Breaking Down Our RC Car Size Chart & Body Type Guide

RC 101: Body Types & The RC Car Size Chart

Remote-controlled vehicle collecting and racing can be enjoyable and exciting hobbies. Getting into them is simple enough: just get one RC car and learn how to accelerate, brake, and steer. However, even that very first choice may be tougher than it looks. After all, there are so many different kinds of RC vehicles out there.

Fortunately for novices, we do not just provide cars and parts here at Absolute Hobbyz. We also dispense information that anyone can benefit from having. This article breaks down the most common body types and comes with an RC car size chart for your convenience.

List of Common Body Types

RC cars come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are highly detailed recreations of real-life racecars. Others are more specifically designed to be competitive in their weight class, while others still are fanciful. We will focus on the body types you are more likely to see on the track.

Buggy

The buggy may be the most common body type out there. It is at least the one most strongly associated with the RC vehicle. Few life-size cars of this sort exist, outside of perhaps a go-kart track. This body’s streamlined mold is designed to be ideal for racing on miniature circuits.

That description does not give the full picture. Buggies are unusual among RC vehicles in that they work well both on-road and off-road. Naturally, its performance in the latter type of terrain depends in part on the tires. Even so, it is elevated enough that dirt and rock pose less of an obstacle.

Sedan

RC sedans are just like the sedans you see on the road, or in your garage. The only difference is that that you can hold them in your hands. The design is simple and relatively featureless, even for detailed replicas of actual-size models. This approach should make them more aerodynamic.

Sedans are quite zippy as a result, making them an excellent choice for racing. With that said, you might want to keep it indoors. Sedan bellies are low to the ground, and the wheels do not usually give them a height boost. They are best suited for smooth roads and flat surfaces.

Crawler

Just as sedans may make for the ultimate on-road vehicle, crawlers are the ultimate all-terrain body type. Their tires are large and often made with ridges or bumps, which allow them to navigate tough landscapes and even surmount rocks. They can do so much that other types cannot.

When driving on paved planes gets too boring, these RCs provide a greater challenge and tackle it with aplomb. Just testing their abilities at a park, beach, or other unpaved areas can be a blast. Crawler races are often hectic and dirty. They may not match sedans in speed, but they are fun.

Truck

Line up one vehicle from each of these four body types, all with the same scale. The truck will likely be the biggest in the group. There are several kinds, including but not limited to:

Short course trucks: The ones that most closely resemble full-scale drivable trucks. Their tires are more or less normal size, and they can hold their own when racing buggies and sedans.
Monster trucks: The ones we all know and love. Known for their titanic tires, they also boast a great suspension and aggressive power. Get some airtime and try to pull off some flips.
Truggies: The ones for people who cannot choose between a truck and a buggy. These hybrids are fast like the latter but tall and bulky like the former.

Truck racing is as popular a pastime as with any other form of RC vehicle. Due to their relatively higher fortitude, stunt riding is also popular. Additionally, you can try truck bashing — a less destructive but no less engaging version of the demolition derby.

RC Car Size Chart

The size of an RC car is often measured with a scale, meaning the size of its street-legal counterpart. For example, a hypothetical 1:100 Oscar Meyer Weinermobile would be 100 times smaller than one you would see on the road. Keep this in mind as you peruse our simplified RC car size chart.

1:32-1:76

Vehicles in this range are usually the smallest that you can find, though they can get smaller. They may span just under two inches in length. The smaller surfaces leave less room for intricate detail, which makes those that succeed in being replicas all the more impressive.

Smaller RC cars have smaller batteries and motors than larger RC cars. However, because there is less power, they can also accelerate more quickly. Just make sure that you do not take them into rough terrain — the smaller they are, the more fragile.

1:5-1:12

With rare exceptions, the biggest vehicles in the RC world cap off at 1:5 scale. The more common ones go from 1:8 to 1:12. Their lengths often take up nearly the entire ruler, allowing for bigger motors, larger parts in general, and more elaborate recreations of real vehicles.

Vehicles of larger sizes tend to come with larger prices. With that said, competitive RC racers may find the costs worth every penny. They get higher top speeds, more powerful tech, and greater durability. It all balances out in the end.

More Things to Understand

We highlighted these specific ranges in our RC car size chart because they represent opposite ends of the scale spectrum. Naturally, RC cars are also available in sizes between 1:12 and 1:32. Their stats are more in the middle, which may be up your alley if you want a balance.

Two cars can be different lengths and widths while having the same scale. A 1:10 monster truck will be bigger than a 1:10 Volkswagen Beetle. We gave some general ranges of length in the earlier sections, but only to give you an idea of what to expect. Do not presume the number of inches from scale alone.

Not every RC car part is compatible with every size of RC vehicle. Their packaging should note the length(s) of the car(s) that can use them. Take your measurements if needed and consult them while shopping.

Shop for All Kinds of RC Cars Today

Nobody type and/or size is inherently superior to the rest. They all have their upsides and downsides. The wise RC hobbyist chooses the ones that best suit their precise needs. We strive to keep this in mind here at Absolute Hobbyz.

With that said, we also strive to understand the precise needs of our audience. Our selection of RC bodies is geared to them while still being as diverse as we can make it. Now that you have read our body type breakdown and perused our RC car size chart, feel free to browse and choose your favorite.