Optima & Ultima

The place for all things Kyosho.

Moderators: scr8p, klavy69

Post Reply
User avatar
TM Ru22311
Approved Member
Posts: 206
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:51 pm
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.

Optima & Ultima

Post by TM Ru22311 »

Hello all. I recently bought a vintage lot locally. I am trying to identify exactly what models I have. I know they are an Optima & Ultima, but need some help on which model of each. Here are some pics and if any more info is needed, just ask :D

ULTIMA
Image
Image
Image
Image


OPTIMA
Image
Image
Image

I know the seller was big into racing back in the day, so these may have been slightly modified. I am planning on a restoration on both and have to figure out what is missing and what I need to complete each one back to it's original state. I may have some of the parts that were removed, but not seeing any chassis/servo plates. I think the Optima may be a Turbo Optima, but the Ultima has me confused. I do know he used both for on-road racing, so I have to sort through and find out what parts to get to make them off-road buggies once again. The Ultima bottom plate looks very different from what I have seen and the Optima's bottom plate is of course homemade. There are just so many versions of these cars and I have very little knowledge of them....although I am learning more every day :D

rccars4sal
Approved Member
Posts: 1001
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:05 pm
Location: USA
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by rccars4sal »

First 1 is a scale series based on ultima. Onroad 2wd buggy with scale sports car body.

2nd one is an optima, highly modified, battery mounts in front, servo in back... Looks like gold or duratrax shocks, so it might be an upgrade model, or just user upgraded. needs a few pieces to be complete. Really hard to tell what it started as. There isnt enough left,, and the mods look mostly home made. Very nice litesink motor plate.

They have both been modifed soo much that its difficult to tell what each actually is. The ultima, may be a buggy, with scale series tires. Shock towers are non stock, shocks are non stock for any varient,, possibly duratrax shocks. Body mounts look home made, possibly JG on body mounts and shock towers.

User avatar
TM Ru22311
Approved Member
Posts: 206
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:51 pm
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by TM Ru22311 »

I have all the original parts. It will just take time to sort out what is what and get them back to original. The good news is, because he modified them, he stripped off the original parts leaving them unused and like new :D BUT, it's like you said, hard to tell what they started out as. I am going to download a few manuals and go from there. The manuals he is sending me are Optima, Turbo Optima and Ultima. So I am guessing they could be either of those. My best bet is to browse the manuals and match them up with the parts I have.

User avatar
TM Ru22311
Approved Member
Posts: 206
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:51 pm
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by TM Ru22311 »

I got the Optima stripped down. Getting ready to start cleaning those parts. I have Super Clean (which has always worked well for me). I haven't touched the Ultima yet. I figure it would be best to do one at a time (since I am a noobie). I am concerned about that Ultima chassis plate, that thing looks pretty rough. If any of you guys have any tips/tricks for cleaning and removing scratches, I would love to learn. Most parts will be replaced with new ones, but there are a few I have to reuse. I lucked out because the previous owner was a on-road racer, leaving all those dirt tires untouched. I just don't want to use something that will harm any parts. I hate finding out the hard way :roll:

User avatar
DennisM
Approved Member
Posts: 2403
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 7:07 am
Location: Denmark
Has thanked: 30 times
Been thanked: 64 times

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by DennisM »

I think You´re right about the optima being born as a Turbo - I see the shocks as original Option House golds.
Sway bars and the front shock mount are typical Turbo.

UJ´s at the front could be another indicator.
Is there an aluminum chassis guard in the spare parts? Slim alu plate which mounts on the side of the rails.

The right gearbox plate (motor mount) is Litespeed

The front suspension arms are non Turbo.

Rear shock mount and g10 chassis plate is homebrew IMO.
Gone fishing

User avatar
TM Ru22311
Approved Member
Posts: 206
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:51 pm
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by TM Ru22311 »

I think you are correct Dennis. There is an aluminum guard and the original shock towers in the box. The previous owner told me this morning that the Ultima was the first one made (just Ultima) and he added the the graphite plate as an upgrade. If the original came with the red 10mm shocks, I have those as well. Now I have a good idea as to what to remake. :D

Thanks for the info!

User avatar
j0pp3
Approved Member
Posts: 425
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:47 am
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by j0pp3 »

One thing about the Optima. You can check if it has the gear from OT-27 (Sprocket, Gear Set) or OT-74 (Gear Set Limiter). If it has the OT-27 it might have started out as an Optima.
Cheers
Joel

User avatar
Coelacanth
Approved Member
Posts: 7348
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 270 times

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by Coelacanth »

j0pp3 wrote:One thing about the Optima. You can check if it has the gear from OT-27 (Sprocket, Gear Set) or OT-74 (Gear Set Limiter). If it has the OT-27 it might have started out as an Optima.
Good point; the Turbo & the Salute both used a limiter gear with either a spring or multiple spring washers and a brass-colored reverse-threaded lock-nut to hold them on, instead of the solid gear found in the Optima & Javelin.
Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3

User avatar
TM Ru22311
Approved Member
Posts: 206
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:51 pm
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.

Re: Optima & Ultima

Post by TM Ru22311 »

Thank you all for the help :) I got the manuals in the mail this weekend. He had an Ultima, Optima & Turbo Optima. So there should be (most) of the parts to build those 3 cars, but I will probably make 2 and see what is left. I have a lot of work ahead sorting parts and figuring what is missing, But it will be fun!

I definitely want to build a Turbo Optima and was really considering a Turbo Ultima (or Pro) as a second. Just want to see what parts will be needed to make those 2 possible. I know for sure servo decks and a chassis for the Ultima.

Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post
  • Optima/Ultima spur
    by DennisM » » in Kyosho Forum
    7 Replies
    908 Views
    Last post by tamiyadan
  • ORANGE ULTIMA now optima
    by treehugger » » in Kyosho Forum
    10 Replies
    1211 Views
    Last post by treehugger
  • optima/ultima pinion
    by sdrob » » in Kyosho Forum
    2 Replies
    1456 Views
    Last post by sdrob
  • Old Optima and Ultima mods?
    by Merlin » » in Kyosho Forum
    40 Replies
    4699 Views
    Last post by Sparbolt
  • Ultima/Optima Mid
    by Momo5 » » in Kyosho Forum
    18 Replies
    2365 Views
    Last post by losiXXXman
  • A Hot Trick Optima to go with my Ultima :)
    by RedScampi » » in Kyosho Forum
    21 Replies
    3481 Views
    Last post by Coelacanth
  • Kyosho Ultima Pro and Optima
    by dahlelama » » in Kyosho Forum
    0 Replies
    670 Views
    Last post by dahlelama
  • Resto Optima/Ultima parts
    by Kyosho Fan » » in Kyosho Forum
    1 Replies
    651 Views
    Last post by Mr. ED

Return to “Kyosho Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests