Here you go, a direct photographic comparison. M05 - M03.



Look closely and all the major components (motor, battery,etc) do not appear to have moved relative to each other.

Rear shock mounts appear identical in configuration. Front mounts are very different - adding more weight to my initial argument that the driving force behind the design of this car was to allow the fitment of lower bodyshells...

The whole 'Lower C of G' thing wasn't/isn't a factor. Getting more room at the front was what they were looking for.

OMG thats what that plate is for!

To cover the switch

Did you seriously not know that Marty?

i thought it was a transpoder mount

and where is the reciver

Technically , according to the Tamiya Mini instruction manual, it is a "not used" part

Yeah why is it like something which they used to do way back when....

Ive looked at it a few times after finishing the kit and wondered what an earth it could possibly be for and how it might fit onto another car. I guess that's why you guys have fast cars. You know how to use the go fast options!

M05 Promo Video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPpqwmBcD7I

It was inevitable that it had to happen..



A dedicated section to the M05 is now up on rc-mini.net. All the currently available info all in one place, and updated as soon as we find out anything new. And this is where you'll find the first review (when we can get one..)
HERE

Alright! More spare parts for the tool box. What's the item number on the transponder stay?

Tony - Is the steering in the M05 similar to the Dark Impact?

some pics of fhow thtee M05 changes it's wheelbase...

http://www.geocities.jp/hobby_show_a...a2009/0301.htm
swb - mwb Length

http://www.geocities.jp/hobby_show_a...a2009/0302.htm
all three

http://www.geocities.jp/hobby_show_a...a2009/0303.htm
mwb - lwb


Look closely, and it appears that the wheelbase is changed mainly by moving the rear arms. This goes in combination of moving the rear shock tower and body mounts (looks like three mounting positions on the chassis, and both shock tower and body mount bracket use the same mount)

For the swb, the arms are far forward as poss, with the body mount in the front mounting positions, and the shock tower in the middle one.

For the mwb, the arms appear to moved backwards, with the body mount in the middle mount, and the shock tower in the rear mount.

For the lwb, the arms are in the rear position, but also flipped. The shock mount off the front of the arm, and the body mount is in the rear mount, and the shock tower in the middle one...

So no more chassis spacers anymore...

Regards
Ed

Well done Ed..I'd found the same pics and was busily putting them onto our site while your were typing this!

I'll give em points for doing this, sure we did the same thing with our SWB to MWB conversion 3 years ago.....

Did anyone else notice that the little cards beside the cars in those photos are labelled as "M-03" "M-03M" and "M-03L"?

Oops.

Hey Tony, I also just noticed that on your site you've got sections for the M chassis models 1 through 3 and then you jump to 5. Is there a little "4" prejudice in action here?

Jim

The 04 is not a true mini IMO 'cause it is rear wheel drive

Jim I reckon M03's outsell M04's about 500 to 1.....

And the site reflects the interest level. Given that we've been online now since Sept 2006 and you're the FIRST person to point it out... I'd suggest that our own lack of interest reflects everyone elses!

Oh..and Matt's right.. 4WD and RWD don't count...