Sakai RICO Outboard Motors

Sakai Seisakusho Manufacturer
Manufacture Date Range: Mid-Late 1950’s

  • The Sakai Seisakusho SPEED motor is one of three very similar motors available from the Sakai manufacturer. The SPEED, Speed King and Wolf Cub are all the same motor with minor differences in branding and a slightly different shades of blue on each cowl. Although the SPEED version is the rarest of the three, none of these motors are particularly rare. The SPEED can be recognized by its blank faceplate, “SPEED” name stamped in the chrome trim ring, and the cowl’s teal blue color. The SPEED name stamping is also painted blue to match the cowl color. The Sakai outboards also came with very similar but different transom cups than other manufacturers. The cups are slightly larger and have a thin flange around the base of the cup. The props on these outboards were also pressure fit from the manufacturer and once they are removed, they are extremely difficult to reattach correctly. Even though the Sakai motors resemble the 1954 K&O Evinrude models in both shape and size, these motors are far more complex and difficult to work on. None of the Sakai motors came with attached battery wires and were fitted with threaded wire terminals and hexagon wire nuts. The Sakai outboards also feature a side-cowl on/off switch that is activated when lowering the tiller handle. These motors also have an added chrome teardrop shaped dome on top of the cowl. The SPEED outboard was available in a brightly colored yellow and teal box featuring the “SPEED MOTOR” branding and a graphic of a race boat. This Sakai SPEED outboard came with a unique clear plastic stand with an “arrow” shaped base. These stands are fairly rare and highly sought after.  

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 4.5 inches tall

    • Tiller handle activates on/off switch

    • Only Sakai model with a blank faceplate

    • One of three very similar motors available

    • Unique transom cups

    • Complex inner workings and very difficult to work on or repair

    • Available with clear plastic stand and brightly colored yellow and teal box

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Brand: Sakai Seisakusho

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    Rarity: 2.5/5
    Desirability: 3/5 with box: 3/5
    Value: 2.5 /5 with box: 2.5/5

Sakai Speed King

  • The Sakai Seisakusho Speed King motor is one of three very similar motors available from the Sakai manufacturer. The Speed King, SPEED and Wolf Cub are all the same motor with minor differences in branding and a slightly different shades of blue on each cowl. The Speed King version is the most common of the three and none of these motors are particularly rare. The Speed King can be recognized by its RICO branded faceplate, “SPEED KING” name stamped in the chrome trim ring, and the cowl’s steal blue color. The Speed King name stamping was not painted like the SPEED motors stamping. The Sakai outboards also came with very similar but different transom cups than other manufacturers. The cups are slightly larger and have a thin flange around the base of the cup. The props on these outboards were also pressure fit from the manufacturer and once they are removed, they are extremely difficult to reattach correctly. Even though the Sakai motors resemble the 1954 K&O Evinrude models in both shape and size, these motors are far more complex and difficult to work on. None of the Sakai motors came with attached battery wires and were fitted with threaded wire terminals and hexagon wire nuts. The Sakai outboards also feature a side-cowl on/off switch that is activated when lowering the tiller handle. These motors also have an added chrome teardrop shaped dome on top of the cowl. The Speed King outboard was also available in a brightly colored yellow and teal box featuring the “SPEED MOTOR” branding and a graphic of a race boat. The Speed King may have come with a unique clear plastic stand with an “arrow” shaped base. It is unknown if this motor and the Wolf Cub came with a stand like the SPEED motor. These stands are fairly rare and highly sought after.  

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 4.5 inches tall

    • Tiller handle activates on/off switch

    • Only Sakai model with RICO branding on faceplate

    • One of three very similar motors available

    • Unique transom cups

    • Complex inner workings and very difficult to work on or repair

    • Unknown if this motor came with clear plastic stand

    • Available in brightly colored yellow and teal box

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Brand: Sakai Seisakusho

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    Rarity: 1.5/5
    Desirability: 2/5 with box: 2/5
    Value: 1.5 /5 with box: 2/5

  • The Sakai Seisakusho Wolf Cub motor is one of three very similar motors available from the Sakai manufacturer. The Wolf Cub, SPEED and Speed King are all the same motor with minor differences in branding and a slightly different shades of blue on each cowl. The Wolf Cub version is the second rarest of the three, but none of these motors are particularly rare. The Wolf Cub can be recognized by its “Wolf Cub” branded faceplate, “WOLF CUB” name stamped in the chrome trim ring, and the cowl’s arctic blue color. The Wolf Cub name stamping was not painted like the SPEED motors stamping. The Sakai outboards also came with very similar but different transom cups than other manufacturers. The cups are slightly larger and have a thin flange around the base of the cup. The props on these outboards were also pressure fit from the manufacturer and once they are removed, they are extremely difficult to reattach correctly. Even though the Sakai motors resemble the 1954 K&O Evinrude models in both shape and size, these motors are far more complex and difficult to work on. None of the Sakai motors came with attached battery wires and were fitted with threaded wire terminals and hexagon wire nuts. The Sakai outboards also feature a side-cowl on/off switch that is activated when lowering the tiller handle. These motors also have an added chrome teardrop shaped dome on top of the cowl. The Wolf Cub outboard was available in a unique blue box with a red cover featuring a color graphic of the motor. The Wolf Cub was the only motor from Sakai available in this box. The Wolf Cub may have come with a unique clear plastic stand with an “arrow” shaped base. It is unknown if this motor and the Speed King came with a stand like the SPEED motor. These stands are fairly rare and highly sought after.  

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 4.5 inches tall

    • Tiller handle activates on/off switch

    • Only Sakai model with Wolf Cub branding on faceplate

    • Wolf Cub had a unique blue box with red cover and color graphic of the motor

    • One of three very similar motors available

    • Unique transom cups

    • Complex inner workings and very difficult to work on or repair

    • Unknown if this motor came with clear plastic stand

    • Available in brightly colored yellow and teal box

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Brand: Sakai Seisakusho

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    Rarity: 2/5
    Desirability: 2/5 with box: 2/5
    Value: 2 /5 with box: 2/5

  • The Sakai Seisakusho RICO Speed King motor is one of two very similar motors available from the Sakai manufacturer. The RICO Speed King and RICO Speed Queen are the same motors with the differences being the name stamping and faceplates. The RICO Speed King and RICO Speed Queen are similar in rarity, and both are far rarer than the blue Sakai motors. The RICO Speed King can be recognized by its “RICO” branded faceplate, “SPEED KING” name stamped in the chrome trim ring, and the cowl’s deep red coloring. These RICO outboards came with very similar but slightly different lower units as the blue Sakai motors. The RICO Speed King and Speed Queen did not have a remote steering bracket or side tiller handle. The tiller handle for this motor is located on the front of the motor between the battery terminals and was the on/off switch for this motor. These motors shared a very similar cowl and faceplate construction with the 1955 K&O Mercury outboards. The transom cups on this motor are slightly larger and have a thin flange around the base of the cup. The props on these outboards were also pressure fit from the manufacturer and once they are removed, they are extremely difficult to reattach correctly. Unlike the blue Sakai motors, these motors had a more simplistic mechanical design are easier to repair/work on. Neither the RICO Speed King or Queen motors came with attached battery wires and were fitted with threaded wire terminals and hexagon wire nuts. Although the RICO Speed King was very similar in design to a Mercury outboard, these motors never carried the “Mercury” branding. Both the RICO Speed King and RICO Speed Queen came in the same box featuring a race boat graphic, teal and dark blue coloring and “Speed Motor” written in red script. Unknown if the RICO outboards also came with a unique clear plastic stand with an “arrow” shaped base as seen with the SPEED motor. These stands are fairly rare and highly sought after.  

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 4.5 inches tall

    • Center tray-mounted tiller handle on/off switch

    • Only RICO model with “RICO” branded faceplate

    • Came in a box featuring a race boat graphic, teal and dark blue coloring and “Speed Motor” written in red script

    • Unique transom cups

    • Simplistic mechanical design that was easier to work and repair than blue Sakai motors

    • Unknown if originally available with clear plastic stand

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Brand: Sakai Seisakusho

    • Production Years: Early-mid 1950’s

    Rarity: 3.5/5
    Desirability: 3.5/5 with box: 4/5
    Value: 3/5 with box: 3.5/5

  • The Sakai Seisakusho RICO Speed Queen motor is one of two very similar motors available from the Sakai manufacturer. The RICO Speed Queen and RICO Speed King are the same motors with the differences being the name stamping and faceplates. The RICO Speed Queen and RICO Speed King are similar in rarity, and both are far rarer than the blue Sakai motors. The RICO Speed Queen can be recognized by its unbranded faceplate, “SPEED QUEEN” name stamped in the chrome trim ring, and the cowl’s deep red coloring. These RICO outboards came with very similar but slightly different lower units as the blue Sakai motors. The RICO Speed Queen and Speed King did not have a remote steering bracket or side tiller handle. The tiller handle for this motor is located on the front of the motor between the battery terminals and was the on/off switch for this motor. These motors shared a very similar cowl and faceplate construction with the 1955 K&O Mercury outboards. The transom cups on this motor are slightly larger and have a thin flange around the base of the cup. The props on these outboards were also pressure fit from the manufacturer and once they are removed, they are extremely difficult to reattach correctly. Unlike the blue Sakai motors, these motors had a more simplistic mechanical design are easier to repair/work on. Neither the RICO Speed Queen or King motors came with attached battery wires and were fitted with threaded wire terminals and hexagon wire nuts. Although the RICO Speed Queen was very similar in design to a Mercury outboard, these motors never carried the “Mercury” branding. Both the RICO Speed Queen and RICO Speed King came in the same box featuring a race boat graphic, teal and dark blue coloring and “Speed Motor” written in red script. Unknown if the RICO outboards also came with a unique clear plastic stand with an “arrow” shaped base as seen with the SPEED motor. These stands are fairly rare and highly sought after.  

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 4.5 inches tall

    • Center tray-mounted tiller handle on/off switch

    • Only RICO model with unbranded faceplate

    • Came in a box featuring a race boat graphic, teal and dark blue coloring and “Speed Motor” written in red script

    • Unique transom cups

    • Simplistic mechanical design that was easier to work and repair than blue Sakai motors

    • Unknown if originally available with clear plastic stand

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Brand: Sakai Seisakusho

    • Production Years: Early-mid 1950’s

    Rarity: 3.5/5
    Desirability: 3.5/5 with box: 4/5
    Value: 3/5 with box: 3.5/5

  • The Sakai Seisakusho RICO outboard motor is a unique motor from the Sakai manufacturer. The RICO outboard features a debossed white painted “RICO” brand, white and blue battery wires with pin-style terminals, a silver, deep blue and white paint scheme and a front mounted toggle on/off switch. This motor only has one transom screw and cup due to its smaller size. The overall height of this motor is approximately 4 inches. Unfortunately, not much is known about these motors original packaging or if it was offered in combination with any boats. This unique RICO motor is rare and fairly unknown amongst many collectors. These motors had a more simplistic mechanical design but, are still semi-difficult to work on due to their very small spring drive drivetrains. These motors are rare but, their simplistic look, small size and unpopular branding keep their values on the lower end of the spectrum.  

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 4 inches tall

    • Face-mounted toggle on/off switch

    • Only RICO model with battery wires and pin-style terminals

    • Unknown packaging and original offerings

    • Single transom screw and cup design

    • Debossed and white painted RICO banding

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Brand: Sakai Seisakusho

    • Production Years: 1950’s?

    Rarity: 4/5
    Desirability: 2/5
    Value: 2/5

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