Why are Tee Dee 010 so expensive?

I think the miniature size, utmost precision, longevity and astonishing power/speed make these gems so unique and pricey, especially today when the dramatic weight-reduction of electronics has enabled much more application options in RC flying with the 010-s than during the heyday of COX.

When I first saw a COX049 postage stamp backplated engine back in 1974 I was totally mesmerized at its tiny dimensions and sheer power...an 010 would have made me think I was simply dreaming.

I also have a few of them and they actually power some of my RC birds like the Roaring 20

Most definitely number 3.

Jason_WI wrote:Most definitely number 3.

Yup, gotta believe it’s #3. Jason when is the apocalypse?? Thanks

Nice Roaring 20 build, balogh.

It's #3. A little known fact, people are buying the under 3/4th metre wingspan laser cut kits for electric flight, to secretly convert them to Tee Dee .010 power.
This is why the are out of stock nearly everywhere.

Who knows why ? Probably all three reasons.
I convinced my oldest daughter to let me use whatever Christmas gift money she budgeted for me to order some stuff from Matt's website.
The number one target item in the buy was the bare TD.010 crankcase that came in his and Bernie's big parts score.
The crankcase was pure unobtainium as far as I was concerned.
I added in another bunch of small parts like 010 tank screws, black tank back, 010 fuel lines to make a new 010 from twelve years of finding a new 010 part in this lot or that swap meet to make a new TD010.
It should have had a black carb body but since I already had a new red one, I used it to make it look pretty snazzy for Christmas !
Sure beats getting an ugly shirt or another dumb sweater that I'd may have to take back later !

I always thought they were rare. Bet you can find 3-4 on any given day on Ebay.

Even with Jason’s huge dent in the supply they still pop up every day. So..... it’s just a lot hype.

They are really cool and everyone who is into small engines wants one. Supply and demand!

High demand and a model engine that went out of production over 20yrs ago.

how to say it in Spanish so that it is perfectly understood in all languages ​​... I will try to get the translator to do the job ...
I did a beautiful race on the airplane model, I did it and I'm lucky to be able to do it, therefore, I was in a race from .049 (0.80 cc) to 3.539 (58cc)... that is, a wide range of engine sizes. .. with the passage of time and always very committed to the activity, I understood that, the size of the model that really seduces with that incredible quota of admiration, are those small models, which in their design gather thousands of hours of work, so that "everything works"
I discovered then that it is immensely incredible that something so small, so small, works perfectly, even more wonderful if you return to the date of manufacture ...
I think the real magic that these little wonders like a .010 has a significant cost, is simply because it's worth it, just perfect, just amazing ...
Sometimes, in my workshop, a sneeze makes a piece disappear from the board ... I wonder how wonderful the manufacturing and assembly moment in the Cox factory would have been ... I affirm that all those who were part of the factory Cox, they have been geniuses in some way.

supply and demand...or maybe zombies.

I had quite a few, sold them all but one on ebay 20 years ago. Ran a couple of them, loved the sound. Destroyed one back when I didn't know what I was doing (yesterday.)

Wish I had them all back. If wishes were fishes we would all be in the ocean.

Bob

Welcome to the Forum !! I think you answered your own question ((( Why do you want one sooooooo bad )))) when you do get it you will know if you have never had ur hands on one !!

Marleysky wrote:

Jason_WI wrote:Most definitely number 3.

Yup, gotta believe it’s #3.  Jason when is the apocalypse??   Thanks

Soon......Very soon. The 3rd Plano box is almost full of just .010 engines.

I think i’ll do a silver black one to get me back to 3. I usually happen upon these things just mucking about.

3 plano boxes!

Good job man.

Edit: Just did a quick search on Ebay, I count 11 available. Not to include hidden ones.

Cribbs74 wrote:I think i’ll do a silver black one to get me back to 3. I usually happen upon these things just mucking about.

3 plano boxes!

Good job man.

Edit: Just did a quick search on Ebay, I count 11 available. Not to include hidden ones.

And, 8 of those are over $200, which is more than I paid for my first running F250 truck back in the day. My second running F250, too.

You can never really make sense of it. The prices are what they are. I don’t like it either, that’s why I only own a couple.

Best advice I can give is to save for it. Better yet don’t buy it off of Ebay. Start making profiles on RCU and other RC and CL forums. Attend RC swap meets and keep your eye on Craigslist.

Ebay is but one source, word of mouth is a much better way to get what you want at a reasonable price.

Ron

And those 8 that listed them on eBay drank the bong water.

If you search sold .010 engines there is a pretty good selection that sold from $70 to $100. Not to many under $70.

Gotta search eBay for the hidden gems. They may be mixed with other engines or mislabeled and can sometimes go cheap.

My most expensive .010 is a Tie Clip .010 I won on eBay from Dan Sitter’s listing a number of years back. Pretty rare version of the .010.

As mentioned earlier, the .010 is a tiny marvel! Are they expensive? Yes. Are they worth it? To someone who is fascinated with such an unusual piece of mechanical wizardry, yes! I remember a time when I wanted one pretty badly but just couldn't stomach the high asking prices of the era. I finally overcame the price hurdle and jumped in. I was soon flying my first .010-powered RC model. Now I'm hooked. There are currently 3 operable .010 powered planes hanging from my ceiling with at least a handful of other engines in the box plus some spare parts. I don't fly them too often but when I do, it's always a special experience.

I just got another in alot better shape than the one i got for very little this one was $77 And the plastic tank don't look all that good but i have another in stock .. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cox-Tee-Dee-010-Model-Engine/123566080013?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Don't drink the Bong water

follow Eric's link and then.....sellers other items...... a lot of interesting nuggets

https://www.ebay.com/usr/watk_mart?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Jason_WI wrote:
Gotta search eBay for the hidden gems. They may be mixed with other engines or mislabeled and can sometimes go cheap.

Many times searching is the key. Sometimes you win, other times a dud.

fredvon4 wrote:follow Eric's link and then.....sellers other items...... a lot of interesting nuggets

https://www.ebay.com/usr/watk_mart?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Yes the collector had a few Nice pieces i got 4 myself waiting for them now one is a Baby Cyclone !!

Here is one that has damage to the cylinder fins. Tool marks are pretty deep so the cylinder may be squished. Don’t be allured by this cheap .010. Needs new plastic which is $30, venturi, and carb body with needle valve.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F303022723397

You posted a link to the Davidovic.