Editing Radio-controlled car (section)

===Early experiments===
- 1954 Design Competition RC Winner - A streamlined radio-controlled vehicle won a third prize in Ford Motor Company's 1954 Industrial Arts Awards program. David Swinder of Warren, Ohio used a large control console to demonstrate the operation of the six-foot vehicle to Al Esper, Ford's chief test driver.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Musciano |first1=Walter |title=Building and Operating Model Cars |date=1956 |publisher=Funk & Wagnalls Company |location=New York |page=37 |edition=First}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmeter |first1=David |title=RCModels 1954 Ford Motor Company Concept |url=https://palmeter.com/rcmodels-1954-ford-motor-company-concept/ |website=Thirteen Point Seven Billion |publisher=David Palmeter |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>

- 1955 Ford Motor Company RC Model Car - Automobile manufacturer studios used scale models to reduce new design development lead times and save money. Among Ford designs executed in 3/8 size were the LaTosca, a futuristic bubble-top dream car, and the Mexico, an aerodynamic reskin of the 1955 Thunderbird that was designed to top 200 mph. For these two models the designers constructed radio control systems, adapting six-volt car batteries, convertible top motors, and other full-size components from the Ford parts bins. Along with motive power, braking, and turning, the radio control system also reportedly operated the headlights, brake lights, and turn signals.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Farrell |first1=Jim |title=Ford Design Dept Concept & Show Cars 1932-1961 |date=1999 |publisher=World Print Ltd |location=Hong Kong |isbn=0-9672428-0-0 |pages=226–232 |edition=First}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmeter |first1=David |title=RCModels 1955 Ford Motor Company Concept |url=https://palmeter.com/rcmodels-1955-ford-motor-company-concept-2/ |website=Thirteen Point Seven Billion |date=15 April 2014 |publisher=David Palmeter |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>

- Early 1960's Bill Johnson Experimental  Car - In an article in the first issue (September 1970) of ‘Pit Stop’ magazine, Bill Johnson of Burbank, California is credited with building “in the early 1960’s”, an internal combustion engine-powered, radio-controlled, 1:12th scale, model car. The date is not specific, but it seems reasonable that “the early ‘60’s” would mean the car was built around 1963 or earlier.

It was described as an all metal, radio-controlled race car using an early Bonner reed radio control system. The car was composed of two sections, in the forward section the radio, power pack, two servos, and front suspension; the rear section contained the motor, rear end, rear suspension and the fuel tank.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

A Veco .19 engine was chosen for its ability to deliver power at any given RPM. Bill experimented with a 4:1 direct drive gear ratio and finally settled on a 6:1 ratio. Using {{frac|3|3|4}}-inch diameter rear tires, Bill achieved a 600 to 2,500 RPM range resulting in speeds from 6 miles per hour to 29 miles per hour.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

His independent front suspension, while not having adjustable camber, caster or other adjustments, and although on the heavy side by later standards, proved quite durable. The car tracked well in a straight line or in circles as small as 8 feet in diameter. Bill utilized a leaf spring front set-up to reduce jolts on rough surfaces. He had tried a worm drive to eliminate the jolts to the steering servo but that proved impractical.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

For the rear suspension Johnson also used leaf springs because of the ease of installation in the car and to facilitate the changes that he anticipated as the car design evolved. Working alone, Bill achieved a remarkable degree of success and sophistication with a model car that was a very early functioning RC car, more remarkable because it was built from scratch, since no RC car parts were yet available.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Crews |first1=Pat |last2=Dewey |first2=Don |title=History of Radio Controlled Auto Racing |journal=Pit Stop |date=September 1970 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=31–33, 41–42}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmeter |first1=David |title=RCModels 1960's Bill Johnson Experimental Car |url=https://palmeter.com/rcmodels-1960-bill-johnson-experimental-car/ |website=Thirteen Point Seven Billion |publisher=David Palmeter |access-date=2022-07-24}}</ref>

- 1964 Ken Balz Experimental Car - Ken built an electric-powered, radio-controlled model car which combined a Monogram 1:8 scale Big “T” plastic model car kit with an Orbit 4-channel radio transmitter and receiver. Two “Micro Mo” motors with 485-to-1 gear reduction were used, one for steering and one to power the car. Rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries supplied the energy. Steering was proportional but required two channels, one for left turns and one for right turns. Drive was not proportional but was single speed, radio-controlled “forward-stop-reverse-stop” sequence switch.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Balz |first1=Ken |title=Radio Controlled "Big" T |journal=Rod & Custom Models |date=October 1964 |volume=1 |issue=5 |pages=74–76}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmeter |first1=David |title=RC Big T |url=https://palmeter.com/rcmodels-1964-rcm-big-t/ |website=Thirteen Point Seven Billion |publisher=David Palmeter |access-date=2022-05-03}}</ref>

- 1965 Chuck Eckles Experimental Cars - (Chuck was erroneously called Bill Eccles in one article) Chuck's first experiment was a 1:8 scale plastic kit Monogram Jaguar E-Type, McCoy35 internal combustion, radio-controlled car with a stainless-steel chassis. His initial clutch was designed to engage and turn the engine to start it and then disengage so that the engine could idle. It would then re-engage centrifugally as the engine speed was increased.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} 

The car ran well, but the combination of a fragile plastic body, more power than needed and a complex clutch led Chuck to do a major redesign. He used a 1:11 scale Wen-Mac 1965 Mustang to make a plaster plug master for more durable vacuum-formed 0.060 butyl-acetate bodies. He developed a simplified centrifugal clutch more like current designs. Two servos were used, the forward servo being used for steering, while the rear servo for both brake and throttle. The Mustang's rear axle ratio was 12:56 with a 56-tooth gear that was as large as space and ground clearance would permit. Wheels and tires used were semi-pneumatic, {{frac|2|1|4}}-inch Veco aircraft wheels.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

After several experiments, the engine used was a Cox Medallion .15 with part of the throttle control used as a collector ring for exhaust and excess oil. The carburettor spray bar had been reworked to give a better idle, while an adjustable stop was installed. The top speed achieved was 35&nbsp;miles per hour.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Steering was rack and pinion with an independent front suspension. The overall length of this pioneering vehicle was {{frac|16|1|2}}-inch, with a height of {{frac|4|1|2}}-inch, a width of {{frac|6|1|4}}-inch and an all-up weight of 3 ½ pounds.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Crews |first1=Pat |last2=Dewey |first2=Don |title=History of Radio Controlled Auto Racing |journal=Pit Stop |date=September 1970 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=31–33, 41–42}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmeter |first1=David |title=RCModels 1965 Bill Eccles Prototype Cars |url=https://palmeter.com/rcmodels-1965-bill-eccles-experimental-cars/ |website=Thirteen Point Seven Billion |publisher=David Palmeter |access-date=2022-07-25}}</ref>