28 replies to this topic

[Martin]

Champion RTR kit or clone ?
 
So I thought this might be a factory Champion RTR when I saw this UK Model cars magazine page. Car in box top left (thanks, John). It does have all Champion ingredients (maybe) plus the Russkit Lola T70 found on the RTR car.
 
But I do not believe it to be factory-painted. Although nicely done, Champion (I believe) did not have the black stripe on the front or the old English #88 script.
 
The ad does say all same parts sold as a kit. So it makes sense this is a Champion kit car, #161 (K) painted and assembled by customer.

Anybody know how it was sold, bag, box, UK only???

[John Secchi]

I know Champion (orange pickers Etc Etc) motors were imported into the UK in component form to avoid the UK "purchase tax" then assembled by B.I.C.O the distributor, possible the RTR was assembled in the same way as Champion parts were sold with "Champion of Europe" packaging.

(oneofwos)

[Martin]

Hey John, it been a while since I have worked with shillings and pence. But it looks like you save 17 shillings and 4 pence if you buy the kit.

 

Why do they not give the prices in pounds ?

 

For those that are not familiar with the old ways its 20 shilling to the pound and 12 pence to the shilling. 

 

Cleaned up the interior. added the fire extinguisher in the hole that was already there and added the red seat belt that was missing. Also painted the steering wheel spokes chrome as it was brown along with standing the gear shift in a realistic position.

 

I noticed the glue residue on the dash. I will look for a suitable mirror for this location. Looks like it had a round base,any clues ?

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[Martin]

Time to fix the split and find a pair of matching tail lights.

 

I am slowly removing the 4 thin black tape lines so I can extend the wide black stripe from front to back.

 

NO MUD NO LOTUS

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[dc-65x]

Cool car Martin.

 

Those blue rears look like they might have enough meat left to clean up.............love those Champion "baby moon" style wheels.

 

Thanks for sharing your project.

[Martin]

I had those on a couple of my cars back in the day. So I have a soft spot for them too. I still think they look great.

 

This builder did that black background like you did awhile back. I keep it original to this car.   Cleaned up the Blue rears. Looks good for display only, I'm sure there is no traction here. Maybe they can be soaked in some sticky stuff ? Got any methods to make them driveable.

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[Martin]

Cleaned up the rear end. New tail lights, fixed the split and gave it a good polish.

 

Still trying to figure out what was glued to the dash ?

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[Martin]

When It comes to adding details like intake stacks I found Russkit  has 2 styles. 8 tall stacks and 4 short pair.

Anybody know if it is a case of  early or late, kit or RTR etc?

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[Martin]

I made a little progress on the Lotus body. I decided that It would look best to eliminate the 4 skinny stripes and run a continuation of the front stripe. I ordered some 1/16" chrome tape but when it came I found the original  is thinner than that. I guess I should have measured first and not assumed. So I ended up cutting it from a old chrome decal.

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[dc-65x]

Looking really nice Martin. Do you need the chrome Russkit quick fill gas caps for your project? I have extras.

[Bill from NH]

In the photos, that body now appears to be a new one. Nice cleanup, Martin.

[Martin]

Thanks Bill, I really enjoy taking an original weathered orphan and making it as it once was, when first built. With the added 50 years of yellowing of course. 

 

Thanks for the offer Rick. I found the 3 gas caps I need for this project. Was it 2 gas in the side pods and one water at the rear, I presume?

 

I do still need info on the stacks( post 8) anybody?

[don.siegel]

Martin, 

 

As far as I know, the 8 tall stacks are for the Lotus and the 4 short pairs are for the McLaren... I bought a built-up Lotus 40 with its box many years ago, that had the shorties, and Philippe explained that it had the wrong stacks... I've seen this a couple times, so I wonder if there weren't a few kits that came with the "wrong" stacks, but in any case the tall ones seem to be the right choice. 

 

Don 

[Martin]

Thanks Don,

I am starting to believe they came both ways also (or just with the body kits) maybe based on stock on hand, This original builder here used the shorty's.So I will stick with them. I actually like them better, the tall stacks look a bit toy like to me

 

I do have unopened Lotus 40 chrome kits in the brown envelope that came with the body kits.  Pass the envelope please. I will check later.

[Martin]

Done for now

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[dc-65x]

[Pablo]

Beautiful

[Bill from NH]

Looks like a new build! Nice restoration.

[Martin]

Thanks for the comments guys.

 

A couple more details like the exhaust pipes drilled out.

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[Rich330P4]

As for the stack length question it depends on the induction system used. The Lotus 30 Ford 289 in 1965 uses 4 Weber 2 barrel downdraft carburetors. They are identified by having a horizontal plane between the pair of velocity stack and the carburetor casting. The later 1965 Lotus 40 has a Ford 351 and uses a mechanical Tecalemit-Jackson fuel injection it has individual velocity stacks and intake manifold runner castings. The refurbished cars at Greenwood might have a more modern systems that mimics the apperance or could be a Hilibom system.

[Martin]

Thanks Rich for the informed info.

I was confused when I had to make a choice, so I went with what the car came with.

As a slot car that body has been sold with both types of intakes.

I even found pics of Lotus 30s (red car)with tall stacks and 40s with the shorty's

 

 

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[Isaac S.]

Great job

[Martin]

Thank you Isaac, I do love fixing a survivor. 

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[hiline2]

Has it been back on the track yet ? How did it run ??

[Martin]

At this point in time she sits in the display case. I do have a nice 4 lane track but dry space is in high demand, so I have not found a safe place to set it up.

But that would be the plan to have a home track where I could test. For now I am content with building, restoring and displaying.

The shop where I work had bought this track for us to have fun on, but the pandemic forced us to down size, so we lost the space to set up. Still have the track, now in storage unfortunately. 

Thanks for your interest Paul. Did you have one of this model back in the day?

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