Name: Rough Riders
Year: 1982
Seasons: LJN
Country of origin: USA
Category: Toys & Games
Tags: A-Team, Knight Rider, K.I.T.T
Notes:
Rough Riders are one of those toys that just ooze nostalgia. They were extremely cool battery operated 4×4 vehicles that could drive over anything and even go along on 2 wheels. There’s not a lot about them on the internet. I’d love to find a page that showcases all the models available. I think the first Rough Riders were released by LJN in 1982 which were just things like standard cars, pickup trucks and vans. But when they released things like the A-Team and Knight Rider ones the coolness just went through the roof. They had some competitors in the form of Stompers made by Schaper Toys earlier in 1980 and also Trekkers from Corgi Toys in the UK.
What I Would Want in my Retro Man Crate | Retromash
Aug 17, 2015 -
[…] the incredible Rough Riders and Stompers. For the purposes of this crate I’m going to choose a K.I.T.T. Rough Rider […]
Scott
Dec 19, 2016 -
I used to have the A-Team Rough Rider as a kid. I chose it as a birthday present probably around 82 or 83. It was awesome! The way it would try to climb over other toy cars and obstacles, it would even try to climb up walls, flip over, then carry on moving! I bought it from The Arcade toy store in Dudley (West Midlands). I had forgotten it was called a “Rough Rider” and I’ve been trying to find a picture of the A-Team van so thank you for creating this page, it’s brought back some lovely memories! :-)
Retromash
Dec 21, 2016 -
They really were great weren’t they? They just kept on moving. Glad it brought back some memories for you!
wayne badham
Apr 23, 2019 -
Amazing thank you for the memories. I had the a-team van and the general lee!!
Bobbus74
Dec 21, 2016 -
I was about 10 when these came out. I remember buying the A-Team van and Face’s Corvette with my pocket money. They really did go over some rough terrain and I loved the way you could balance them on two wheels too.
Retromash
Dec 21, 2016 -
Yes the two wheel feature was brilliant wasn’t it? The big wheels made them feel a bit like monster trucks and yet the two wheel motion made them feel like stunt cars.
P.J.
Jun 20, 2018 -
I have Face’s Corvette from ‘The A-Team’ Rough Rider, it’s sat by my main PC for some years (though in the last couple of years the white plastic has gone slightly yellowy). I never had B.A.’s van in this range (though had many other incarnations), but it’s interesting to note that the Rough Rider’s version uses the correct(ish) colour-scheme for the van – although it’s often assumed to be all-black other than the stripe, the upper half of the original was actually gun mental gray (it’s shade varied, almost to silver, as different models were used over the years). Also one of the few models of the van to include a sunroof (which most versions of the T.V. van had, but which would suddenly appear/disappear sometimes when they used a stunt van), though the red stripe is way off model…. I’m still a nerd after all these years!
Greg
Apr 6, 2019 -
Loved Rough Riders, still remember them well to this day. We had a bring a toy to school day in 1984 or 1985 and had my A Team Rough Rider that all the other kids just loved. I remember them just being so powerful for a little toy, and the fact I can still remember them to this day (and I am 42 now) shows how good a toy these were. Thanks for creating and sharing.
Andy Pollock
Apr 14, 2019 -
I had the A-Team Ones and would create tracks made of books for them to climb over – awesome!
“Rough Riders, Four by Four, You can tryyyyyy to stop ’em” – Jingle from the TV advert
RailRider
Jul 21, 2019 -
Just started a Favebook group for Roigh Riders. Maybe we can get enough interest on there we can get more information posted.
Na Gal
Feb 12, 2022 -
I had the A-Team Van, K.I.T.T. and the huge helicopter that would fit them into the bottom and when the cars were turned on, the wheels would rotate the blades and “make the helicopter fly!” My kids will never have the magic and wonder I was blessed with from being a child of the ’80’s. I miss those days of innocence and joy.
Darryl Moran
May 26, 2023 -
Wondering if someone can help me out here with my LJN A-Team Corvette.
I can’t find ANY info on this.
It’s dated 1981, and doesn’t have the lever coming out of the top, it’s molded solid.
There is an on/ off switch on the bottom.
Every one of them I see online are 1982, and have the lever.
Is this rare?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Darryl M
Paul
Jun 5, 2023 -
I too have the same questiom,i have an a team RR exactly the same as the one in this thread,that picture is the first iv seen like mine without a lever
Retromash
Jun 5, 2023 -
Hi Paul. See my reply to Darryl’s message which hopefully addresses yours too.
Retromash
Jun 5, 2023 -
Hi Darryl. As far as I know the ones with the levers are the Tri-Ex models and I believe the majority of these came out from 1982 and are more common. But there were ‘normal’ Rough Riders that came out the year before in 1981 without a lever. See this Matchbox catalogue for examples of both https://retromash.com/2015/01/15/this-matchbox-catalogue-from-1984-cost-5p-and-is-filled-with-absolute-awesome/
I certainly had an A-Team van without a lever (as in my photo) although I can’t seem to find it now! And I do believe Face’s Corvette was available in that earlier model too. But I think they probably are more rare. Most of the ones online are the Tri-Ex models. I’m no expert but I hope that maybe helps a little. Cheers.
Rob
Mar 5, 2024 -
I’m sure I remember having some sort of plastic off-road course for these to run on as well. The fogs of time are being cruel to me as I was so young then. I definitely remember having 2 pickup truck versions of these.