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Ok, I've been thinking for some time now that I would like to get hold of a true vintage Kyosho racer nib. However, historically I have never really been into Kyoshos and so don't know a great deal about them. As I'm getting into the whole vintage "racer" thing now, having tracked down a few RC10s and keeping a look out for a Schumacher CAT XL/XLS, I was wondering which were the most successful vintage Kyoshos when it came to racing. Are we talking Ultima or Optima, or another car? Keen to keep it to off-road.

Would welcome any thoughts/advice.....

Thanks.

If you really want to go vintage, you have to look past the RC10 era and pic up a nice scorpion

Can see your point, however, although I was rather young at the time I seem to recall that "racing" became a much larger/sophisticated hobby during the mid-80s. I may be wrong, but if I'm right I think I would be looking for Kyosho racers from around mid-80s to very early 90s. Did one of their cars ever win the IFMAR worlds or other significance championships? If so, which car was it?

Being a Kyosho freak myself - I would have to say, given your criteria, that the original Optima or the Optima Mid in 4wd, or the Ultima in 2wd, would have to be close to the top of the list. The original Optima certainly broke new ground - in my opinion the Turbo Optima was the best choice out of the chain drives. Any of the Mids are simply awesome. Ultima - goes without saying - World Champion!

I all depends on what you are going to do with it though. They make great runners, also look awesome on display. The box art has always been good too - so they display well NIB. Everyone collects for different reasons. They are all good cars - just pick the one that "floats your boat" the most! Do what makes you happy.

Cheers

Darryn

A Joel Johnsons Ultima is the obvious choice if you look at winners circles. But it uses a lot of hard to find expensive parts which are not Kyosho original.

Putting on collectors colured glasses:the original optima-mid would be a more representative marker for the brand in this time-frame

4wd:
Optima mid (not necessarily the SE) or a first gen Lazer...

2WD:
Turbo Ultima
Ultima Pro XL

Yeah the original Ultima won a worlds, but out of the box, it wouldn't be competitive. If you want Kyosho that can race, just about any of the Ultimas equipped with the gold shocks are a good choice. Platinum shocks, not so good.

bngiles wrote:4wd:
Optima mid (not necessarily the SE) or a first gen Lazer...

2WD:
Turbo Ultima
Ultima Pro XL

Yeah the original Ultima won a worlds, but out of the box, it wouldn't be competitive. If you want Kyosho that can race, just about any of the Ultimas equipped with the gold shocks are a good choice. Platinum shocks, not so good.

So in respect of Ultimas, you mean something like this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-KYOSHO-ULTIMA-PRO-AWESOME_W0QQitemZ110401364902QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRadio_Control_Vehicles?hash=item19b46f23a6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

CNA75 wrote:

bngiles wrote:4wd:
Optima mid (not necessarily the SE) or a first gen Lazer...

2WD:
Turbo Ultima
Ultima Pro XL

Yeah the original Ultima won a worlds, but out of the box, it wouldn't be competitive. If you want Kyosho that can race, just about any of the Ultimas equipped with the gold shocks are a good choice. Platinum shocks, not so good.

So in respect of Ultimas, you mean something like this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-KYOSHO-ULTIMA-PRO-AWESOME_W0QQitemZ110401364902QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRadio_Control_Vehicles?hash=item19b46f23a6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

That is a nice car, but seems a little pricey. I can't tell if it has the graphite chassis since my work computer won't pull up the pics. I found my Pro XL New built with the kit box for about $275 not long ago.
The Pro XL has the extended graphite chassis, longer front a arms, adjustable rear toe in, and gold shocks. With exception of the small OE wheels and tires, it would be the most capable Ultima (with exception of the RB or the RB-5).

On a side note, the Triumph is also a very nice Vintage Kyosho racer....

the turbo optima / javelin in 4wd (the mid is interesting too because the belt needs less tension setting) with belt transmission.
the turbo ultima for 2WD with an ultima body.

That's not bad.

4WD : Optima mid Custom (LWB) or Lazer ZX-R (I'm still racing with Lazer in the rocal circuit)

2Wd : Turbo ultima with original Ultima body

i have the turbo ultima too and i have won some small races with it way back in '89, i was still a kid back then. in '92 i got a triumph which drives better than the ultima...on faster tracks...but the turbo ultima beats it on cornering. now i am planning on restoring my turbo ultima.

Well the lazer zxr did win the uk nationals quite convincingly and the euros. Made several worlds a finals and was so simple to set up. A better car to drive and user freindly than the older mids.