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This is perhaps a bit of an odd question, which is why I put in the off topic section. Essentially, what I'm trying to do is build a custom RC chassis to fit a plastic Lightning McQueen body that will be harvested from a toy that my son no longer uses. There doesn't seem to really be anything that would be a direct fit, so my next best option is to start with a platform that can be easily scaled up or down. In my mind, this means a platform that utilizes a flat chassis (no front kick-up or custom molded areas) so that I can build a new, shorter (or longer) chassis. I also need a front suspension that doesn't stick up very high so that I can fit it under the low hood line of the car. I'd like a setup that uses or can be easily adapted to use 12mm hexes so that I'll have adequate wheel & tire choices. Ideally I'd like to use a buggy or a touring car type system that will provide some amount of suspension travel so that we can use it on uneven surfaces. Lastly, I'd like to utilize parts that are easily available and are affordable. I looked at the idea of using an RC10DS as my starting point, but parts for those don't seem to be anywhere near as common as RC10 or 10T parts.

Does anybody have any suggestions for what may make a good starting point? So far I've looked at some 1/14 and 1/16 scale touring/drift cars, and some of these seem to come close. Some also seem to have a flat chassis, which would make it fairly easy for me to just build an extension or a longer chassis. Unfortunately, the ones I've looked at so far seem to use 7mm or 8mm wheel hexes.

For reference, here's a picture of the car that I pulled off the 'net:


The wheelbase measures 7.75" and the track width is 6.5".

A Tamiya Tamtech is pretty close to those dimensions.

The closest thing regarding wheelbase ive seen is the 1/16 erevo at 7.9 inches. Its a lot wider than need be. I think touring car tires could narrow it up a good bit. The 1/16 slash is narrower than the erevo but at 8.1 inch wheel base.

most 1/18 scale cars were around 6.5" wheelbase

I'm not sure if this is for you or another but there are other options regarding a lightning mcqueen rc car. There are several body shells already painted on ebay for various cars so you could go that route too.

If I were scratch building a chassis I would go rustler/bandit. With sliders in the rear you could easily modify width with custom arms and not worry about dogbones. The front end mounts to a flat plate and has kick up, again custom arms for width and lay the shocks down. Already has the hex hubs if you use rustler. Also they are dime a dozen, lots of rollers available super cheap

Thanks for the suggestions so far. The Rustler/Bandit seems like a good option if it's possible for me to narrow the track width appropriately. I'm starting to think that my best approach may be to enlarge a 1/18-1/16 vehicle as opposed to trying to shrink a 1/10 vehicle. It seems like getting something like a Bandit down to a 6.5" track width would be difficult.

i'll measure tonight but a 1/12 might work.

i have an abc genetic 1/12 4wd touring car that you can fit almost anything on.

edit:
nevermind, genetic is discontinued and has a wb of 8inches

here's a link to the rwd version, the goose:
http://abchobbyusa.com/25002.aspx

check out this smaller car from abc:

http://abchobbyusa.com/24405.aspx

shumacher supastox or a mardave perhaps. 2WD in any way so you can modify the wheelbase easily