The Cat Project

[RedScampi]

I picked this up several months ago but i haven't started doing anything with it yet due to a multitude of other projects bot RC and non-RC related. I have some great ideas though! I like this car since it was the first Traxxas buggy and came RTR, a new concept back then. It's a cross between a toy and a hobby grade car, not beautiful but with some unique features. Check out the adjustable rate shocks!

[slazzaro]

Nice! It's quite "Grasshopper style", but a lot of cars looked like this at that time..
Probably it shares also a few pieces with the old Tam..
What kind of restoring you plan to do?
bye

[RedScampi]

Not too positive yet but I thought it might be cool to update it with modern wheels and tires, a different, more interesting paint job. (I hate the yellow on this), some new oil filled shocks and modern electrics and motor. Sort of a modern re-interpretation of it the way it would be done if released today.

I really like this one, may use some of his ideas: http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/projects/cool-cat/

[Mr. ED]

The tamiya baja champ (not baja king) should be a good replacement body for you, cheap and available from tamiya US the last time I checked.

[DV8ion]

I love the old Traxxas Cats, it was my first real R/C car. I'd love to get another someday. I'ld love to see the finished project. Nice score.

[mikedealer]

i got a set of brand new original front tires for this car from traxxas if ya need them for lke $10

[RedScampi]

Thanks for the offer Mike. I might take you up on it at some point but I have a lot of irons in the fire right now. This buggy is waiting for just the right inspiration.

[a01butal]

Rummaging around at my lhs I was surprised when they brought out a plain white box that said "The Cat" Parts Kit #1205. When the shop got The Cat to sell who knows what year that was, Traxxas sent this box of spares which didn't have doubles so you couldn't build a complete car because like there is only 1 rear axle and that follows thru where there are duplicates needed on the complete car there is only one provided but the box has an amazing amount of parts and if you were going to restore The Cat then this would be a good place to start. If someone is interested I can get you in touch with the hs guy.

[Diggley]

Did Nikko build parts for Traxxas back then?

There are a lot of similarities in most of the parts.

I bought my Rhino back in '86, and I believe the Cat came out a couple years after.

The Radio Shack cars of that era were identical to the Nikko Rhinos in most every way too.

Note those front shocks are the same as the monoshock that's on the Fiero..neat.

[RedScampi]

All this attention to this thread is making me want to get this project going! Like I need to start another one...

[Mr. ED]

looking at it again , I think a re-re frog body would go right on too

[RedScampi]

looking at it again , I think a re-re frog body would go right on too

I have a Frog body! I'm going to try that right now!

[Savage03]

wow theres a flash from the past! Had one of these back in the day. Then I got a real grasshopper

[markt311]

Spares should be pretty easy to get. Traxxas kept that car around for quite awhile, the Spirit street truck released in 96 or 97 used the same chassis. I'd be interested in getting one just to have an "old tech" car in my growing fleet.

Of course everytime I go into the LHS they have a ReRe Frog sitting in the back just to tempt me.

[Savage03]

Should grab it before Tamiya pulls it, I got one and the hornet since those were my first real rc's