Team Associated’s B4 is the latest generation of the 5-time IFMAR World Championship-winning heritage of RC10 buggies.
As far back as 1989, there were grainy spy photos and a few sporadic sightings of a radical new buggy under development by Team Associated. Then at the 1991 IFMAR World Offroad Championships in Detroit, the Team unveiled their hand-built prototype "Stealth" cars, noted for their distinctive front suspensions and unusual shock mounting locations. Masami Hirosaka piloted the RC10 "Stealth" buggy to the World Championship win, and the prototypes were whisked back to Team Associated's California R&D department (Area 51) where they would not emerge for over a decade.
Now, Team Associated brings years of development and new technologies together by introducing the RC10B4 "Stealth" buggy . . . the most adjustable, tunable RC10 buggy ever produced.
After 12 years, the Stealth car is finally perfected.
This all-new buggy re-introduces the forward-swept front end and rear-mounted shock configuration of the original Stealth car, optimized with the new co-planar Ackerman steering geometry. This new suspension design provides maximum front-end clearance and minimizes bump-steer while maintaining correct buggy Ackerman angles. Trailing front axle or optional inline steering blocks can be used to adjust steering response.
The B4 chassis provides a super-low center of gravity by lowering the motor, battery, wing and even the shock mounting positions, enabling much higher cornering speeds and stability during jumping and through bumpy sections of the track. The adjustable-angle rear wing mounts and even the transmission case are now integrated into the chassis/suspension structure. The symmetrical suspension arm design has all four arms being the same length, and "captured" hinge pins so that no e-clips are used.
The transmission has also been optimized into an ultra-compact package, and now uses the same 2.6:1 higher torque-capacity differential as the RC10GT. A double-sided slipper assembly (first prototyped by Team Associated in 1989) has been designed with higher torque capacity, easier assembly, and lower rotating mass than comparable double-sided slippers. This provides a finer adjustment range and more efficient slipper operation.
The B4 uses new offset-front wheels and "wide-body" front tires. The rear wheels are now interchangeable with other manufacturer’s buggies, enabling pre-mounted tires for standardized "spec" class racing to easily be used. The B4 is topped off with an all-new, super low-profile body and adjustable rear wing, providing a sleek, aggressive look on the track.
The RC10B4 does not include motor, pinion gear, battery, radio or electronics. Body is clear and requires poly-carbonate paints to complete.
