RC Historian needed

[Hobson]

Anyone know what this car is?

Mini (http://gazdesigns.fpic.co.uk/c316237.html)

I bought it because its got a Kyosho Mini Cooper body, but I have no idea what the chassis is. I wasn't much, but I've never seen the chassis before.

If it helps, its rear wheel drive, and the motor is contained in a floting pod. It has a rear diff (possibly ball diff), and has a bottom-loading battery compartment.

It also has 'Made in Korea' moulded into the grey chassis rails, and the part number SA-1A. The body doesn't quite fit it right, as it has a wheelbase of 205mm whereas the body is 210mm, so I guess its not original.

Anyone got a clue? I've been told its a Kyosho from around 1990, but the 'Made in Korea' bit makes me not so sure.

[Cotharyus]

It could be a Kyosho, they did make something like that. It looks like its an outlaw car, I think Bolink made one around that time too.

[Mr. Constructor]

Kyosho was using the chassis from a Korean manufacturer called ABC hobby, they made the shown chassis, and Kyosho (later they used it on their own) puts it to the market, that was aroun the mid 80´s maybe close to ´90.
I´ve had that chassis for a while, it is well done, little flexy, but for bashing around it is really OK, but parts might be hard to get, watch ebay or try to contact ABC, maybe they do have several parts ??

Good Luck and Fun with it, i really found it a good car for the money !!

[Hobson]

Might be a long shot, but what bodies were origianlly available for it? And does it have a name?

[Jeckler]

Two bodies were available, the Mini shown, and the Volkswagen Beetle. I just sold a NIB Beetle on ebay. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5921937188) I orignally purchased two of them from Tower, in '94. Beat the heck out of one (12t and ESC), and left the other in the box.
Little flexy is an understatement, IMO. :) You had almost as much articulation in that chassis as you'd have in a Clod or TXT-1.

EDIT: Hobson, that car looks to be in very good shape. I'd shelf it, not run it. Good find.

[Hobson]

The tyres aren't glued to the rims, so I'm tempted to take them off and give them a coat of Alclad. :)

Did it come with a set of inserts when it was new?

[RichieRich]

It's definitely a Kyosho. I have a picture of it in a 1988 Towerhobbies catalog. It's got some lame name but I'll see if I can dig it out and post the description.

[Mr. Constructor]

Here´s the Original Manufacturers Web Adress, mabe they do have the Kit TODAY, the small 10th Car at the far right seems to be the Chassis, the bodys might fit to that one too, by the way, there are a few not so oftly seen bodys from them, and the other 4wd 10th looks like a tamiya tb01 or 02 copy.
with a little work the todays rims could be used as the axle only needs some hex´s (clamp ones, then you´re done !! the power that you really could put down isn´t that much anyway !!)

Adress:

http://www.abchobby.com

[Hobson]

It's definitely a Kyosho. I have a picture of it in a 1988 Towerhobbies catalog. It's got some lame name but I'll see if I can dig it out and post the description.

If you could. that'd be great. :)