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Recntly snagged/sniped this car on evilPay for a pretty good deal. I've been looking for a this opportunity for a few years pretty much since I acquired a new built RC12e. I just needed a RC12i to go with it, jsut something about that special monoshock front suspension.
Anyway, the car is on its way to me and still needs to cross the pond, but I'm all shuffled and can't wait to grab it for real. It looks like it needs a good tear-down and cleaning.

Here is the description from teh seller: Vintage Associated RC12i #4018 with the front shock suspension with original box. This car has been a shelf car for the last 30 years at a local hobby shop. Full race set up.It has been ran once after it was built. Check out the pics. The body is rolled on one side behind the wheel from where it sat up against another car, think a little heat will straighten it out. Check pics. This thing is cherry!

I see a RacePrep speedo (or at least wires) that I 've never seen before, sanyo 1200 pack, Futaba RX and I really wonder what motor is in there. The car looks in very good shape indeed and well equipped. I also like that teh original box is there. Can't wait!

Pics from the original auction as a teaser for now:

Very cool, that will clean up nice! Besides the tamiya servo saver anyway the speed control is a potted unit- back in the day the built the circuitry and put it in a mold like and ice cube tray, then filled with a liquid potting material. Non serviceable and more for prototype use than production but I remember our hobby stores house brand (Lightning Bolt) had a few made that way. The round heat sinks may have been hot trick.

The left and right side steering block mounts are reversed- that's why the upper arms are at such and angle

Car arrived yesterday, I paid around 100$ for it on eBay, customs here want to rip me off with nearly 100$. No way I am gonna pay that, so the car will go back to the owner even if I lose all the money. End of the thread...

That's no good at all where are you located?

gomachv wrote:That's no good at all where are you located?

Belgium

In the end, I paid the awful custom bill as the idiot seller insured the package content at twice the price I paid. I still feel a bit bitter about this car, but it should look good once restored. I tore it down this weekend and there were some nice surprises: a nice Futaba micro servo, a mint Reedy modified motor with the Edinger addy, and what looks like a Hot Trick ESC (at least it has a Hot Trick sticker, but it might be that only the heat sinks are from Hot Trick, any clue?). I know Hot Trick made some electronics at some point (charger) but I have never seen a ESC from them so far. The ESC is wired with Race Prep wires? Also came with a 7 cell Sanyo 1200 SCR pack in very nice condition. Overall the car is in very nice condition, with some minor mods and wear. I will probably replace teh chassis with a new one. Nylon parts are now soaking in hydrogen peroxide and all the hardware in WD40. Stay tuned!













The steering servo installation was quite creative and not very efficient, the whole assembly was attached with 30 years old pharmacy tape





I love this motor!

I can't seem to ever recall a complete kit with the front suspension included and printed on the box. I'd say you'd got a rare one there fosho.

mrlexan wrote:I can't seem to ever recall a complete kit with the front suspension included and printed on the box. I'd say you'd got a rare one there fosho.

There were two complete kits that I know of. They both are indeed quite rare.

#4002 -- $126.00 -- basic kit with no body, radio, electrical
#4018 -- $183.00 -- complete ?????

You can see my #4002 kit here: http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=27389

Looking forward to seeing this one come together. The 12i is a thing of beauty.

Made some progress as I write, ever single part received a special cleaning/lubing/polishing treatment where relevant. The front bumper got extra care as it was looking really rough: corners were rounded, edges were filed too. The spur will be replaced with a new one. Unfortunaely the car is missing one of the radio plate posts, if anyone has spare one, I would make good use of it!
More progress soon!

Worked some more on the car and started reassembling. I am a bit stuck as I'm missing 3 body posts and one radio tray post. The wheels and the main chassis might need to be replaced at some point to make it almsot perfect. The Tamiya servo saver was replaced with a proper Kimbrough one, original steering links are back and caster links were placed in the right position. Steering blocks were reversed as well. The rear shock has been totally re-done and soldered.

I am also now almost sure the ESC is an original Hot Trick one but would have to see another one to be 100% sure. The sticker on the back of the case looks really genuine there. The ESC is now directly wired to the motor, eliminating the motor plug. I am not sure if teh fuse was compulsory on such early ESC and I am still unsure if I should put it back. I might reuse the old three plug battery connector though.

I will also have to hunt a body for it at some point, but haven't decided on a model yet, any ideas? If someone has a spare radio tray post I could make good use of it (hint hint!).
Here are some pics of it as it sits right now:

That turned out great! I love seeing these old cars come back to life.

Did you get the posts you needed to finish this?

Russ Giles wrote:Did you get the posts you needed to finish this?

nope still on the hunt for round head screws as well...

Asso_man! wrote: I am also now almost sure the ESC is an original Hot Trick one but would have to see another one to be 100% sure.

The ESC is a Hot Trick indeed. They were potted as could be seen at your pictures.