Anyone Into "Vintage" Tamiya RC Cars?

[The Fixer]

I can't believe I'm even saying that they're "vintage," but those of us in our 30s and 40s will remember these fun cars - 1/10 scale, build 'em yourself, race 'em, break 'em, and rebuild 'em. :) I was the go-to kid in my teens for repairs or builds. I built my Tamiya Sonic Fighter, and my brother's Monster Beetle. Once neighbors and friends saw them go together, another kid had me build his Blackfoot, and then an older neighbor had me build his beast - a Clod Buster. What a sick truck - 2 engines, 4-wheel steering, and steep gearing made that truck insane.

Anyway, my mom had our old cars in the attic for at least 10 years, and then a few years ago she moved them out to the garage in an attempt to get them to out. ;) My son (always the question-machine) asked her what was in them a few years ago and she told him they were our old RCs. He's been harping on me for years to do something with them, so he finally got me to drag them home to see what's up with them. Both of them need work, which I expected. My Sonic Fighter needs a chassis replacement (I actually still had a spare! :) ) and tires because the ones on it are totally cracked and dry-rotted. The Monster Beetle needs a rear suspension arm and tires as well, so I just won a Blackfoot parts chassis on Ebay so I could start rebuilding it. I also need a remote because we forgot to remove the batteries and more than a few of them leaked acid all over the inside.

I "think" the battery chargers work, but I have no idea if those ancient batteries will hold a charge. Should I even bother, or just go get replacement stuff? Has anything changed in the land of RCs in 20 years? :) Your thoughts and comments are appreciated!

[Mark B]

Sounds like a fun project. Batteries have changed 100x during that time. The new Lipo batteries they have out now run faster & longer. You wont believe the difference.

[Iroc-z86]

very cool, i still have my traxxas stampede and rustler. beat to hell and back but still kickin. I also have a HPI RS4 nitro car. that thing was fast! until it met a curb :(

[LTb1ow]

Ditch the old mechanical speed controller if you still have em and get a brushless system with a new fancy battery, will run forever.

I have a tamiya baja champ, at least I think thats the name, had a 9 turn motor in it.. it welded the poor mechanical speed control stuck at either off or WOT, but man that car was a ton of fun.

Got a assembled Emaxx after that, and just wasn't as into it.

[Mark B]

Yeah, if you have a mechanical speed control, you really need to upgrade to an electronic unit.

Brushless is great, but expensive.

[LTb1ow]

Yeah, if you have a mechanical speed control, you really need to upgrade to an electronic unit.

Brushless is great, but expensive.

They were first coming out when I had my emaxx, and man they were pricey, nowadays I think they have come down significantly in price. I avoid going onto tower hobby or similar so I don't buy more stuff... :lol:

[Mark B]

Tower Hobbies is the devil.

My first "real" RC car was a LosiXXT Sport stadium truck about 10-12 years ago. It was AMAZING how much money I sank into it with graphie chasis, aluminum suspension parts, roller bearings, speed controls, motors, shocks and tires. That doesnt even count all of the replacement parts I needed after I wrecked it.

I now have a Tamiya Dark Impact. I havent used it in forever because I got tired of buying parts for it.

[WildBillyT]

Tower Hobbies is the devil.

My first "real" RC car was a LosiXXT Sport stadium truck about 10-12 years ago. It was AMAZING how much money I sank into it with graphie chasis, aluminum suspension parts, roller bearings, speed controls, motors, shocks and tires. That doesnt even count all of the replacement parts I needed after I wrecked it.

I now have a Tamiya Dark Impact. I havent used it in forever because I got tired of buying parts for it.

Years ago my buddy had a tricked out rc10l built from tower. Was fast as hell until a garbage truck flattened it.

[92REDBIRD]

I still have my Tamiya Clod Buster!

[LS1ow]

i worked in a hobby store from when i was 14 just hangin around till i turned 17. all i have now is a E-Revo with a Mamba Max and a Losi MLST2 with a 6800kv mamba

[SRGN]

I still have all my stuff from my RC days in a box at my fathers. Fully built Ultima with graphite chassis, Associated RC12L graphite, TRC Pro 10 and all the electronics. Wonder if any of it is worth anything anymore.

[69RSZ]

I used to race at american hobbies in etown running buggy class on asphalt, 4 minute heats at 40 laps on a oval.Used the rc-10 kit and converted it to asphalt woth koyo shocks and graphite chassis running stock class club motors.We had a great time,was around 1989,90 91.I have all the stuff and cars still but the matched batteries are no longer any good.I also have my clodbuster still.

[The Fixer]

Yeah, if you have a mechanical speed control, you really need to upgrade to an electronic unit.

Brushless is great, but expensive.

Thanks all for the advice!! I'm gonna try getting these old guys running on the cheap again, so here's what I'm looking at now -

ESC, since both vehicles have the old school mechanical speed controls - http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=001434292&I=LXYCP1&P=K

New motors, because I have no idea what the specs are on the current ones -

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=001434292&I=LXKAL9&P=K

And they also sell 1800mAh NiCd batteries for dirt cheap so I can use the old chargers.

On a side note, the Blackfoot chassis already showed up, and it looks great! I will be able to pilfer the tires and rear axle parts I need for the Beetle, and get it running soon.