Vintage Radio Shack RC Porsche 928 Martini Racing Boxed Toy Car 1980s 8 In

Vintage Radio Shack RC Porsche 928 Martini Racing Boxed Toy Car 1980s 8 In

✨ Cabinet Curiosity No. 347 | The Living Room Grand Prix of 1982

In 1982, learning to drive did not require a learner's permit or a high school driver's education course.

It required four AA batteries, two 9-volt batteries, and the sheer nervous stamina to pilot a Radio Shack radio-controlled Porsche across twenty feet of sculptured living room carpet.

Look at this machine. It does not merely represent German automotive engineering. It represents the height of early 1980s technological optimism.

Manufactured in Macau for the Tandy Corporation under catalog number 60-3041, this 1/24 scale Porsche 928 was outfitted in full international glory: factory Martini Racing stripes, competition number 7, wide black fender flares, deep front air dam, and blue-tinted windows that concealed the complete absence of a miniature interior.

The real genius, however, was the steering mechanism.

Modern RC cars give you proportional digital steering wheels. In 1982, Tandy Corporation gave you exactly one orange slide button and a prayer.

According to the original factory manual, releasing the button sent the Porsche hurtling forward in a dead straight line. To execute a turn, you had to press and hold the button, which threw the car into reverse while locking the wheels so it spun backwards in a frantic, dizzying circle.

The moment the front bumper was pointed in the general direction of the hallway, you let go of the button and hoped for the best.

If you timed it wrong, the manual cheerfully notes: "The car will stop whenever it strikes an obstacle in its path." In most American households, that obstacle was a baseboard heating vent, a sleeping golden retriever, or a grandmother's favorite porcelain table lamp.

Best of all, the manual includes a genuine period warning: "If CB transceivers are operating nearby, they may keep you from being able to control the car."

Somewhere on Interstate 80 in 1983, a long-haul trucker keyed up his CB radio to announce a speed trap, accidentally broadcasting on 27 MHz and causing an eight-inch plastic Porsche in an Ohio living room to shoot under the sofa completely unprompted.

This complete boxed set arrives with its original color photo box, molded styrofoam storage tray, handheld remote control transmitter with telescoping metal antenna, wire car antenna, original instruction sheet, and the 90-day Radio Shack limited warranty reminding you that "We Service What We Sell."

Having survived forty years of domestic rally racing, it remains in very good vintage cosmetic condition. The car body is glossy and clean with vibrant factory decals, clean chrome wheels, and sharp body lines. The handheld transmitter is intact with smooth switch movement. The original box exhibits honest, expected vintage shelf wear, including edge scuffs, corner rubbing, and tape residue. The styrofoam tray shows age discoloration and an authentic storage puncture.

Offered as a preserved collector piece and vintage electronics display. If you plan to run it, please install fresh alkaline batteries (four AAs and one 9V in the car, one 9V in the remote) to recreate the greatest carpet races of your youth.

Style it on a bookshelf beside vintage racing books, park it on an executive desk, or add it to a curated collection of classic 1980s Radio Shack electronics.

The Vintage Pedigree & Artistry
Maker: Radio Shack / A Division of Tandy Corporation.

Model: Radio-Controlled Porsche 928 (Catalog No. 60-3041).

Era: Circa 1980 to 1983 (Production Code 5A3).

Manufacture: Custom-manufactured in Macau for Tandy Corporation.

Livery: Official Martini Racing team aesthetic with #7 graphics and Porsche crest.

Scale: 1/24 scale racing coupe.

Controls: Single-button forward/reverse-spin transmitter on 27 MHz band.

Includes: Original illustrated retail box, molded styrofoam insert, car, remote transmitter, and original instruction/warranty foldout sheet.

📺 Styling & Display Ideas
Retro Gaming & Tech Display: Station on an open shelving unit alongside vintage portable electronics, boomboxes, and retro gaming consoles.

Motorsport Office Accent: Display atop a desk or credenza on a wooden riser beside vintage European road rally books.

Collector Cabinet Vignette: House inside a glass display case with the original vintage box open behind the car as a retro backdrop.

🔍 Specifications, Materials & Condition
Exact Dimensions: Car measures ~7 1/2" Long x ~3 1/4" Wide x ~2 1/4" High. Box measures ~10 1/2" Long x ~6" Wide x ~4 1/2" Deep.

Materials: Molded Plastic Body, Chrome-Plated Wheels, Metal Antenna, Electronic Circuitry, Paperwork, Cardboard Box.

Power Requirements: Requires four AA batteries and two 9V batteries (one 9V for car, one 9V for transmitter; batteries not included).

Condition Transparency: Very good vintage cosmetic condition. The car body is glossy and bright with intact Martini #7 racing decals, smooth tires, and an unbent wire antenna. Battery compartments are clean. The handheld transmitter is structurally sound with an intact telescoping antenna. The original outer box shows visible vintage handling wear, including softened corners, edge rub whitening, small creases, and aged tape residue. The molded styrofoam tray has normal age discoloration and a small puncture hole on the upper lid surface. Includes original paper instruction sheet with fold creases and light age toning.

A Note About Vintage Items & Their Little Crimes
Many of the treasures at Honeyblue Hollow come from estate sales, flea markets, and consignment shops where interesting things wait to begin their next chapter. Because they existed long before they found me, their pasts are checkered.

Vintage means used: Expect honest, authentic character consistent with age and previous love.

The Smell & Storage Factor: My workspace is pet-friendly and smoke-free. Buyers with extreme sensitivities should review the full Vintage Items & Allergens note in my Shop Announcement.

Storied Vintage. Curated with Intention.