The Hanna Econo/Sportsman chassis (STR 129) came out of the tumbler this morning and STR 258 went back in for a final polishing up. I have to say STR 129 came out looking pretty dang good in a Frankenstein kind of way! The bare chassis weighs in at 4.8 oz/138 grams.


I assembled the chassis with a stock 16D motor, threw on a body, and made a few test laps. Even without any chassis tuning or adding lead ballast it ran good! The complete car (with the '56 Chev body) weighs 8.5 oz/242 grams.


I wish I knew the history on this chassis. The side pans were widened with narrow strips of .092" brass, butt soldered to the pans. From the looks of it I'd say it was done when the chassis was originally built. It looks like the center joint that connects the two side pans was changed from rectangular tubing to round, limiting up and down movement of the side pans. Holes were drilled in the pans for body mounting with recessed screws. A rectangular hole was cut in the center section for lead ballast. Lead placement for ballast and tuning will be up to the next owner........
I have to say the tumbler sure makes chassis look good! They say; "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit" but, after you pull it out of the tumbler it may not be chicken salad, but it looks like really shiney chicken shit!