Athearn's Budd RDC as many remember it was actually the second version made by the company. Original RDC body construction was metal, introduced in 1953. The one piece plastic shells were a revised offering arriving first in 1958. The RDC-1 and RDC-3 were offered in powered and non-powered ready to run fully assembled models by Athearn in 1958 at the introduction of the plastic version. This was contrary to Athearn's standard practice of providing hobbyists with a kit version or ready to run option. The powered 1958 RDC sold for $7.95; the non-powered sold for $2.95. The model is reviewed by Model Railroader in its August 1958 issue. The review states the original metal model featured "unsightly joints at the ends." MR does point out the Athearn RDCs are 73-foot versus the prototype's 85-foot length, though the review points out, "Athearn's models do not look like 'shorty' toys."

In the early 1990s, Athearn re-issues a number of classic models that were frequently out of production for numerous years. Athearn's Budd RDCs return in this group in 1991.

Con-Cor onwed JMC Model Railroad Distributors offered a number of exclusive Athearn-made releases. Among JMC's exclusives was a 1992 release of Budd RDC sets with paint schemes not present in Athearn's catalog. The JMC Budd RDC sets consisted of a powered RDC-3 and non-powered RDC-1, retailing for $49.98, and offered in the following schemes: Amtrak, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, New York Central, and Chesapeake & Ohio.