Brand new 1988 Funder wheels

[Yukon Joe]

Hi, this kart has been sitting new in the box in my father in laws garage for 32 years. My kids are still small (oldest turns 5 in a couple weeks). Wondering if its worth trying to sell or just holding onto for my kids?

Im a complete newbie at go karts, but I've worked in my dad's mechanic shop. Any nuances or tips you guys can give me would be great.

Thanks,
Yukon Joe

 

[gegcorp2012]

Wow, nice kart.

I visited the Don Garltiz museum in Ocala Florida in 2000 and became a Big Daddy fan.

I saw several models of his dragster, the Swamp Rat. I do not know the trivia behind Swamp Rat xxx, but I would guess it could be a tribute car.

Yep, that's it.
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1276317
says...
Swamp Rat XXX won the National Hot Rod Association championship in 1986 with a quarter-mile speed of 272.55 miles an hour. It crashed at a race in Spokane, Washington, and, along with Garlits, retired from active competition...


You have a good start there reading the manuals, so that should get you going.

Feel free to ask and post more pics if you have specific questions about the components or getting it going.


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[JTSpeedDemon]

WHOOA!! NEW IN BOX??? I've seen original, but that's astounding!! I say charge an absurd price like $2K, see if there are any takers, and if there are, sell it and use the money to buy 3 beater go karts!
Of course, if there's no takers, it would be cool to rip around on.

Sick find!

 

[itsid]

unfortunaly the smaller kid size if I'm seeing that correctly..
the adult size would indeed be worth quite an amount I'd bet.

There might be few people out there interested in a small kids kart nowadays
(assuming all that remember it are now at least 32 years old, right )
A museum, the bar on an old racetrack or such might indeed be interested
to have it as a show piece.

Also there are auction sites for vintage toys,
they also sell karts occasionally
(seen mini mustangs, mercedes and porsches and such usually steel bodies though)
But it wouldn't harm to ask them for an opinion.

since after all NIB is about as good as it gets..
even if the box was now opened and technically isn't "in box" any longer.

'sid

PS DO NOT change the tires to inflate them, do not put oil in the engine etc
unless you are indeed wanting to keep that kart; any miniscule change of state
- in case you find the one collector - will cause a rather absurdly lowered price.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Thank you for the replies.

Yes, it is a cool little kids karts, my boys can't stop sitting in it. Looks like similar karts go for about $1200 new on ebay. My DW reached out to the Garlits museum to see if they were interested in it. I'll poke around the suggested vintage toy sites to see what someone might be looking for. Unless I find someone or the museum jumping up and down and screaming that they want it, we'll probably keep it and enjoy it.

I do wish it was a bit larger so I could putz it around with them, but it is pretty small. The throttle looks like it has a governor on it, so I should be able to tone it down for the kids.

Is there a debate on the type of fuel to use? i.e. methanol free only or won't matter. or is it debated to the n'th degree?

Thanks - Yukon.

 

[gegcorp2012]

<joking> I think top fuelers prefer nitromethane.

PS don't do this, but it seems to be a flathead motor on nitromethane.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e_jrAoJp8XE

</joking>

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[itsid]

as little ethanol as possible for an engine that was made 30+ years ago.

modern day engines usually don't care about 5-10% of ethanol, most are even happy with up to 20%..

but unfortunately that doesn't always hold true for older engines..
all plastic and rubber parts may suffer from ethanol.
And if say the fuel line is turned into sticky goo, it may clogg the carb
and the repair will be tedious.
Or if the intake manifold spacer deteriorates it can do the opposite,
harden and crack and eventually crumble to dust, first few flakes then will get sucked into the combustion chamber and you not only burn plastics but you also scar piston and cylinder.

and while you can test all visible plastic parts with a drop of pure ethanol to see if they change strength, colour or texture and know to stay aways..
the internal plastic parts, gaskets and whatnot might still kick your behind.

So if you have to.. it's reasonably safe to run 5% ethanol fuel
but do not let it sit in the engine for too long
(fill the tank, run it .. stop, empty the tank, carb and lines ideally flush with pure fuel, store over night)

'sid

 

[outofmyfundermind]

https://www.diygokarts.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=1129&pictureid=7875

Contact me with any questions about Funder Wheels. I‘ve had one for a long time and can probably let you know about anything concerning them.

Brian