Traxxas Bandit
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2024 3:29 pm
In 1995 Traxxas completely wound down their racing program to focus on entry level vehicles when they replaced their last 1/10 2wd electric racing buggy, the TCP, with the Bandit. Bearing only a passing resemblance and retaining precious few components with its racing buggy predecessors the Bandit shared Traxxas' newest all plastic platform with the Rustler stadium truck which debuted in 1994. Receiving its own molded chassis with a .75in longer wheelbase than the outgoing TCP, it shared the same design as the Rustler chassis in a.125in shorter package. Traxxas' newest buggy also shared the front bulkhead, steering bellcranks, front caster & steering blocks, rear stub axle carriers, plastic bodied oil-filled coilover shocks and shock towers front and rear with its stadium truck sibling. The Bandit even used the same 3-gear planetary diff equipped transmission with an integrated motor mount and 2.72 gearing as the Rustler instead of the previous 2.14 buggy ratio. Differences emerged in the lower a-arms, steering turnbuckles, fixed plastic camber links and driveshafts of its 4-wheel independent suspension system where the Bandit components were shorter than then those on the Rustler. However the Bandit would measure out 1.6in wider up front and 1.85in wider in the rear than the outgoing TCP. The new buggy would be equipped with 2.15in rear and 2.1in front white nylon disk style wheels wearing Pro-Trax 2770 step spike rear and Pro-Trax 2771 step spike front tires. Available as an unassembled kit with a 20T motor, 3-step mechanical speed controller and clear lexan body or as an RTR with painted body and 20T motor, 3-step speed controller and TQ radio system. Both versions came with full bushings and later kits would be upgraded to include a 7.2v battery, charger, ESC and chrome wheels: