Tamiya TB Evolution Project

Tamiya's history with touring cars began with the TA-01 chassis in 1991.  The first two TA chassis were shaft drive before switching over to belt drive with the TA-03 in 1996.  The TL-01 followed in 1997 and continued for some time, but there were no subsequent chassis versions in that line.  The TB-01 started the longest running line of shaft drive chassis models in 1999.  At the higher end of the touring car line, there was a TRF version of the TA-03 in 1998 followed by the beginning of the official TRF line with the TRF 414 in 2000.  The high end of the shaft drive line began with the first TB Evolution also in 2000.  At the time it was released, the TB-01 was still in production as was the TA-04.  The TB Evolution line seems to perfectly parallel the TRF belt driven line on the shaft driven side, but why they were never marketed as TRF is a bit of a mystery.  There is ample evidence that they were competitively raced just like the belt drive models.  And why were the TRF models not called TA Evolution?  We may never know.

Unlike the regular TB chassis models, the TB Evolution models were never marketed with bodies.  They were sold as chassis only kits like the TRF models.  The packaging of these deluxe models was also unique.  While the name TB Evolution might lead you to believe that the chassis is evolved from the TB-01, it actually shares nothing with that model in terms of parts.  The TB Evo is a shaft driven, double deck carbon chassis model with a rear ball differential, front one-way, and aluminum shocks.  There is all wheel double wishbone suspension with minimal adjustability compared with later models.  It includes sway bars in both the front and rear.  It even comes with wheels and tires, and the tires turned out to be quite special as I'll discuss later.  This model predates the now ubiquitous Tamiya blue anodizing, so the aluminum parts are still just clear anodized.  Set next to the TRF 414, it is immediately clear that they are the same vintage, but unlike that model the TB Evo still uses JIS screws.  That is really the only "low level" part of the kit.  Everything else is premium.  In terms of legacy, the A parts, C parts, F parts, and K parts all come from the nitro powered TGR chassis, while the D parts, E parts, and M parts are new for the TB Evo.  The beautiful dampers are shared with the TRF 414M. 

I'm not totally insane so I won't be driving this chassis, but I did at least put in a motor and a servo.