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Building a survivor kit from 1994 - the Mugen Athlete 1/8 buggy. Purple was the theme, car and box! This was launched in the year with the Kyosho Turbo Inferno. This buggy has its unique design language, in my opinion. Some Mugen optional parts from the Team version of the Athlete will be added.

The 3 differentials come pre-built and have machined aluminum housings. Front and rear gearboxes are identical. The differentials have planetary gears rather than the ubiquitous bevel type, and overall achieve a narrower profile. All gears are metal from factory. I installed Athlete Team edition diecast aluminium suspension holders. These have a black painted finish and so are quite understated but nonetheless tougher than standard plastic ones.


The Athlete features a 4mm thickness chassis, anodized in purple. There is no front chassis kick-up; that came in the next generation Super Athlete (following that of the Kyosho Inferno MP5). The center diff mounts here are upgraded to the Athlete Team edition diecast aluminium version. Love the fact that the diff housing and spur gear are all sturdy metal as standard. Brake discs are glass fiber and hard-wearing.

The shocks of the Mugen Athlete come almost fully assembled - just add oil and springs. They are also anodized in the same purple. Both front and rear ends here completed. Front drive shafts are universals as standard. Rear wing mounts are sturdily attached; the rear wing would later be secured, rather uniquely, using C-clips.


Close-up on the Athlete Team upper A-arms option can be seen - stock Athlete would be upper links attached to the front shock tower. The ballraced version of the servo saver is also installed.

4WD drive train in place. Unlike the other 1/8 buggies at the time, the Mugen Athlete opted for a straight line configuration of the center drive shafts, presumably for lowering transmission drag/losses, but sacrificing a little the position of the engine to be further away from the chassis centerline. This is in keeping with the design of its predecessor, the Super Sport.


Another different area of the Athlete is its chassis layout - the engine would be mounted on the right side of the centerline versus practically all other buggies mounting on the left - presumably to counter the torque generated by the center drivetrain; the fuel tank too is closer to the rear than what would be usually closer to the front.

Mugen Athlete Team rolling chassis completed. Hope to source for a period correct engine and more option parts in the future. The body shell will be next.

Stunning !

When I was working at Tammies, a very large hobby shop in Oregon, the Athlete was the 1/8 to have. We also sold the inferno, hodr, and pirate m1 but the Athlete was by far the choice for racing. Our shop even made a couple purple anodized braces for the front to center and rear to center.

So, what’s the engine of choice? We liked the Rody Roem Novarossi based here, but some did well with the Picco or TOP.

GoMachV wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 9:40 am When I was working at Tammies, a very large hobby shop in Oregon, the Athlete was the 1/8 to have. We also sold the inferno, hodr, and pirate m1 but the Athlete was by far the choice for racing. Our shop even made a couple purple anodized braces for the front to center and rear to center.

So, what’s the engine of choice? We liked the Rody Roem Novarossi based here, but some did well with the Picco or TOP.

Thats really cool! Somehow during the time I got into 1/8 it was only Kyosho I had access to. I'd love to find one of these engines.

blast wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 5:19 amStunning !

Thanks!

Such a cool car, and excellent build. Great upgrades you have found. Finding parts for this car is very difficult. Any suggestions on places to search for parts? Thanks.

Lavigna wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 1:37 pm Such a cool car, and excellent build. Great upgrades you have found. Finding parts for this car is very difficult. Any suggestions on places to search for parts? Thanks.

Thanks!

I did find some parts from the online shop rcshop.net. Send them an email first to confirm parts availability. But I was lucky to find most upgrades from eBay this time. It’s really difficult I agree, even from Japan.

Love this era 1/8 buggies. Enjoy the great pictures of the build you’ve posted.

Some new pictures of the Athlete in natural light.

Bodyshell is completed with designer Koji Sanada's paint scheme:

Wow! This car is really amazing looking. Great choice on the paintwork. These are such iconic and great looking cars. You made an amazing build!

I really need to get going on mine. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation!