I have had it for years, it was originally running 9.6v nicad but when that died I just stopped using it.
I decided to try it on a 3s lipo and it was quite fast for a little while but then everything just stopped again. (It was the platform I first tried my FPV gear on.)
Out came the dremel, removed all the original electronics, fitted a cheap servo for steering, a $9 brushed ESC and a Turnigy receiver I had lying around.
Programmed up the Turnigy 9x and the result was a working car again, but with no reverse.
As I said, I found and fitted a reversible ESC and Jacob is happy.
The steering could do with something better as every time it hits something reasonably hard it seems to jump a few teeth. A proper steering servo and some sort of servo saver would probably help but this was just a project that Jacob and I could do together to get something working out of a few cheap parts and a broken car.

Judging by the way he throws it around, a proper little 1/10 or 1/8 car or SCT might be the go for his next birthday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-I1fkDrCqQ