RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

I think most of us like me played with Tyco or Nikko RC cars as kids which bridged into bigger and better things as we grew up. So I got to thinking about those RCs and wondered would it be possible to upgrade these to better equipment? They would have to be fully able to move in all directions (forward, backward, left, and right) and would be nice to have 1/10 size but not a requirement. What I thought about upgrading in the electronics, motor, tires, and suspension but leave the frame and body alone. This wouldn't be cost effective but it was just something that I was kicking around to be different. What brought this on? Looking at some Tamiya vintage RCs that look a lot like what I played with. What are your thoughts?

I’ve seen at least one video on YouTube where a guy some of the electronics in a Radio Shack 4x4 Off Roader.

I have a thread on here about my Panda I completely upgraded. Electronics, suspension, tires. I'm scared to drive it because one crash and its over but it is definitely much more fun

Here it is
https://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=39988&hilit=Panda+pandamonium

Some of the nikko rc cars were based off hobby grade stuff. The radio shack golden arrow shares lots of parts with the traxxas cat and some of the Tamiya cars. I hear the sears Lobo II was similar in design.

There's a guy on RCGROUPS Forum called Nowinaminuite who had done a few and there's no doubt you can dramatically improve them , there's increasing interest in the vintage RTR cars with some fetching good money on eBay , I'd suggest that if you find one without a controller or with fried electronics then have at it but if it's pristine then it's worth more to a collector if it stays original.