Restored Turbo Optima

[MrChin]

As part of an expanding vintage Kyosho collection, I've recently restored a Turbo Optima. It started out as 2 Turbo's that I picked up last year, and chose the parts from each to create the best one I could. I wanted to recreate the one I saw on the front cover of a magazine (which I also tracked down on eBay recently) back in the 80's....here are a few photos of its journey and the finished result!

[mtbkym01]

Great job on that buggy, the Turbo Optima is one of my favourites

[XLR8]

At first glance, I thought perhaps your car was used for the magazine cover. You've nailed that paint job! Nice work. The whole car looks great!
I guess you should have enough spare parts to build yourself a runner?

[coxbros1]

Super nice!!!

[mtbkym01]

Need to see a nice LeMans Motor in there now

[tintin74]

Awesome Job!

[keithrc]

Very nice job, got 2 here with unpainted body's and one NIB. Looks just about identical to the mag cover car.


Keith

[Coelacanth]

Beautiful replica of that magazine car...you did a great job on that Japanese Rising Sun fade paint scheme. I like that magazine car a lot better than the box-art T.Optima.

[MrChin]

At first glance, I thought perhaps your car was used for the magazine cover. You've nailed that paint job! Nice work. The whole car looks great!
I guess you should have enough spare parts to build yourself a runner?

I do yes, both were intact although one had clearly had a harder life than the other. I used a good set of shock towers on another Optima (non Turbo) I was finishing at the time, so end up putting Optima re-re shock towers on the restored Turbo. The other Turbo is an a box, and I have body for it, not sure what I'll do with it yet....besides, I've just picked up a Turbo Rocky that's next up for an overhaul

[XLR8]

At first glance, I thought perhaps your car was used for the magazine cover. You've nailed that paint job! Nice work. The whole car looks great!
I guess you should have enough spare parts to build yourself a runner?

I do yes, both were intact although one had clearly had a harder life than the other. I used a good set of shock towers on another Optima (non Turbo) I was finishing at the time, so end up putting Optima re-re shock towers on the restored Turbo. The other Turbo is an a box, and I have body for it, not sure what I'll do with it yet....besides, I've just picked up a Turbo Rocky that's next up for an overhaul

Awesome! Please post pics when they're finished -- or better yet, please document your re-builds here.

[tintin74]

I hope you don't mind if I share a picture in my facebook group with full credit to you of course!

[fab20VT]

Fantastic job!!!

[MrChin]

Beautiful replica of that magazine car...you did a great job on that Japanese Rising Sun fade paint scheme. I like that magazine car a lot better than the box-art T.Optima.

Thanks! I've always liked the Rising Sun scheme, and I've incorporated it into a couple of paint jobs I've done on my Mid Turbo. The gold version is one I did around 1990 when I first got the Mid, the blue version is a refresh on the same car last year.

[MrChin]

I hope you don't mind if I share a picture in my facebook group with full credit to you of course!

No problem - always happy to keep the vintage cars on the scene

[MrChin]

Very nice job, got 2 here with unpainted body's and one NIB. Looks just about identical to the mag cover car.


Keith

Is it an oriiginal NIB? Must be super rare these days! I always thought the Turbo Optima was the best looking car, even today. I'm pleased they re-released it, but in my mind the original still has the edge - think its the tyres and shocks on the 80's version that makes the difference.