I've finally been able to get around to restoring a couple of Turbo Ultimas that have been taking up shelf space. In both cars, the previous owners used motor oil in the shocks! The dampening improved greatly with the addition of some actual RC shock oil. On one, the owner didn't install the pivot balls in the end of the shocks. Has anyone else found these or other oddities during restorations?

Motor oil was included in Edinger era RC10's as shock fluid!

One of my friends back in the day sold me his Turbo Optima when he lost interest in the hobby. When I took it apart, I found this strange plastic film in the gearboxes. It turned out to be the thin plastic protective membrane that's on those tinted plexiglass chainguide covers that he never bothered to remove.

I'd have to say that the motor oil in the shocks is one of the most common oddities as I've heard about it the most over the years.

I don´t know if it´s an odd item -
But some years ago, I had my eyes on a nice looking Triumph with brand new rims.
I really wanted these rims so I won the Auction. Boy, was I dissapointed when I received it and found that the rear rims was mounted inside out, leaving the nut on the hex fitting side and the outer side with a newly pressed hex fitment.
Since then, I´ve learned to inspect the rims closely before I get all enthusiastic.

it really isn't an oddity... it actually was kind of the std in the early 80's before the wider availability of silicon oils

Haha! Even I used some kind of motor oil in my gold shocks back in the days (-89 perhaps). Mostly because I did not know better

Thats true but I also meant shocks in general over the years. I've opened a number of non 80's ones myself only to find motor oil.