01/18/2012

1/32nd Scale NINCO Jaguar E-Type Coupe #50579

Among classic car aficionados the Jaguar E-Type ranks at the top of the list on looks alone. When NINCO announced they were releasing this model, quite a few enthusiasts were eager to get one in their hands. The time has arrived so let us take a closer look and see if this is the classic slot car you have been waiting for.

The first thing you should do is research this car on your own. Reading about the 1:1 version explains why this toy car is so important to so many. This release is based on the Coupe version and comes on a special marked 50th Anniversary base.

Opening the box and getting my first glimpse of the model was pleasing. Not every classic car in our hobby has the appeal the Jaguar does.

As always, I hope the photos will tell you all you need to know. Did NINCO capture this model accurately enough for you?

Our model is the red road car which normally do not interest me, but this is very attractive regardless. There is slight gap noticeable between the upper portion of the body and the bottom half of the chassis. Not a lot, but I must mention it.

Quick Notes:

Length: 142.25MM

Height (Ground to Rooftop): 38MM

Width: 55.25MM

Wheelbase: 76MM

A comparison shot with two other NINCO classics.

The car is molded in red with a heavy clear coat to shine it up nicely. The detail level is about as good as it will get on a street car, but I was happily surprised that our driver is in "race form" sporting a helmet. I suppose if you wanted to, you could add some meatball numbers on here to give it a more racing feel thanks to this. But I doubt many will bother. It is a collectible after all and if you want one in race trim, one is available.

Wheels seem to be the same as found on other classic releases like early Jags and Healeys. Only difference is the two prong knock off as far as my eyes and calipers can tell. Tires are standard classic 20x7 that will need some truing if you plan to run it. This is a plus for many as stock NINCO rubber is quite popular. Once sanded and clean, they really can provide realistic grip.

Turning the model over we get our first peek and the new chassis and motor configuration. The front motor system is now here along with a visible bar magnet near the rear. The NC-9 "Sparker" motor is the power-plant of choice and should be more than enough for most classic race fans.

One screw in front and one in the rear hold the body well enough to the bottom chassis assembly. Once removed we get a closer look. Here we see the big change with the motor being mounted up front instead of in the rear like all other classics.

If you asked almost any veteran enthusiast, this front motor configuration is the least desirable in the hobby from a performance standpoint. Excess vibration from oversized driveshaft bushings along with bent or misaligned coupling springs have been the main reasons this design has such a reputation.

Of course the configuration is chosen for this model so the interior would fit. The standard inline configuration like past classics simply would not do given the depth of the interior tray.

Be careful of the front tabs on the motor. They use the quick disconnect feature but they come very close to making contact with the front axle. I bent mine up a little further while the body was off to make sure they clear.

Not that it matters, but I have tuned front motor models in the past with pretty good results. They do not stack up against other designs in performance even when they are tuned, but in the case of this model it really does not present much of an issue. Unless you get the other race trim Jaguar there is not a lot of choices to run it against. All NINCO classics in the series before this are inline and have a variety of different motors, none of which are the NC-9.

Testing

Our first few test laps revealed a well running model out of the box, but some tire sanding was needed to reduce the wheel hop. This car surprised me a little as it did not have much vibration issues and the overall feel of the car was very positive. I have to give NINCO credit here as I was not expecting a lot with this front motor configuration.

If you are a classic car fan, just the sight of it snaking through your course should bring a smile.

After some quick wheel and tire sanding it was back to the track and this time things were much improved. The overall operation was much smoother and almost no hop into the corners or coming out under hard throttle. This is without any other modifications. True racers will learn fast what to do in the tuning departments and I can only imagine the feedback we will see in the future.

It is an all new model complete with a new chassis and motor choice for the classic line. A stand alone model to say the least, but some of you like slot cars with a very individual flair. This one certainly has that. As far as price and compatibility with other NINCO classic models are concerned, only you can make the call if this model is worth the investment.

Veteran NINCO classic enthusiasts will ponder on it I am sure, and the most stubborn of them will get a hold of these and make them run the way they think it should.

NINCO has done a good job in scale with this release and fans of this car will likely grab them up as fast as they can. With some slight tuning you should find a enjoyable slot car that will provide hours of classic fun. Matching it with another will give you some close racing and that just doubles the fun factor.

- Harry