Does Anyone else enjoy restoring cars that have been abused and forgotten?

[RC_FunLand]

1 hour ago, Kowalski86 said:

Monster Beetle? About $90 (but $50-60 for the same exact shell for a Blitzer Beetle), this is an ancient shell that Tamiya has pumped out across several models (note all of the unused holes), its made from ABS, afaik isn't licensed, and it doesn't matter if you buy it piece by piece from Tamiya or as a bundle from a kit breaker.

I’ve noticed that also with some Tamiya bodies. Like, what the heck? You can get a TT-02 Motul Autech Nissan GT-R branded body for around $30 bucks, yet the most generic, common bodies using prehistoric molds are THAT expensive? It feels like price gouging… that’s why I hate purchasing older cars without a body, as well as those with destroyed/cracked/crumbling bodies.

[Kowalski86]

54 minutes ago, RC_FunLand said:

I’ve noticed that also with some Tamiya bodies. Like, what the heck? You can get a TT-02 Motul Autech Nissan GT-R branded body for around $30 bucks, yet the most generic, common bodies using prehistoric molds are THAT expensive? It feels like price gouging… that’s why I hate purchasing older cars without a body, as well as those with destroyed/cracked/crumbling bodies.

With re-re lexan bodies some of it is the material, some of it is the "nostalgia" factor. I can't explain ABS shells when most model kits cost $30.

[Ray_ve]

Restoring a car is fun....  when it's finished.

And since you can use it as a slow-pace 'when I feel like it' project, I always found it a nice low-key way to fill any left-over time.

Took 2 (or maybe 3?) years to turn this eyesore into something more nice. A good period to find spares as they pop-up every now and then on local trader sites and eBay.

Still haven't finished the Samurai, thats into its 6th year now I think.

[twaleta]

On 6/15/2023 at 9:38 PM, Dakratfink said:

I will add another thought . I have found Nitro cars make particularly good restoration projects .

They can often be found in surprisingly good condition. Often they are barely run . It’s not uncommon someone wasn’t comfortable tuning but and shelved it with very little run time .  Or, if they were heavily run and abused, they usually hold up well due to the heavier construction most nitro platforms are built with.  
Other times the only thing “wrong “ with them is they have decades of old caked fuel and grime as just need a good cleaning. 
 I got an old Associated RC10GT for a song at a charity auction with a seized up  O.S engine .The only thing the engine needed to run again was a little heat applied , some fresh fuel and a tear down. 
 

i agree its always fun to give life to something as magically mechanical as a nitro rc car.Even tho i never restored one when i first started it up i was so happy.Its great fun when driving and also nice and clean sitting on my bench reminds me of all the hard work.

[Kpowell911]

I used to do this a heck of a lot with Traxxas’ products, it was made possible by Jennys RC. Ill not post any pics as its Traxxas stuff, but in my opinion Ive build some stunning Traxxas products, from genuinely terribly abused examples! Wasnt cheap mind haha

[moffman]

I’ve did a few over the years and with various success and a few disasters but my  favourite has to be this one because it was basically something that probably would have ended up in the bin but the body (by some miracle) did have any cracks anywhere so I thought I’d give it a go? And I think it turned out pretty good?