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HPI Racing: The RC Brand and Its Best-Known Models

HPI Racing is one of the classic RC brands: 1/5 scale gas cars, monster trucks and touring cars. Here's its story and its most popular models.

By Elite Radio Control teamUpdated 2 min read

Part of the guide: RC car brands

Orange and black HPI Racing Vorza RC buggy

HPI Racing is one of the classic RC brands. Founded in California in the mid-1980s, it made its name in electric touring car racing and then reached hobbyists of every level with its monster trucks, its 1/5 scale gas cars and its entry-level models.

What it’s known for

  • Large-scale gas power. HPI was one of the brands that popularized 1/5 scale RC cars with two-stroke gas engines, with the Baja as its flagship.
  • Powerful monster trucks, especially the Savage family.
  • Touring cars and on-road cars, both racing and entry-level.
  • Licensed bodies of real cars, a big draw for scale fans.

Best-known models

  • HPI Baja 5B: a 1/5 scale gas buggy and one of the giants of the scale. If these big machines interest you, read about the size of a 1/5 scale RC car and the guide to nitro and gas RC cars.
  • HPI Savage: a family of RC monster trucks in nitro and electric versions.
  • HPI Sprint 2: a very popular 1/10 electric touring car for learning to drive on pavement.
  • HPI Micro RS4: a small 1/18 scale touring car designed for indoor use.
  • HPI Venture: a scale crawler with realistic bodies. Learn more about this type of truck in our guide to RC crawlers.

Buying an HPI today

The availability of HPI models and parts has changed a lot over the years, so before you buy:

  1. Make sure you can find parts for the pieces that break most often: suspension arms, steering knuckles, pinions and drivetrain parts.
  2. If you’re buying used, check the engine (compression on nitro and gas engines), any slop in the suspension and the shocks. The guide to nitro and gas RC cars includes a checklist.
  3. Compare with alternatives from other brands with similar models, such as Traxxas or Kyosho.

You can browse HPI RC cars on Amazon and HPI replacement parts.

Discover other manufacturers in our guide to RC car brands.

Frequently asked questions

Where is HPI Racing from?

HPI Racing was founded in California in the mid-1980s and became known worldwide for its racing RC cars, its monster trucks and its 1/5 scale gas models.

What is the HPI Baja 5B?

It's a 1/5 scale buggy powered by a two-stroke gas engine. It was one of the models that made large-scale gas RC cars popular.

Are HPI parts easy to find?

It depends on the model. The most popular ones, like the Baja and the Savage, have plenty of parts from HPI and from aftermarket manufacturers. Before buying a used HPI, check that you can get the parts that break most often.

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