9 replies to this topic

[don.siegel]

Do any of you guys know why toy outboard motors go for so much money? They're neat pieces, and I wouldn't mind having one, but I've noticed that they're often list upwards of $100, and I just don't see why... 

 

For example, 

https://www.ebay.com...5.c100005.m1851

 

That may be a lot higher than usual, and I don't know the market, but still... here's another one for $1700... 

https://www.ebay.com...5.c100005.m1851

 

Don 

[Bill from NH]

These two individuals look like volume sellers intent on making a few quick bucks. 60 years ago, I got a nicely finished wooden rowboat & a battery powered outboard motor(not an Evinrude) that I doubt my parents paid more than $4-$5. These never became very popular in my area. Maybe now, outboards are extremely rare, or maybe the Evinrude name brings more money. I'd watch them on eBay for awhile, or else start building inboard powered boats so I could use cheaper motors, maybe a Russkit 22.  

[Jairus]

Those motors you show Don were made for the vintage R.C. market in the early 60's and are today quite rare.  When new they would have sold for $25 or so same as any other R.C. boat motor. 
A Cox gas engine however you could pick up for $15, but you had to hide that under a nice boat deck to get the scale look, not to mention buying a muffler and water jacket to cool the motor.
Heck, even the Inboard electric motors had cooling jackets since airflow was hard to get under the deck.

But I digress.
I think the motors you show are very nice and well worth the asking price.  Especially the first one because of the box.  Those are very rare.
Consider an unused Mura/Cukras motor in the box. Hmmmmmmmm....

[don.siegel]

Thanks for the explanation Jairus; that would explain the fancier packaging. 

 

But even some of the seemingly run of the mill toy electric outboard motors have been going for $100 to $200; I just chose two of the more flagrant examples. 

 

Putt putt... 

Don 

[Hot Deuce]

Nice ones are hard to find - I have one for $225.00 - Let me know

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[Ramcatlarry]

I had an early - mid '50s Evinrude when we when to the Lake in the Summer.  NO RC, remember 'free flite' ?  Put it in the water and chase after it with the rowboat.  I think the manufacturer had deals with the real boat motor makers - not licensing, but promotions.

 

My Dad's early RC boats & planes were single channel where the rudder 'wig-waged' and you had to push the radio button to lock it in the direction you wanted to go.

[zipper]

My pal on early 60s had a white Johnson with tiny red text afaik - a biig envy! We had a nice big fountain on the front pedestrian mall where we could float our boats. Then we turned to self assembled motorized scale model warships like these - IJN Mutsu, Ise and USS Coral Sea for instance. They had twin propellers but no steering, just adjustable rudders.

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[Jairus]

Dang you to heck Don.
Now I find myself watching for one of those motors myself.
Like I need another project... but I have built, tried to build.... ok, never finished a couple motor boat kits. 
Finally bought a two channel wood deck Riviera toy motor speedboat for my Dad and love watching him pilot that pretty little thing about D Lake.

Best part is, it looks great on its stand on the shelf.  Gets up on plane quickly and very realistic looking.

But now I am watching those stupid motors and want one!
Arrrgggg [/rantoff]

[don.siegel]

Sorry about that... 

[Gene/ZR1]

Don’t forget the “SeaFury” outboard as it ran on fuel. I have on somewhere.

I had it on on small hydro boat and a vee wire attached to the hull side, there you attached the string. You stood in the water hanging on to the string and the boat went in circles. Pretty fast.