Nikko Pro Class, HPI Trans Am body
My first new item posted to my showroom in several years. This is my Nikko ProClass chassis which previously wore the original Dodge Viper body. During a high speed run using a brushless system a tire came apart; the Viper body was badly damaged in the wreck. I decided to rebuild it. The new body is an HPI 1978 Pontiac Firebird painted in gloss white, with T-tops. I decided on white instead of the common black, as a tribute to the Turbo Trans Am with the vintage HPI #3682 Super Dish wheels and modern HPI X-pattern tires. The Nikko chassis has full ball bearings and a set of Nikko aluminum oil shocks which I rebuilt using Traxxas rebuild kits and covered with Racers Edge shock socks. Parma body mounts attach the body to the chassis. A Traxxas XL-10 ESC is hooked up to a Tamiya Sport Tuned motor; with rear wheel drive it should spin the tires easily. The steering servo is a standard Futaba. I look forward to driving the car hard and maybe even some small jumps. Comments are welcome!
Rebuilt Nikko aluminum oil shocks, Traxxas seals
Comments
Crash Cramer
WOW, I know I wouldn't have thought that was a Nikko. I think you have done a great job with this one.
rhenbelz
Thanks!
Steffen
Looks great, love the wheels!
lupogtiboy
WOW that's awesome! I have a Scooby one of these with a carbon R34 Skyline shell on it, they run amazingly well, even in stock form (as mine does!)
rhenbelz
Thanks for the comments! Many years ago I took this chassis to the on road carpet races and it actually kept up with much more expensive cars. They rally well too, being derived from the 959 chassis.
Pintopower
Very interesting. How old is this chassis?
rhenbelz
Pintopower, I'm not really sure. It was sold in touring car form as the ProClass mid 2000s, and the older Porsche 959 rally car shares the basic chassis design. I believe the 959 was sold in the mid 90s. The chassis is no triumph of engineering, but it is sturdy and handles well, and is a novel RWD design that doesn't seem to copy anything else.
rhenbelz
While I don't think a lot of money was spent on the R&D on these chassis, there are some nice features. There is an overall focus on keeping a low center of gravity, and the driveline is very stout. The alloy oil shocks were an option part, along with a 'Sprint' motor that was offered. An undertray style aerodynamic diffuser is part of the rear chassis.
MAVERICK
You just cant beat a trans am
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