I couldn't resist. With all the Tokyo Drift and Blings and Dubs and SUVs and Fooses and other assorted R/C cars out there, I couldn't resist the notion of an R/C Pacer. So yesterday, when we went to dinner a few towns away at the nearest Olive Garden, I talked my wife into letting me check the Wally's right next door for FCs... either the diecast AMCs or the R/C cars. They had plenty of diecast Pintos, Mavericks, and Mustang IIs, and even the 1/24 Gremlins, but what I walked out with was a blue R/C Pacer...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer01.jpg

A different angle, with my kid in the background. He's almost a little creepy looking the way he's staring, huh?

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer02.jpg

I had hoped it would have some features of slightly more expensive R/Cs, but it's basically just a very cheap R/C car with a nicely detailed body. No rechargeable battery pack. The only suspension is the slop in the front wheels, the rear axle is solid with no differential, and it's geared too high (numerically low) so it takes off VERY slow... I guess it's kinda like a 1:1 6-cylinder Pacer with a 2:56 rear axle ratio. Still fun to buzz around the driveway or the kitchen or wherever...

The only part of the body I don't like is this goofy scoop on the rear side windows...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer03.jpg

And the undercarriage is WAY more detailed than most RCs I've seen...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer04.jpg

--rick

hot diggity dogg !!! looks cool dude ... just a darn shame that out Walmart still has the 1/24 pinto's :(

ok, so I took it out to blast around in the driveway, and then examined it a little closer. A few things I noticed:

The control functions respond WAAAAAY slow. Besides accelerating slowly, it seems to skip a beat while the receiver sends the message to the motor to go. And the steering seems to have like a half-second delay. You have to plan turns well in advance. On a very slight downgrade, it really gets cooking, but do a U-turn and the same slight upgrade really gets it straining. I don't understand the Pro Street skinnies in front with fat tires in the back, and the tires are all a kind of hard rubber. The steering trim adjustment is pretty much useless... I couldn't move it with my fingers, and I could only move it to the left even with a pair of pliers. Fortunately, I got it back to original position and it runs pretty straight.

Of more interest to you collectors and scale accurate types is the fact that the "extra" black bumpers that are on most R/C cars can be removed with two screws each on this one:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer05.jpg

I guess if you're just going to display this one, you don't need them. Looks a lot better without them from a display standpoint, but I'm leaving mine on since I plan to run this and I have a tendency to bounce R/C cars off things. :rolleyes: Also, those weird scoop/louvers on the rear side windows can be removed from their mounting slots with a little judicious prying. The only problem then is deciding which bothers you more--the scoop/louvers or the misshapen window under them:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer06.jpg

Those, I think I'm gonna leave off. Another note: those nifty little side mirrors are flexible rubber stuff that won't rip off too easy.

There's a perverse little voice in my head telling me to go back to Wally's and buy a higher-level R/C car... maybe spend 50 bucks on a tuner-type vehicle with suspension and a differential and a rechargeable battery pack
and try to Frankenstein its guts into this one... somebody stop me before I kill two perfectly good R/C cars...

--rick

First of all, Rick, congrats on your latest acquisition. Second, I'm keepin' my cats indoors for the next couple of weeks! :tongue: Third, that's an air-cooled vehicle, man. That ride is gonna overheat without those stylish louvers! And lastly, let it be.....save your money and stop thinking of 'upgrading' your 'blue cherry'. :wave:

I was gonna say do it up, Frankenstein it, that thing looks cool, imagine if it was fast, or faster.

Well, I thought about doing the opposite of trying to make that one fast. I was initially wondering if I could make the RC internals of that one work with one of the metal bodied 1:24s. :D Since it seems to be so slow though, I would imagine the metal body might weigh it down too much. Maybe I will see what other RCs I have or pick up one from WM and try and get the pinto 1:24 going. I would prefer if they had a maverick RC or 1:24 I could make into one, but no such luck. Hmmm, starting to get some other ideas about JL 1:24s and making them RCs! Ack!! Somebody stop me before I go any further!

1up

Sopunds like they captured the spirit of the original 1:1 car's performance, to a "T" !!! :thumbsup:

I couldn't resist. With all the Tokyo Drift and Blings and Dubs and SUVs and Fooses and other assorted R/C cars out there, I couldn't resist the notion of an R/C Pacer. So yesterday, when we went to dinner a few towns away at the nearest Olive Garden, I talked my wife into letting me check the Wally's right next door for FCs... either the diecast AMCs or the R/C cars. They had plenty of diecast Pintos, Mavericks, and Mustang IIs, and even the 1/24 Gremlins, but what I walked out with was a blue R/C Pacer...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer01.jpg

A different angle, with my kid in the background. He's almost a little creepy looking the way he's staring, huh?

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer02.jpg


I had hoped it would have some features of slightly more expensive R/Cs, but it's basically just a very cheap R/C car with a nicely detailed body. No rechargeable battery pack. The only suspension is the slop in the front wheels, the rear axle is solid with no differential, and it's geared too high (numerically low) so it takes off VERY slow... I guess it's kinda like a 1:1 6-cylinder Pacer with a 2:56 rear axle ratio. Still fun to buzz around the driveway or the kitchen or wherever...

The only part of the body I don't like is this goofy scoop on the rear side windows...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer03.jpg

And the undercarriage is WAY more detailed than most RCs I've seen...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rwurtz/images/pacer04.jpg

--rick

Your kid's trying to tell you the goldfish is hungry.

hahahahahaha... lol...

the wagon version looked even MORE like a fishbowl

--rick

Awesome ride! I still need to grab one of these myself, but at least I know my Wal*Mart has a whole endcap of them.

Which Wal*Mart has the 1/24 Gremlins, though? I haven't found them around here yet.

Mechanicsburg had a few, that's where I got this... but that's still a hike for you, no? Also Chambersburg, but that's REALLY a hike. If you want, I can try to get to Wally's soon and pick one up for you... all I've seen so far is the blue ones...

--rick

I'd appreciate that! Blue's perfect- my favorite color. :thumbsup: Thank you!

That Pacer is very cool! Anyone have any pics of the Pinto? Those are pretty sweet but I don't really have a need for them,especially if its a "cheapo" type R/C.

I'd appreciate that! Blue's perfect- my favorite color. :thumbsup: Thank you!

I'll keep you posted...

--rick

I'd appreciate that! Blue's perfect- my favorite color. :thumbsup: Thank you!

Paging Schwifty...

Email or PM me. Got somethin' for ya.

:D

--rick