Happy Birthday to me! Turbo Optima with tecnas!

[RedScampi]

I got this car from a super nice older gentleman who built it in the eighties after a divorce, ran a pack through it in the house and set it on the shelf. So, in effect it's brand new. There is one small knick in the front bumper. That's it. The guy was tired of the clutter and sold this to me for an incredible price. He said he knew he could get more but didn't want to mess with ebay. I drove about 5 hours round trip to pick the car up and it was well worth the trip! The gent had an incredible rc collection including nitro cars from the 70's through modern day Traxxas monster trucks, tanks, boats and airplanes. Unfortunately this was the only 1/10 car he had other than a new built USA-1 which I may go back and get.
The only down side, if you can honestly say there is a down side to a story like this is that the the man was a smoker and the car is covered with residue. I'll soon rectify that!
He said if he could find the original wheels he'd let me know. Anyway I'm stoked about my first Turbo Optima, my first set of tecnacraft wheels and the fact that it's all in such pristine shape! This will undoubtedly be the centerpiece of my collection.
Does anyone know what the other wheels with the foams are? Also other than the gold chassis, was the torque limiting clutch an Option House item? Can you see any other upgrades on the car? The wing is chrome plated I've never seen one of those before.

[transamman908]

Wow , this is a sweet car!! Nice grab on this! Those Tecnas look awesome on there. The other wheels are Parma track adjust wheels. I think the chrome wing was a optional part made by Kyosho for Javelins but I may be mistaken. The wing buttons look like Trinity buttons. Sweet buggy!!

[murphy3428]

Really nice grab congrat's!! though I would loose the wing

[Coelacanth]

That's a nice Gold Celebration Turbo Optima, RedScampi. The chrome wing was an option part back in those days, I still have one. I see turnbuckles replacing the stock steel camber links & tie rods front & rear and the Option House torque limiter pinion gear/clutch but other than that, it's a pretty clean, "stock" gold chassis Optima.

[RedScampi]

Thanks guys! I forgot to mention that the car also has the belt drive option. Although I'm not planning on tearing it down immediately it does kind of reek a little of smoke. I may have to bag it or something until I get to it. I did give it a bit of a sponge bath for now...
Murph, I agree about the wing, especially since it has a name painted on it and I don't think I can remove it without removing the chrome.

[murphy3428]

take all the electonics, tires wheels off and stick it in the dish washer

[RedScampi]

take all the electonics, tires wheels off and stick it in the dish washer

Seriously? No issues with water getting where it shouldn't such as gear cases, etc?

[murphy3428]

I just use my marine tape on the rear trans where the cap is if you have the original kyosho turnbuckles on it then I would remove them aswell or just make sure to lube them up after your done with the dish washer and the tires soak in dish soup I do recommend for the tecs removing the screws cause the will rust. The dishwasher only sprays it doesn't summerge it in water

[RedScampi]

Cool, thanks for that tip! I will let you know the results.

[murphy3428]

No problem you should also soak the body in dish soap that will take alot of the tar from the smoke off

[Jay Dub]

I would imagine ALL your steel hardware will rust. Including your hinge pins, as well as the outdrives and whatever gets steamed up inside the tranny. Give it a tray and let us know . -Jeff

[drbelleville]

That is pretty sweet. And to think it had never been beat up or anything really, so cool.

Congrats on it.

[RedScampi]

I would imagine ALL your steel hardware will rust. Including your hinge pins, as well as the outdrives and whatever gets steamed up inside the tranny. Give it a tray and let us know . -Jeff

I'm trying it right now! My plan is to fire up the compressor and dry it with forced air. Might even employ my wife's hair dryer. The one fly in the ointment is the the previous owner glued a connector to the bottom of the upper tray with what appears to be gorilla glue or some variant. After due consideration I decided to leave it there and cut the wires. I may try to grind it off but I doubt the tray will look pretty when done. Another option is to just replace the tray.

Oh, and thanks doc!

[Bormac]

Gary you got a good one there mate! Well done.

Its a lot more than just a kit standard Turbo mate. Gold Chassis set is a real nice bit of kit too. SUPER!!!!

[murphy3428]

when you finish drying it off spray the any of the steel parts with wd40 or use mystery oil that should keep any of the metal from rusting though I never had any problem with the out drives rusting just the original turnbuckles