Vintage Purple HPI Baja 5B Restoration Project

[zxb466]

Hello everyone,

I finally got my hands on a vintage original HPI Baja 5B with the purple chassis. I always wanted one as a kid but was never able to get one and now they only sell the new SBK kit without the original purple. After a ton of research, finally found an original vintage purple baja 5B with the 23cc Fuelie engine for a decent price RTR. The original body is also in very good condition. It even has the original vintage HPI servos and exhaust! My goal is to restore this gem and preserve it in its original condition as a shelf queen with all stock parts.

So far the only thing I see that I need to change back to original are the rear tires, front and rear shock towers, pull start handle, fuel tank cap, and light cups to the original ones without the led's (as this one came with led's).

The purple anodization on the shock caps and shock adjustment nuts are faded. I found and ordered some original new HPI discontinued purple shock caps and adjustment nuts from Ebay. Wanted to create a build thread for this gem with some pictures. Will update as I go along.

Are there any other parts you guys can see that are not original that I may need to replace? Any advice or suggestions for this project? Thinking of doing a tear down and cleaning every part with soap and water, replacing all fluids, and reassembling.

 

[3illmesmart]

Great buy. Looks very nice condition.

 

[zxb466]

Great buy. Looks very nice condition.

Thanks! Got it with a charger, battery, transmitter, original owners manual for $400. Guy wouldn’t go a penny lower. Every other one I saw wasn’t in RTR condition or had an aftermarket body or was missing servos or some additional parts and was more expensive so I went with this one.

 

[cmbscx10]

Id take that for sure. Nice find.

I get where your going with the "Stock" look but also don't discount that in it's current state it is "Period Correct" and much much more appealing IMO.

 

[zxb466]

Id take that for sure. Nice find.

I get where your going with the "Stock" look but also don't discount that in it's current state it is "Period Correct" and much much more appealing IMO.

I get where you’re coming from but this thing is history and needs to be preserved in its original condition in my opinion

 

[zxb466]

Id take that for sure. Nice find.

I get where your going with the "Stock" look but also don't discount that in it's current state it is "Period Correct" and much much more appealing IMO.

I am having second thoughts though about what parts to keep on it. The purple outwear, purple fuel tank cap, and purple billet pullstart handle go so well with the chassis. Could even add an orange or purple spark plug wire to mach the chassis / body.

 

[Tbone4life]

Nice Good-looking Pups too. Like you, I always wanted a 1/5 the scale HPI after I saw one, but just couldn't get the cash to buy one until now as a working (adult-child) as my wife calls me.

Thanks! Got it with a charger, battery, transmitter, original owners manual for $400. Guy wouldn’t go a penny lower. Every other one I saw wasn’t in RTR condition or had an aftermarket body or was missing servos or some additional parts and was more expensive so I went with this one.

That's a good price. I paid $350 for a two-year-old Rovan with a charger Battery and transmitter, with issues.

 

[zxb466]

Nice Good-looking Pups too. Like you, I always wanted a 1/5 the scale HPI after I saw one, but just couldn't get the cash to buy one until now as a working (adult-child) as my wife calls me.

That's a good price. I paid $350 for a two-year-old Rovan with a charger Battery and transmitter, with issues.

Haha thanks! They photobombed my baja

Haha thanks! They photobombed my baja

And they will never understand the fun and nostalgia these things bring!

 

[zxb466]

Restoration in progress.....

Today I found out it came with the original HPI 2000 mah battery too!

I got most of the cleaning done today. Took it all apart and scrubbed it with a brush and sponge piece by piece in the sink with dish soap. Put most of it back together. Replaced the pullstart rope. Now just waiting on some original HPI replacement parts to arrive from Ebay to complete putting it back together.

 

[zxb466]

Restoration Update:

Posting progress pictures. Still waiting on all the bearings, fluids, shock rebuild kits, decals, axle boots, fuel lines / fuel filter... etc to arrive. I also ordered new wheel hubs and every purple part I could find that was fading to replace with a new original one. I cleaned every part with soap and water, replaced the air filter sponge, replaced the pull start rope, and reassembled and replaced the foam inside the radio box that bolsters the battery.

 

[zxb466]

It has been awhile, but here are the final pics!!

 

[zxb466]

 

[zxb466]

 

[Rodknee]

Nice score that.
The value in these nowadays is keeping them stock and period correct for preservation
I bought one here in australia last year for $400 aus. Was lightly used with very minor scuffing, but all original. Still had the original box, tools pamphlets/manuals and oils, everything
Took it home ran it for 5 minutes to confirm it was fine, which it was. Emptied the fuel tank, ran it dry and put it away. These are a historical reminder of how HPI started and for those lucky enough to have these. We should maintain and look after them. JMHO

 

[zxb466]

Nice score that.
The value in these nowadays is keeping them stock and period correct for preservation
I bought one here in australia last year for $400 aus. Was lightly used with very minor scuffing, but all original. Still had the original box, tools pamphlets/manuals and oils, everything
Took it home ran it for 5 minutes to confirm it was fine, which it was. Emptied the fuel tank, ran it dry and put it away. These are a historical reminder of how HPI started and for those lucky enough to have these. We should maintain and look after them. JMHO

I 100% agree. I used genuine HPI parts to restore this and plan on keeping it stock / preserved. Do you have pictures of yours? Would love to see it.

 

[zxb466]

Nice score that.
The value in these nowadays is keeping them stock and period correct for preservation
I bought one here in australia last year for $400 aus. Was lightly used with very minor scuffing, but all original. Still had the original box, tools pamphlets/manuals and oils, everything
Took it home ran it for 5 minutes to confirm it was fine, which it was. Emptied the fuel tank, ran it dry and put it away. These are a historical reminder of how HPI started and for those lucky enough to have these. We should maintain and look after them. JMHO

Also you are lucky to have the original box / tools .. .etc… as they are very hard to come by.

 

[Rodknee]

 

[Rodknee]

It’s all I’ve got arm
I have two hpi Baja. This one and other that’s use with upgrades
I have another Baja which I can confirm if it’s a hpi or not
And two kings which I use and abuse as that all they’re good for

 

[zxb466]

View attachment 108437

Wow it looks awesome!! Love it! I have the original purple chassis Baja (all bone stock and original HPI parts), and the new HPI Baja 5b SBK kit that I put a Taylor 35CC in. These things are so nostalgic… I’m obsessed with them. Reminds me of my childhood when I always wanted one but couldn’t get one.