :)

Poll Options

  • 4
    I owned a Metro Jet Hopper / Turbo Hopper / Wild Thing
  • 4
    I owned another car not mentioned here
  • 3
    In my day the only toy was a ball and a cup!
  • 1
    I owned a Metro Hurricane / Typhoon
  • 1
    I owned a Metro Scorcher 9.6V
  • 1
    I owned a Metro / Tyco Fast Traxx
  • 0
    I owned a Metro Rebound, Mutator, Python, or other mid 90s model
  • 0
    I mostly had Nikko
Toys & Kids Remote Control Car

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Comments

  • Stewardo on 08/06/2023 - 20:23
    +1

    I had the red jet hopper, it went through batteries like crazy!
    Why don’t ask Agro if he has the vhs?

    https://instagram.com/agroakajamiedunn?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA…

    • Associatedibfragalot @ tycocollectors.com on 08/06/2023 - 20:32

      Oooooooh I never thought of that!! Hmmm a bit star struck, but I'll give it a shot if I find nothing else :) Thx.

  • scotty on 08/06/2023 - 21:08
    +2

    Had a Tamiya Hornet in the 80's — dad helped to build it, and got the hobby shop to paint the shell. Drain battery in like 10 minutes. Good old time.

    • pegaxs on 08/06/2023 - 22:03
      +1

      I had Tamiya as well.. Frogger and Hornet. And I got a Ferrari F40 back in the early 90’s for my 18th I think (with my money, not Santa’s)… still have it now, just upgraded with brushless and LiPo power… so cool it has lasted this long. It would be about 30 years old.

    • Associatedibfragalot @ tycocollectors.com on 08/06/2023 - 23:06

      Hornet was so cool, I only saw it in magazines. I've been looking at building one of the re-releases… hmmm

  • pacer4000 on 08/06/2023 - 21:13
    +1

    Nice website OP and thanks for the trip down memory lane. Reminded me that I wanted a Mutator so bad and a friend had a red Scorcher too.

    • Associatedibfragalot @ tycocollectors.com on 08/06/2023 - 23:06

      Thanks man :) Nostalgia is great.

  • jeeg on 08/06/2023 - 23:47
    +1

    I saw the turbo hopper in there. Bring back memory of wanting to buy it but could not afford it.

  • MS Paint on 08/07/2023 - 11:14

    Late reply as I was in the sin bin.

    I swear when I was a kid that Agro's Cartoon Connection would hold races with RC cars…

    I think the show you are thinking of is 'The Early Bird Show' with Daryl Cotton and Marty Monster in the mid 80's.

    Check out this video at roughly 2h10m to see if it rings a bell.

  • UFO on 10/07/2024 - 12:49

    I got a Jet Hopper about 8-9yo. They were terrific!

    Then about 11yo Franklins (a grocery store in Melbourne since defunct) somehow had a special buy on a Tamiya Fox really cheap. I think it was about $150 WITH radio gear (normal price was easily over double that- if not triple at near $450). I begged my parents and explained to them how good a deal it was. I don't know how but they agreed (my parents were pretty strict/no pushovers).

    In regards to TV shows, as Muzeeb has correctly said you are definitely thinking of The Early Bird Show. You had to send in self addressed mail in letters to be picked from a barrel.
    I posted like 100 in one go and got on!! Came 2nd and missed out on the RC Bigfoot by about 2 seconds. It was the worst 2nd place glue together battleship I ever got ;).

    But yeah… got memories in this thread, thanks. That Jet Hopper though… best RC car I ever owned. Bullet proof, and FAST. I remember playing with it so much I wore the rear nobbly tires down to super slicks.

    • Associatedibfragalot @ tycocollectors.com on 07/09/2024 - 13:02

      I remember Franklins :) Do you remember JEWEL? I was so happy to finally figure out the name of the show, and actually got in contact with the guy who produced it via his daughter who now lives in the US. Crazy stuff..

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