This was the seventh Tamiya model to use the M03 chassis, the first being the Rover Mini Cooper Racing car (#58211). The construction of this chassis has three variations. There is the basic M03 short wheelbase, the M03M medium wheelbase and the M03L long wheelbase.

  Like its predecessor the M01, the M03 is a front wheel drive, front mounted motor design, with bevel gear differential and four coil spring over friction shock absorbers, instead of the two mono shocks of the M01.

  To get the best from this car you need to make a couple of alterations. First, replace the plastic bush type bearings with a set of Ball bearings. This should be done when you build the car. If you run the car with the plastic ones installed, dust and grit get into them that damage the drive shafts. Secondly, replace the friction dampers with oil filled ones. This vastly improves the cars handling.

  To drive, the M03 is a definite improvement over the M01. However, because of its high centre of gravity, it still takes some practice to keep the car on four wheels when cornering … great fun though.