Need help with identifying and and seeing worth of Vintage RC car

[cruel_hand_luke]

I am looking to sell this 1:12 scale Porsche 935 LaTrax RC car from Jan 1980, but have not been able to find much on this brand. I found more on the history of the company than I did on the cars. So... I am looking to see if there is anyone who knows about these and may know a reasonable value.

Here is what I have found:

Jim Jenkins started LaTrax and they sold hobbyist RC racing cars in the 70s - 80s. in 1980 Jim sol to Brinkman toy company who later closed down LaTrax in 1982. In 1986 Jim Jenkins started Traxxas, a company that is around now and is a major player in the RC community, and was able to get the rights back to LaTrax where it is now under Traxxas. In the 90s Jim Jenkins son took over and now owns Traxxas.

Key Details:

• Historical Connection: LaTrax was a prominent brand in the 1970s known for early ready-to-run models.
• Relationship: Today, LaTrax is a subsidiary brand owned and operated by Traxxas.

I don't know if any of this below is true but...
Rarity Status: Classified as super rare and a "must-have" for collectors of 1970s/80s vintage RC cars.

Condition: Often sought after in "New Old Stock" condition, although the white plastic bodies are known to yellow over time.

Background: Produced around 1980, these early "hobby-grade" cars were made just before the company was sold and subsequently closed in 1982.

Availability: Finding complete, undamaged units with original, non-yellowed bodies is difficult. The LTX-42 represents a significant piece of early Traxxas-connected RC history, contributing to its high value among collectors.

 

[RudyF6]

Impressive - complete and in the box no less!!
I have one of those with a newer gen Firebird body. Not as complete as yours, I have radio and paperwork, but that's it. No batteries, broken body mounts, general disrepair. I only kept it because it was my dad's.
I'll be anxious to see thoughts on yours!

 

[Ritz413]

Cool car, love the history. I had a futaba that looked just like that radio years ago. You can still get them on ebay pretty reasonably priced. I assume it's probably the same radio with latrax branding on it.
I won't be any help with the value on this package though.

 

[cruel_hand_luke]

Cool car, love the history. I had a futaba that looked just like that radio years ago. You can still get them on ebay pretty reasonably priced. I assume it's probably the same radio with latrax branding on it.
I won't be any help with the value on this package though.

It really is a cool car, I am just not in the RC hobby and I do not need another expensive hobby... I work with a couple guys who do RC raing and he told me his car and controller cost 2,400 and 2000.... so I will pass on this hobby lol

 

[Ritz413]

It really is a cool car, I am just not in the RC hobby and I do not need another expensive hobby... I work with a couple guys who do RC raing and he told me his car and controller cost 2,400 and 2000.... so I will pass on this hobby lol

I don't know what he is running, but that is not an accurate representation of the cost of an average car or controller. There is a lot to be had in the sub 300 range that is a ton of fun and good quality.

 

[cruel_hand_luke]

I don't know what he is running, but that is not an accurate representation of the cost of an average car or controller. There is a lot to be had in the sub 300 range that is a ton of fun and good quality.

It's not... he races competitively in competitions. But I am Autistic and ADHD I will invest soooooo much money into a hobby and then stop after 2 months lol

 

[cruel_hand_luke]

Impressive - complete and in the box no less!!
I have one of those with a newer gen Firebird body. Not as complete as yours, I have radio and paperwork, but that's it. No batteries, broken body mounts, general disrepair. I only kept it because it was my dad's.
I'll be anxious to see thoughts on yours!

Do you know the year of it? my controller has a sticker with the date on it.

 

[RudyF6]

My transmitter says 10 '78, but the car body is a 3rd gen (1982-'92) Firebird.
Never noticed that - thanks!

 

[cruel_hand_luke]

My transmitter says 10 '78, but the car body is a 3rd gen (1982-'92) Firebird.
Never noticed that - thanks!

is it the big transmitter like mine? if so then it was originally from LaTrax/Traxxas but maybe who ever owned it originally upgraded the body if the body was '82 that it was after Brinkman bought out LaTrax. is there a sticker with the model number?

 

[RudyF6]

Yes, same transmitter. Decal says "LaTrax Firebird" on the windshield. Don't know any more about it.
Maybe the same radio through several versions?

 

[CertifiedMike]

That Firebird body is a 2nd gen with SCCA or Greenwood trim on it.
Its correct for 78.

 

[PonkyKong]

As a collectible. 700. If you can get that? Who knows.

 

[CertifiedMike]

If you are lookung for collector price, put it on ebay for $1200, $1500... see if anyone bites. You'll prob be waiting a long while but maybe not.
I think you might end up having to accept offers for much less before it sells tho.
Its a cool piece of vintage RC and worth some $$$ to the right buyer.

 

[RudyF6]

That Firebird body is a 2nd gen with SCCA or Greenwood trim on it.
Its correct for 78.

Ok I see that if I concentrate on the greenhouse area. My mind went to 3rd gen for the long hood and headlight area.

 

[CertifiedMike]

It looks like they put another nose piece in front of the stock rubber piece. The glass all the way around the car is 78. Door line looks 78 to me too.
Thats also a cool vintage piece!

 

[Tunedfrog]

Cool looking car.

 

[biggman100]

That isn't a Traxxas LaTrax. It's a LaTrax RC from the late 70's or 80's. That one, if I remember correctly, is the LaTrax Alpha. Although LaTrax RC became Traxxas later on in the Mid 80's, the two are different companies overall. This page shows the history of LaTrax RC before becoming Traxxas:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2248055-vintage-LaTrax-Brilliant-yellow-corvette

For those of you talking about the Firebird, it's actually a '79. My older brother was obsessed with LaTrax RC cars, and, I think he eventually had every one they offered, and, I clearly remember him buying the Firebird the day it came out, because, that same day, my mom gave birth to my youngest sibling, and, my older brother was more interested in going and buying the Firebird than he was in meeting his newest sibling, and, him and my dad got in an argument over it. It's sometimes odd to me the way I remember things.

 

[cruel_hand_luke]

That isn't a Traxxas LaTrax. It's a LaTrax RC from the late 70's or 80's. That one, if I remember correctly, is the LaTrax Alpha. Although LaTrax RC became Traxxas later on in the Mid 80's, the two are different companies overall. This page shows the history of LaTrax RC before becoming Traxxas:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2248055-vintage-LaTrax-Brilliant-yellow-corvette

For those of you talking about the Firebird, it's actually a '79. My older brother was obsessed with LaTrax RC cars, and, I think he eventually had every one they offered, and, I clearly remember him buying the Firebird the day it came out, because, that same day, my mom gave birth to my youngest sibling, and, my older brother was more interested in going and buying the Firebird than he was in meeting his newest sibling, and, him and my dad got in an argument over it. It's sometimes odd to me the way I remember things.

I know it isn't Traxxas, it is Jim Jenkins era LaTrax, because he sold in 1980, so this one was before Brinkman bought LaTrax.... if your were talking about my Porsche?

 

[cruel_hand_luke]

If you are lookung for collector price, put it on ebay for $1200, $1500... see if anyone bites. You'll prob be waiting a long while but maybe not.
I think you might end up having to accept offers for much less before it sells tho.
Its a cool piece of vintage RC and worth some $$$ to the right buyer.

I recently saw within the pas couple days on ebay for 1200 and I was writing them, but i dont think they wanted to have a discussion with me. they later changed it to a little over 900, but they werent being very descriptive and some stuff in there listing was wrong. I think it may have been a Brinkman one but I can't be sure.

 

[biggman100]

I know it isn't Traxxas, it is Jim Jenkins era LaTrax, because he sold in 1980, so this one was before Brinkman bought LaTrax.... if your were talking about my Porsche?

I only glanced at the first pic, because I thought it was the LaTrax Alpha. I didn't realize it was actually the Porsche. My brother almost killed me over his LaTrax Porsche, because I caused my dad to run it over. After that, as well as sinking two boats, and crashing 4 planes into the side of a school, I wasn't allowed to even look at another RC again until the late 80's (what can I say. I was 8 years old then) . My dad flew one of his planes into a closed window of the same school, and shattered the window. He didn't get his plane back until school started, which I thought was funny.