Associated 'B5'
 

..saw what looked like one being tested at Southport on Sunday :thumbsup:

Looked amazing, especially the way they've worked the motor position and the special new wing mount...

The mid motor layout was deffinatley "special" :woot:

and the short rear shocks :drool:

The low profile rear shocks looked 'dialled' :woot: Area 51 has surpassed everything on this one!

Is it april fools already???

U sure U didn't saw a Durango 2WD?

anyone got any pictures? if its not a VERY early april fools joke ;)

total BS :woot:

Are Associated even capable of making such a car anymore after the company was sold?. Do any of those guys that made the other cars make the swap to thunder tiger?

Associated have just spent alot of money on new moulds and re-designing parts for the B4.1, i think a new 2wd " concept " is at the bottom of the list for now!

Ben

Exactly what I thought when I saw this thread :D

Wha???? Did I miss something :eh?:. Has AE been taken over?

They sold Associated to Thunder Tiger (big Taiwanese company) yeaaars ago man, where have you been hiding :). They still make the newer Associated cars under the AE name but nothing is made or owned in the states anymore. They also blew the dust off the B3 moulds and re make them as Thunder Tiger cars. This is the B3 for example http://www.tiger.com.tw/product/6540-F.html

But you'd be surprised how little that has actually changed. A lot of parts are outsourced anyway - that source is simply in China now. And all the same people still work for Associated, they just don't own it anymore.
The only real downside (for AE) is that they need Thunder Tigers approval for spending lots of money. Thunder Tiger use them as a sort of Lexus/Audi for their high end and racing stuff, so its was never going to be like Losi who've gone largely over to bashing.

The reason the B4 is still around is because it doesn't need replacement. OK in the UK its been superseded by the mid motor crowd, but the recent Euros showed nicely that rear motors still dominate on dirt, and with the Worlds and most US racing on that, AE still have the top car.

Good to know the same guys still have some say :) and lets hope the world champs stay on 100% dirt tracks and soft ones at that. I understand how astro/carpet is more convenient for racing in the UK but it's not the real deal

I think I know which car your on about, think it was some sort of B4 modded car though. Not a prototype B5. Wish I'd taken a closer look now..DOH.
Did look a little wierd seeing a B4 with out a motor hanging off the back :thumbsup:

Team Associated products are still designed in the US as well.

I noticed that Thunder Tiger had cloned an AE car when it came out but it makes sense now :). The first nitro we got was made by Panda which became Thunder Tiger.

Update
 

This was the car we was jesting about last week. :thumbsup:

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...3_05-09-10.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...3_05-09-10.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...4_05-09-10.jpg

And just when you though it couldnt get better :woot:

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...1_05-09-10.jpg


Mike Bradbury is a LEGEND

Genius!

You mean LEG - END! :woot: lol!

Good on the man though for giving it ago! :thumbsup: and having the balls to bring it and actually run it.. never laughed so much with all the banter! lol! :lol: