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I recently picked up an early RC12i in good shape and plan to restore it, it will complete my RC12 collection. I say "early" just because it doesn't include a 4 post radio tray that appeared quickly after the first runs. It has instead 2 radio tray posts and you were supposed to attach the battery pack both to the chassis and the radio tray to strengthen the whole car.

I will have to find new front wheels and/or tires and would ideally love to replace a few of the nylon parts as some are quite stained from the tire compound, that is mainly the front parts. If anyone can help, I would even consider non NIP parts that are in good shape. Otherwise the car is very original and complete and hasn't been abused.

Not sure if I want to go the "race" way by adding an early Novak speedo, receiver and servo or leave it stock with the MSC and all the electronics that is already there. The previous owner went quite creative with the Receiver mount

I was a bit surprised by the material used for strengthening the chassis, it looks like a piece of soft kydex actually where it is definitely a piece of stiff graphite on the RC12 IFS for example. Can anyone confirm this is original?

Yes the kydex was original. Man that is a very very nice example.

Just my opinion but I love the patina that car has. Besides cleaning up the wiring and getting rid of the zip tie on the steering servo I'd leave the car as is. Awesome score.

romulus22 wrote:Just my opinion but I love the patina that car has. Besides cleaning up the wiring and getting rid of the zip tie on the steering servo I'd leave the car as is. Awesome score.

Absolutely agree with you on this. I don't like them too over restored.

Great 12i, yes as collectors the markets with likes and dislikes will mimic real car collector markets. Original survivors are by far and beyond nicer to look at/collect than a shiny new restoration I believe.

My vote, new tires and clean it with simple green and re-assemble! Just say NO! to peroxide and NIP parts

The thing with real and toy car collector market is a bit of the same indeed. Although collectors will most probably ideally look first for either a NIB or MINT car. If you can't find any any longer, you might be looking to build one from parts, then one fine example that needs some resto. If you need to restore a car, then you make everything to make it look as original as possible with what you can find. Very often, I'm now refering to real cars, you can't find some parts so you have to source re-re or something similar but not really original. Either way, there is probably something for all budgets and if you have the money you can probably find pretty much anything with some patience.
There has been many discussions here and there about the value and how collectible our favourite RC toys from our youth will be in the future. Some say the next generation will probably collect something else from their youth and that these old cars will raise no more interest. I tend to disagree with that, especially if you consider the really fine competition-oriented examples, whatever their scale, some are really rare today and sought after, imagine tomorrow. The RC cars from the '70 and '80s were also the last hobby grade toys that weren't designed with computers and entirely made of plastics and that is the most part of their charm and value I believe. They were also the precursors of modern cars that still hold a lot of heritage from that incredible innovative era where pretty much everything was tried and tested. And if you look at the price some tether cars go for, they are much more valuable than any of our "rare" RC car. Dinky Toys and pre-WW2 toys still command high value as well just to name a few examples.

My plan for this one is to preserve as much as original parts as I can and that will be probably 99%. I will just clean it up thoroughly (no peroxide), rearrange the electronics; i.e. move the steering servo forward by cutting the mounting tabs and have the servo saver oriented downwards (will need to build a small platform for the servo), and install the receiver just behind the steering servo. I plan to replace the tires indeed (and maybe the 4 wheels), build a wing as from the instruction manual and replace the body. In the end it should be looking like a pretty well maintained and tidy stock car from BITD, which means also no ball bearings as they were forbidden in stock class!

Stay tuned!

Look forward to seeing it develop... Even though I actually think it's pretty downright special as it is..

The early 12i cars did have the black kydex strip glued to the chassis. I think it was more of a vibration damper than a stiffener. Nice find!

It needs a classic 80's multi colored stripe paint job. You can also paint the wheels to match one of the stripes. Or add BBS covers etc.

Definitely a nice one! Glad to see more early 12th cars getting some attention. These cars are very special to me, I remember reading through the old brochures for these cars over and over again as a kid. Looking forward to the rebuild.

Thanks guys. I indeed have in mind a new body plus wing with an old school stripe paint job! Just not decided which body I could use. Probably a Bluegroove one?

I just can't help myself cleaning parts Only new thing is the spur gear as the original one was too worn out. More progress soon.

Wow that's looking minty!

Fantastic progress.... It's going to be stunning for sure...

Here is how she sits right now. Receiver has been moved on the chassis, literally everything has been preserved so far but the spur gear. I need to source a period correct mini servo with a G plug and fabricate the platform where the steering servo will sit so that the servo saver is looking downwards. I also have a set of new ProLine wheels and tires on the way. Now to source and select the right body, tough decision!

Hi Dave,

Keep it stock, same as the manual.

Cheers, Dave.