RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

I picked this up locally from a craigslist ad. A real nice guy named Jeff. Interestingly, Jeff also has a whole bunch of vintage Tamiya stuff listed here, including a Super Champ and a mint Subaru Brat. Looks like a great package deal! http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/tag/1457387927.html

I know this is an Ultima, and it has a Litesink heat sink, Andy's front arms, a Hot Trick rear tower, Houge steering, bearings all around, incorrect battery cup and antenna mast and what looks like a Turbo Ultima body on its last legs. But, I don't know what to call it other than "Ultima". Jeff didn't know either but he said it was a really good racer. Looks like it's been through one or two!

Yeah, this could be any version of Ultima. I'm going to guess it's a Turbo Ultima 2.

it's a mix-a-lot: andy's front arms , hot trick rear shocktower, no idea on the front tower, litespeed moterplate, 48 pitch external gear (robinson racing products?)
mistery steering (houge?) en gen 2 body

Steering is definitely Houge...I think.

It looks like an Ultima Pro with a Duratrax graphite chassis to me, if those yellow wheels & gold shocks are original. I noticed it's not double slotted for the servo mount adjustment, other than that, the chassis looks the same as mine. The Pro XL had a solid chassis too, but was a bunch longer...Maybe it's a Trinity?

I know the Pro version had slots for the batteries, but I thought I had seen one with the solid carbon chassis like yours at one time. The European/Asian version had the flat alloy chassis version with cut outs...I have no idea why.

It could be an Ultima 2, with a chassis swap (for the better). They had those crappy double decker "Kelron"...(flexible plastic) chassis' and were never offered with the carbon fiber option..

It's definitely has a bunch of aftermarket stuff on it, have fun with it. Ultima's are great cars.

The rear suspension mounts and bulkhead don't have the extra mounting holes for later ultima suspension systems, so I bet it is an original Ultima W/ a bunch of aftermarket parts. A pic of the front of the car w/o the body will give you an idea of which bulkhead (revision) it has. -Jeff

Jay Dub wrote:The rear suspension mounts and bulkhead don't have the extra mounting holes for later ultima suspension systems, so I bet it is an original Ultima W/ a bunch of aftermarket parts. A pic of the front of the car w/o the body will give you an idea of which bulkhead (revision) it has. -Jeff

That rules out the Pro XL possibility.

Right, clearly not an Ultima Pro XL. It's a version behind that. Since it has the gold shocks, I'm guessing it was part of the 2nd round of Ultimas after the original and the Turbo. Talk about a frankentima.

I think you are right. Upon further review, you can see the reinforcing on the front bulkhead that the early ultima bulkheads did not. However, it could be a later replacement as the ultima bulkheads are prone to breaking . -Jeff

if it's a short wheelbase chassis it could be from JG too

It has the pro's turnbuckles but not the larger screws through the top of the gearcase: for the included rear bumper. Rather impossible to say what it started off as... maybe sideways

Wow, this is a real frankenstein, more than I thought. No wonder I couldn't id it. Here a a couple more shots. The wheelbase apears to be about 10.5".

That looks like a great "as is" racer project! Hack a little from the rear bulkhead away so the battery fits in between the inner hinge pins, move a battery cup up front right behind the servo, clean it up a little and go racing Have you opened up the transmission yet? might be some goodies in there considering it's already got 48p gears on the outside

that Trinity chassis is very nice.
looks to me like you can make a very cool car with that.

adam lancia wrote:Have you opened up the transmission yet? might be some goodies in there considering it's already got 48p gears on the outside

To answer you question, I hadn't opened it yet, but you inspired me! I confess, I know nothing about what I see in here. I have several Kyoshos but I haven't cracked any of the transmissions until now. Is it standard Kyosho or other?

m_vice wrote:that Trinity chassis is very nice.
looks to me like you can make a very cool car with that.

You think that's what this is? Thanks!