Mercedes CLK-GTR
Model
Tamiya Mercedes CLK-GTR, model number 58214 released in 1998 and available on the market until 2002
Lexan body with accessories (rear wing, Mercedes emblem and rearview mirrors) in white Styrene
TA03R chassis, 257 mm wheelbase
Analysis of the model to be restored
The images below are an integral part of the listing published on a well-known online sales site.
The model in question includes:
– a TA03R chassis that has been extensively upgraded with several accessories (shown on the left in the image) and
– a new Mercedes CLK-GTR body complete with packaging (shown on the right in the image, code 50786, which corresponds to the Lexan body complete with decals and styrene parts).
Currently (2025), the following codes are available on the market:
– 11825176 for the Lexan body only,
– 19494222 for the double decal sheet and
– 9006833 part H, which includes the spoiler, mirrors and Mercedes emblem.
These parts are intended for the 47437 Mercedes CLK TR model equipped with the TT01-E chassis, which has the same wheelbase as the TA03R.
The plastic bathtub chassis of model 58124 has been replaced with the higher-performance carbon fiber chassis, code 53363, described as the “TA-03R Carbon Chassis set.” This chassis comes standard on the TA-03R TRF, model number 58227.
From the top view (image on the left), the chassis appears to be in excellent condition; however, from the bottom view (image on the right), the chassis shows the typical signs of track wear. Debris has left clear lines on the surface most in contact with the road.
The chassis analysis shows that some parts are made of grey plastic. Grey plastic is used in the standard TA03R versions, while black plastic is used in the TA03R TRF version. The black plastic parts can be purchased separately at a later time.
The following parts are in grey plastic:
– lower suspension arms (first and second row),
– central frame for the battery,
– double lever steering system (image on the left of the last row).
From the images, some grey plastic parts can be seen that are standard on the TA03R chassis:
– front pulley (image on the left, first row) in white plastic,
– rear pulley (image on the right, first row) in white plastic,
– spring dampers in black plastic (image on the left, second row) and
– two servo mount columns for the steering system in black plastic.
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From the images, some black plastic parts can be seen that are standard on the TA03R TRF chassis:
– front gearbox case, currently (2025) available under code 10005671 defined as “B-Parts Front Gearbox case TA03R”
– rear gearbox case, currently (2025) available under code 10005657 defined as “A-Parts Rear Gearbox case TA03R and TA03RS”
– code 53304 described as “TA03R urethane bumper set”
– central steering arm
The model is fitted with both anti-roll bars: the front one is powder-coated yellow (part of set 53276 described as “TA-03 Fluorescent Stabilizer Set”), while the rear one is grey without powder coating. At the rear, accessory code 53312 described as “TA03 Carbon Stabilizer Support” is present. These bars are completely absent on the base TA03R model.
Another installed accessory is the adjustable upper suspension arms, code 53192 described as “4WD/FWD Upper Arm,” which is an add-on part even for the TA03R TRF chassis. Further analysis of the model shows that the accessory equipment is not limited to the visible parts:
– code 53056 described as “Pin Type wheel Adapter”
– code 53266 described as “TA03 Stainless Steel Suspension Shaft Set”
– code 53310 described as “Universal Drive Shaft”
– the electric motor gears are in white Teflon, module 0.4 (image on the lower left)
To complete this restoration, additional accessories listed in the instruction manual (image on the right) are available; these further align the TA03R chassis with the factory equipment of the TA03R TRF version:
– code 53275 described as “TA-03 Aluminium motor heat sink”
– code 53316 described as “TA-03 Aluminium front hub carrier 1 pair”
– code 53288 described as “TA-03 Aluminium Rear Upright”
– code 50473 described as “RC Hi-Torque Servo Saver”
– code 53280 high-performance low-friction alloy dampers
Code 50473, described as “RC Hi-Torque Servo Saver,” is a steering saver specifically developed for the TRF series.
The tires and rims are particularly worn, but as of today (2025) the white rims, code 300053468 described as “Narrow touring car – white,” and the tires, code 50454 described as “Racing Slick Tires,” are still available on the market.
To complete the electrical section, the DYNA-RUN electric motor, code 53263 and the C.P.R. unit P160F are available.
Chassis Restoration
To begin the restoration, the chassis must be completely disassembled, separating the parts according to the material they are made of (image on the left, first row): carbon, metal and plastic.
– The plastic parts (black or grey) are washed with hot water and degreasing kitchen soap (image on the right, first row); to reach the most difficult corners, use a toothbrush.
– The metal parts are left for one week in a container filled with diesel fuel (image on the left, second row); the diesel chemically attacks oxidation and grease and after the bath the parts return as new, covered by a thin oil film that protects them from the corrosive action of oxygen.
Treat the carbon parts with abrasive polishing compound to reduce the depth of scratches and make the surfaces glossy. Tamiya provides three different treatments that vary in grain size. Apply these products in order:
– 87068 “Coarse,” the largest grain size, used to work the edges of the deepest lines (image on the left, first row);
– 87069 “Fine,” the medium grain size, which removes the marks left by the Coarse (image on the right, first row);
– 87070 “Finish,” the finest grain size, which makes the surface glossy (image on the left, second row).
Spread the compound on the surface to be treated, using a fiber cloth and applying a constant, wavy motion to polish until the compound disappears. Repeat this operation two or three times before moving on to the next step.
If the part shows many deep cuts, it is better to consider using a different tool. Replace the cloth and manual action with a hobby drill equipped with a polishing accessory: a fabric disc. The action of the electric motor of the hobby drill is far more effective than any manual effort.
After processing, the parts look better than they did initially. The underside of the main plate and the area in contact with the steering servo of the central frame still show signs of use, but it is not possible to improve further without resorting to more invasive methods.ades
The plastic parts (first row, black parts on the left and grey parts on the right), the metal parts (second row, left) and the low-friction dampers (on the right in the second row, the original spring dampers have been serviced and restored to factory condition) are ready to be assembled.
The shock absorber springs are part of set number 53440 described as “On-road Tuned Hard Spring Set.” The red springs (soft) are installed on the front axle and the blue springs (hard) are installed on the rear axle.
The main sections of this chassis are three: front, central and rear. The instructions begin by illustrating the steps to complete the front section, which includes the steering system, suspension and gears. The following accessory parts are installed:
– front ball differential, set number 53267 described as “TA03 Ball Differential”
– one-piece drive shafts, set number 53172 described as “TA-03 Universal Drive Shaft 1 pair,” anodized gold, reserved for the TA03 TRF family
– front bumper, code 53304 described as “TA03R Urethane Bumper Set”
– adjustable upper suspension arms, code 53192 described as “4WD/FWD Upper Arm”
All plastic parts are black except for the right and left lower arms, which are grey. The 15-tooth belt pulley is the standard TA03R chassis part in white plastic.
The second section to be assembled is the rear part, which includes the suspension system, gearbox with differential and motor. The following accessory parts are installed:
– front ball differential, set number 53267 described as “TA03 Ball Differential”
– Dyna-Run Racing Stock motor, code 53272
All plastic parts are black except for the right and left lower arms, which are grey. The 15-tooth belt pulley is the standard TA03R chassis part in white plastic.
The last part to be assembled is the central section, consisting of the carbon fiber plate.
For the battery holder section, black plastic inserts were chosen instead of grey ones. The grey plastic connectors (Part J code 50703 item “1”) and the black plastic connectors (Part K code 01152241 items “5” and “6”) serve the same function but differ in shape. The grey connectors have a curvilinear design in the central area, while the black ones always feature right angles. The black inserts allow the installation of the battery lock with an aluminum plate.
On the steering servo, the servo saver with three metal rings is installed, which is part of the standard equipment of TA03 TRF chassis. All plastic parts are black except for the two steering levers and the two side pieces used to secure the battery, which are grey. Two grey metal anti-roll bars are also present, without powder coating.
The three sections have been joined to form a single body, making it possible to install the four tires and complete the installation of the electronics with the two-in-one unit (receiver and motor speed controller) C.P.R. unit P160F. The rims have been painted in TS17 gray, the same color used for the rear wing. The two grey plastic steering levers have been replaced with two equivalent black plastic levers (image on the right of the second row).
The chassis is now finished and complete in every part; the individual components are not new, but they are intact and the chassis is ready to run. Compared to the base TA03R version, this chassis has been equipped with many accessories that make it closer to a TA03R TRF chassis:
– code 50473 described as “RC Hi-Torque Servo Saver”
– code 53056 described as “Pin Type Wheel Adapter”
– code 53172 described as “TA-03 Universal Drive Shaft 1 pair”
– code 53192 described as “4WD/FWD Upper Arm”
– code 53266 described as “TA03 Stainless Steel Suspension Shaft Set”
– code 53267 described as “TA03 Ball Differential” front and rear
– code 53272 described as “Dyna-Run Racing Stock Motor”
– code 53275 described as “TA-03 Aluminium Motor Heat Sink”
– code 53278 described as “TA03 Aramid Fiber Reinforced Drive Belt”
– code 53280 described as “TA03 Super Low Friction Damper Set”
– code 53288 described as “TA-03 Aluminium Rear Upright”
– code 53304 described as “TA03R Urethane Bumper Set”
– code 53312 described as “TA03 Carbon Stabilizer Support”
– code 53316 described as “TA-03 Aluminium Front Hub Carrier 1 pair”
– code 53363 described as “TA-03R Carbon Chassis Set”
– code 53440 described as “On-road Tuned Hard Spring Set”
– code 10005671 defined as “B-Parts Front Gearbox Case TA03R”
– code 10005657 defined as “A-Parts Rear Gearbox Case TA03R and TA03RS”
– electric motor gears in white Teflon, module 0.4
– central battery frame and double steering lever in black plastic
Images showing the completed chassis restored to factory condition with a full list of additional equipment.
Body
Trim the Lexan body by removing all excess parts; use long-blade scissors for straight sections, short-blade scissors for curved sections and a hobby drill with a cylindrical cutter to shape the wheel arches (images in the first row).
It is important not to leave sharp corners in the cuts; every part must be rounded so that, in case of impact, the Lexan does not crack, which is more likely when sharp edges are present. Wash the inside of the body with kitchen soap and hot water to remove residual oil from the thermoforming process. Dry the inside with a kitchen cloth to prevent limescale stains from forming as the water droplets evaporate (images in the second row). Cut out and apply the masks to the cockpit windows (image in the last row).
Before starting to apply color to the body, cut the styrene parts from the mold. Remove any plastic burrs with a metal file. Place the parts to be painted on thin wooden supports (for example, toothpicks) that can be fixed onto a base (such as a thick cardboard sheet or removable adhesive putty). Apply two coats of fine gray primer to prepare the surfaces for painting.
Prepare the rims in the same way.
Apply the coats of color to the body and the styrene parts in this order:
– PC5 black for the lower lip of the front spoiler, to be applied inside the Lexan body (on Lexan parts, apply darker colors first and then lighter ones)
– PS12 gray for the Lexan body, to be applied inside the Lexan body
– X8 Lemon Yellow for the two styrene rearview mirrors
– TS17 gray for the lower rear spoiler in styrene and the four rims
– X18 flat black for the two styrene supports of the lower rear spoiler
– TS29 flat black for the upper rear spoiler in styrene
Once the inside of the body has been painted, the protective outer film can be removed (image on the right in the first row). At this point, it is possible to check how the body fits with the chassis (image in the second row). Finally, the decals can be applied to the body, a process that takes more than two hours of work.
Images showing the finished body.
Restored model
Images showing the finished model, bringing the chassis back to optimal condition for tackling the track.
Update
Additional black plastic parts have been found on the market: the four lower suspension arms and the left-side battery holder (image on the left of the second row). The conversion from TA03R to TA03R TRF is complete except for the right-side battery holder, which is still grey plastic (image on the right of the second row).
TA03R chassis fully revised and converted into a TA03R TRF using original parts, shown from the bottom (image on the left) and from the top (image on the right).
