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1997 brought gas power to Traxxas' newest stadium truck to create, the Nitro Rustler. Replacing the 1/10 Nitro Hawk stadium truck that was based on Traxxas' LSII race truck the new Nitro Rustler would also draw from an unexpected Traxxas product. The aluminum plate main chassis and plastic upper deck were connected by a bolt-on front bulkhead, but rather than equipping the truck with the 4-wheel lower a-arm and upper camber link suspension from the Rustler, the Nitro Rustler used the a-arms, turnbuckles, caster blocks, steering blocks, front axles, stub axle carriers and rear axles from the SRT race truck, all pivoting on stainless steel hinge pins. Plastic oil filled coilover shocks with clip-on preload adjusters would be shared with the electric Rustler but the shock towers would be unique to the nitro version front and rear. The electric Rustler also shared its metal geared planetary diff, but housed inside a 2.81 nitro specific transmission case with ball bearings and a slipper clutch. The star of the show however was the upgraded PRO 15 motor with ABC construction, big bore carb with thumb-adjust high speed needle valve, large blue anodized aluminum head, and tuned exhaust pipe. The fuel tank was also redesigned, and a disk brake replaced the previous brake band. 2.2 Mini pin rear tires and multi-rib front tires would ride on lightweight SRT cone dish wheels (themselves from the Blue Eagle LS). Available only as an assembled truck with bushings and lexan body the Nitro Rustler could be had with or without Traxxas' new TQ radio system: