- Messages
- 1,130
- Location
- Portland, Oregon
I'm calling shenanigans. I don't think it's a true HPI. The only things that are HPI on that rig, at least according to the pics, are possibly the rims, the front tires and the electronics.
None of the aluminum parts are HPI colors. The shock caps are almost completely round and the notches on the adjustment rings appear shallower than HPI. The shock colors match the A arms perfectly. Do non-clone companies make blue billet A Arms and VVC sized shocks? I don't think so.
The "raw" aluminum parts don't have any oxidation. If the PO had de-anodized those parts, they would need either a non-color anodizing, or they would look more oxidized. If he did custom anodize the shocks and arms, why not the rest of the aluminum bits?
The bolts holding the front chassis plate are incorrect, those are the hardware for a 5T, not a 5B.
The air filter is mashed against the fuel grommet, though to be fair, it has aftermarket brass fittings, but I would wager that it has let some crap into that carb in the least. The pic quality is crap, but I am also no seeing any hint of the HPI embossing on the air filter top cap. The gas cap is definitely not HPI as well.
The rear brakes are torn down, but to the seller's credit, he states that it needs brakes to run. The pipe has been crushed to fit into the rear bumper or has taken some serious rear end-age, but the motor looks like a legit RCMK at least!
My best guess is that this car used to be a 5T clone, but the PO pulled the Truck bits off and re-used the hardware, hoping no one would notice. The fact that there is a Rovan T body and no B shell reinforces my thoughts on this.
If it ever was an HPI, they've replaced too many parts with clone bits to make me believe it.
This is the kind of car I would only consider buying at that price if I had a chance to inspect it in person.
None of the aluminum parts are HPI colors. The shock caps are almost completely round and the notches on the adjustment rings appear shallower than HPI. The shock colors match the A arms perfectly. Do non-clone companies make blue billet A Arms and VVC sized shocks? I don't think so.
The "raw" aluminum parts don't have any oxidation. If the PO had de-anodized those parts, they would need either a non-color anodizing, or they would look more oxidized. If he did custom anodize the shocks and arms, why not the rest of the aluminum bits?
The bolts holding the front chassis plate are incorrect, those are the hardware for a 5T, not a 5B.
The air filter is mashed against the fuel grommet, though to be fair, it has aftermarket brass fittings, but I would wager that it has let some crap into that carb in the least. The pic quality is crap, but I am also no seeing any hint of the HPI embossing on the air filter top cap. The gas cap is definitely not HPI as well.
The rear brakes are torn down, but to the seller's credit, he states that it needs brakes to run. The pipe has been crushed to fit into the rear bumper or has taken some serious rear end-age, but the motor looks like a legit RCMK at least!
My best guess is that this car used to be a 5T clone, but the PO pulled the Truck bits off and re-used the hardware, hoping no one would notice. The fact that there is a Rovan T body and no B shell reinforces my thoughts on this.
If it ever was an HPI, they've replaced too many parts with clone bits to make me believe it.
This is the kind of car I would only consider buying at that price if I had a chance to inspect it in person.