A matter of fate.....Receiving the holy grail.

[hardb8]

Hi guys,

  I just have to tell someone who understands [] I've had Tamiya cars scince I was five,I'm now 31.My first was a Grasshopper.And being my first the body was soon cracked as I was learning to drive.While browsing the local hobby shop,A Scorcher body was seen,And I whinged till Mum bought it for me.It was custom mounted and sat with pride on the old Hopper for years to come.

 I was always on the look out for a complete original Scorcher,But they were rare.When I was 13,One day a friend of a friend seen my Bettle shell on my Grasshopper.He told me his neighbour had one just like it.Surley not a Sand Scorcher,I thought.I gave him my number and asked him to find out if his neighbour would sell it.About three months later I got a call.It was him saying he had an old Tamiya buggy I could have for $80 if I was intrested.When I arrived it was an original.I handed over the cash,And couldn't get her home fast enough.A bit beat up but all there.It has sat in my cupboard until about a year ago,When it was dug out after googling Sand Scorcher,And finding this site and Tamiya101.It rekindled my passion,And I've been trawling ebay for bits,And fabricating a custom chassis.

In the years between,At around 18 years of age I was into 1/10th scale 1/4 mile drag racing.The bloke who ran the drags also sold imported chassis'.I went to his home and walked into his office/shed to check out what chassis were available.I seen on the top shelf,The box of the Sand Scorcher,And I immediatly inquired."Sorry mate not for sale." he replied,"But I'll get her down so ya can have a look at it" It was a minter untouched scince it was purchased.I did walk out of there with a car,But not the one I would have really liked.(The SRB)

The other day after seeing the US $5000+ sale on the bay it got me thinkin....I wonder if he's still got it?So I looked him up in the phone book and gave him a ring."Yeah mate I've still got it,What ya offerin?" He said.I thought I'd start at $1000.And he said yes straight away.Not sure how high I was prepaired to go?.He went on to say if I called three months ago,He wouldn't have sold it.Or three months later,He wouldn't have sold it."Ya got me at just the right time"He said...(In a time frame of 13 years)...I managed to make the phone call at exactly the right time...(A matter of fate)...She was destined to be mine.

I went out to pick it up hoping she would be in near the same condition as when I last seen her.It is still in almost perfect condition.Everthing is there.Blisters intact.No parts bags opened,Decals,Instructions the lot,As it was when purchased all those years ago.[]The box is perfectly flat but has two small marks on the front edge,And 25 years worth of dust on the top.I cleaned a very small section of the box in a test,And the dust came off without any damage to the box.I still can't believe it's here at my home.And I now understand why some choose not to build these special cars.It will sit in the box till I'm old and grey.Then MAYBE I'll put it together...(This is a classic piece of Tamiya history)...I have a very clean runner almost finished now,To take the edge off.

Dreams do come through.A mint new in box Sand Scorcher for 1000 Australian dollars.(Grey bumper model)

I've also been dreaming of a Super Champ.I wonder if this one will come through?

 

Sorry about the lenght.I just had to tell my story.Wish I could post ya's pics.

 

Cheers Rick.[][][] 

 

 

 

 

[Metla]

Great post.

My first kit was a Super Champ, Even when brand new it must have been a good size chunk of cash for my father to spend on me, I loved that RC far more then any of the 50 or so that I have had since. Wish I still had it.

 

[Bin ^jammin^]

Gotta love it when a plan comes together.

Nice to hear things working out for people.[]

[Shodog]

Where's the pics?  you can't tease us with a great story then leave us hanging

Jim

[caddy shack]

Good read , remember best things come to them that wait...

as showdog says post some pics.

[hardb8]

Sorry guys,I didn't think I could post pics because I'm not a paying member of T.C.But I've just found out I can.But I don't know how.[*-)]

 I still haven't cleaned the box up yet.I can send a couple of pics of the NIB,And of the chassis I've nearly finished for my runner,Mentioned in the original post via email to someone,If they would like to post em for me?.It still has all my markout lines on it and has to be cleaned and polished yet,But in a recent mock up,My chassis fit perfectly.

 I'm gonna try and find info on posting pics.

[nomad]

I couldn't not build it.

[Drjack]

I'm with you nomad. It'd be sitting in the box calling out to me, saying "build me! build me!" and I'd have to give in. []

[Shodog]

I couldn't not build it.

 

I'm with you nomad. It'd be sitting in the box calling out to me, saying "build me! build me!" and I'd have to give in. []

 

I can see both of your points of view.  Here is my take.

 

Once you have something this valuable in your possession, you will think twice about digging into it.  There are still plenty of new parts floating around world to make a new built.  Something as rare as a NIB should probably be left that way.  In the years that I have had my scorcher kit, I can honestly say I have not had the urge to build it.

 

Really for me, I get far more enjoyment out of restoring a car than building one from a kit.  Sure, when you have a NIB kit, everything is there, but where is the fun of chasing down that elusive part.  Or staying up into the wee hours of the morning so you can snipe that current high bidder.  I think the enjoyment of the build is directly related to how hard it was to obtain the parts.

[Drjack]

I see your point, Shodog, touche.

[secretsg]

Not since I discovered Snipping services [8-|] 

 

Or staying up into the wee hours of the morning so you can snipe that current high bidder.