This article is about the model #58278 from Tamiya, the Lancia 037 Rally released in 2001.
Tamiya released this car as a limited edition due to the Limited Edition ABS body.
Tamiya used the TA03RS chassis for this model, R being rear or mid motor, S being the short wheelbase variant. The chassis is high-grade and sophisticated. The bodyshell is very detailed and is quite similar to the first Lancia Rally (#58040) but is not quite the same as the wheelarches are smaller, body mounts are re-located and the glass is different on this re-release of the Lancia 037 body. The here used re-release body has a much better likeness to the real car.
The Tamiya Lancia 037 Rally (#58278) is the very last of the TA03-chassis based Tamiya cars, which was released 2 years after the series of TA03 chassis based models had ended.
Especcially for this Limited Edition Tamiya brought back the classic ABS hardshell body of the 1983 Lancia 037 Rally. The previous Tamiya model with this body was model #58040, which had a Subaru Brat chassis and was created just before the Frog.
The original mold was actually duplicated with a few modifications, namely smaller wheel wells (to scale this time), relocated body mount holes, and a few new detail mounting holes. A new full wraparound window insert is also included. Retained are the highly detailed night-driving light buckets and numerous hand-painted trim elements, plus they added in scale wipers and side mirrors.
The box art includes a rare photograph of an assembled 037 tearing around a track. It is rare because Tamiya usually puts only drawings of the car on the packaging. Other box panels have engineering drawings of the chassis and key features. The re-issue comes with 3-step mechanical speed controller.
Specification Tamiya Lancia 037 Rally / TA03R-S chassis / Item # 58278
Scale : 1/10
Construction type : assembly kit
Terrain use : multi-purpose
Drive-train : 4WD
Drive type : belt
Drive line : dog bone
Differential type : gear
Suspension : coil spring
Steering mechanism : bell-crank
Shock damper : oil-filled damper
Shock damper material : plastic
Tire type : rubber
Tire tread : radial
Body material : Clear Polycarbonate
Chassis material : plastic
Electronic Speed Control (ESC) : not included
ESC model : n/a
LED Light buckets : no
LED lights : no
Motor : 540-brushed type
Bearings : metal and plastic bushings
Adjustable camber : fixed
Adjustable toe angles : front only
Adjustable ground clearance : yes
Adjustable gear ratio : yes
Adjustable wheelbase : fixed
Adjustable track width : fixed
Adjustable shock angle : fixed
Chassis Type: TA03
Overall Length: 416mm
Overall Width: 186mm
Overall Height: 130mm
Weight Fully Equipped: 1,700g
Wheelbase: 237mm
Tread (front and rear): 157mm
4WD Gear Ratio: 8.51:1(OP gear use 4.76-9.93)
Tire Width (f/r): 27mm
Caster Angle (f/r): 10 deg./3 deg.
Requires A : 7.2 battery & charger
Requires B : 2-channel radio gear
Requires C : polycarbonate paint
Requires D : electronic speed control
About the original car build by Lancia:
The Lancia 037 Rally was developed in accordance with 1983 World Rally Championship, Group B regulations. Adapted from the Lancia Beta Monte Carlo, the glass-fiber reinforced resin body was designed by Sergio Pininfarina and encases a 2 liter 4 cylinder super-charged engine that boasts over 300 horse power. The car’s reliability and top condition helped earn it the title of Manufacturers’ Champion.
