Turbo Optima Mid Special

[DanB4]

Hi Guys,

I've seen a couple of used mids recently ripe for restoration but get confused between the Original Turbo Optima Mid Special:

http://image.dhgate.com/upload/spide...xi171049_4.jpg

and the Turbo Optima Mid with the LWB Conversion fitted:

http://www.rcscrapyard.net/clas_file...Optima-Mid.jpg

with this conversion:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/88/con1c.jpg/sr=1

I think from the original has a different chassis material and no adjustable turnbuckles, am I right?

How do I tell the difference between an original and converted car and if I do find an original how much would it be worth restored?

Cheers,

Dan

[alcyon]

Originally Posted by DanB4

Hi Guys,

I've seen a couple of used mids recently ripe for restoration but get confused between the Original Turbo Optima Mid Special:

http://image.dhgate.com/upload/spide...xi171049_4.jpg

and the Turbo Optima Mid with the LWB Conversion fitted:

http://www.rcscrapyard.net/clas_file...Optima-Mid.jpg

with this conversion:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/88/con1c.jpg/sr=1

I think from the original has a different chassis material and no adjustable turnbuckles, am I right?

How do I tell the difference between an original and converted car and if I do find an original how much would it be worth restored?

Cheers,

Dan

i dont think there is any way to find out if the car is original or converted, other than the box. Becuase you can buy all the parts to convert a normal mid to the special.

[DanB4]

Here's one of the cars - what do you guys think? How much is it worth?

[daveyboi1973]

The optima mid custom lwb came with a goldish colour anodized chassis,where as the lwb and conversion kits where either black anodized or polished alloy or an frp material from memory.Prices dont go too high for any of these,which is a shame because if set up right they would give procats a good run for thier money.As Alycon has done,if a few lazer parts are fitted would be good for a spot of vintage racing as tend to be alot less fragile than most others .

[terry.sc]

The Turbo Optima Mid Special was a limited edition release, with carbon chassis, ball diffs, every official upgrade and two sets of Option House tyres. The car was the same as an original Turbo Optima Mid with the long wheelbase chassis conversion, with ball diffs and all the upgrades added.

Non turnbuckle upper links were found on the swb Optima Mid and the Optima Mid Custom, all other models (Turbo Optima Mid, Optima Mid SE, Optima Mid Custom Special) had turnbuckles and front universals as standard.

As for chassis materials, all three swb cars had a narrow bronze anodised alloy chassis, the Turbo Mid and Mid SE had 2.3mm thick countersunk chassis, the original Mid has a 2mm thick non countersunk chassis. For the lwb cars the Turbo Optima Mid Special and the conversion kit has a carbon chassis. The Mid Custom first came with a bronze anodised alloy chassis, but this was later changed to a black fibreglass chassis. The change of Mid Custom chassis is noted by a change of model number, from 3193 to 3193FG, The alloy chassis is dropped fairly early so most Mid Customs have a fibreglass chassis. The Mid Custom Special had the black fibreglass chassis.

Originally Posted by DanB4

Here's one of the cars - what do you guys think? How much is it worth?

That's a swb Optima Mid that has had the lwb conversion fitted, the fibre pattern in the chassis is only seen on the conversion cars. If it was originally a Turbo Optima Mid Special it's missing all the parts that make it a Special, such as the wheels, anti roll bars, etc. Even the ebay picture of the body make it impossible to identify whether it's a Mid Special or a Mid Custom body.
It started as the standard Optima Mid before conversion as it has no turnbuckles, can't see anyone taking turnbuckles off to replace them with plain threaded links. The original 'basic' model wasn't much different to the original Turbo Mid. The lwb conversion and Yokomo adapters to run 2.2" wheels have been added, but the lack of turnbuckles means it's impossible to guess whether it has universals fitted or if it's still running dogbones, or whether the gear diffs have been replaced with ball diffs.

As for what its worth, ebay completed listings values a good condition Mid at £80-100 at the moment based on ended auction prices, although I've never paid anywhere near that for my collection.

[eddscott]

Edited - All answered far better above.

I bought an Optima Mid for restoration and pretty much ended up building a new car

[Jamesk]

Ive got a Mid Custom Special,that in rebuild stage at the present. The car has the fiberglass floor pan but its very weak and floppy, does anyone know if the Lazer floor can be used or where i could find a new carbon mid verson?

jK