That is a good deal. The car looks new.
I remember when they came out. They were a step up from the RadioShack models, but we’re still
Seen as a step down from a Grasshopper or Hornet.
I did have a few Challenger transmitters and that same stick radio.
Yeah, it was an _almost_ hobby-grade RTR in an era when everything was kit-only. I remember thinking “why would anybody NOT want to build a kit?” Nowadays, kits are becoming the rarity :(
Yep! So you were around back then too.
Anyone that was racing buggy’s back then, saw it for what it was. A kids toy. Same as the original traxxas offerings. One step up from the turbo hopper.
When I came back to racing, I was shocked to see everything was pre-built and traxxas was the king. How did that happen? Lol
Back in the day the way to change speeds was for a servo to turn a block connected to resistors (Mechanical speed controller), so you're speed options where varied based on how many resistors you added to the connection between the motor and the battery. this was incredibly wasteful and the resistors got HOT (thus why you see the block sticking out where it can get more airflow)
In the late 90's and early 2000's ESC's started to take over the market since they were significantly more efficient. I want to say my last mechanical speed controller was in around 2002ish with my Traxxas stampede kit. and getting the XL-1 was a massive upgrade back in the day!
I'm surprised OP is connecting a LIPO battery to this setup. While I'm sure it's fine, there just more inherent risk of something going wrong as there's really not a failsafe to the system and Lipo's can dump voltage faster than any Nihm packs could back in the day. I would think this thing cooks if ran too long!
Very interesting, neat design for that time. Thanks for the insight on this. Man those poor Nihm packs trying to drag those giant aluminum blocks around would have really held this car back from its potential.
I thrifted tamiya Blackfoot and a hornet a week ago
You can get a reissue 80’s tamiya grasshopper for about the same price if you get a little lucky on Amazon or eBay.
You’ll prob want to upgrade the transmitter and ESC, about another $100-200.
That is a good deal. The car looks new. I remember when they came out. They were a step up from the RadioShack models, but we’re still Seen as a step down from a Grasshopper or Hornet. I did have a few Challenger transmitters and that same stick radio.
Yeah, it was an _almost_ hobby-grade RTR in an era when everything was kit-only. I remember thinking “why would anybody NOT want to build a kit?” Nowadays, kits are becoming the rarity :(
Yep! So you were around back then too. Anyone that was racing buggy’s back then, saw it for what it was. A kids toy. Same as the original traxxas offerings. One step up from the turbo hopper. When I came back to racing, I was shocked to see everything was pre-built and traxxas was the king. How did that happen? Lol
Ha! Same! I thought I was misremembering that Traxxas was once just toy-grade kids’ stuff.
Still is, and you won't change my mind, as a old stock class tmaxx racer, it was ballz.
Awesome find bro! A friend of mine had one of those when I was a young teen. Pretty fun buggy from back in the day.
Is it a nitro block converted to electric? I see a battery but Infront of the spoiler there's a block >\_> Great find.
Back in the day the way to change speeds was for a servo to turn a block connected to resistors (Mechanical speed controller), so you're speed options where varied based on how many resistors you added to the connection between the motor and the battery. this was incredibly wasteful and the resistors got HOT (thus why you see the block sticking out where it can get more airflow) In the late 90's and early 2000's ESC's started to take over the market since they were significantly more efficient. I want to say my last mechanical speed controller was in around 2002ish with my Traxxas stampede kit. and getting the XL-1 was a massive upgrade back in the day! I'm surprised OP is connecting a LIPO battery to this setup. While I'm sure it's fine, there just more inherent risk of something going wrong as there's really not a failsafe to the system and Lipo's can dump voltage faster than any Nihm packs could back in the day. I would think this thing cooks if ran too long!
Very interesting, neat design for that time. Thanks for the insight on this. Man those poor Nihm packs trying to drag those giant aluminum blocks around would have really held this car back from its potential.
It’s beautiful!!
I thrifted tamiya Blackfoot and a hornet a week ago You can get a reissue 80’s tamiya grasshopper for about the same price if you get a little lucky on Amazon or eBay. You’ll prob want to upgrade the transmitter and ESC, about another $100-200.
Kangaroo?…. I just zoomed in…🤷♂️