Here are links to some closer pics of the car (sorry, not the best pics in the world). That plastic piece looks like it belongs, not an "oops, forgot to remove it from the parts" thing.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ars/RC10_4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ars/RC10_3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ars/RC10_2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ars/RC10_1.jpg
The plastic piece I'm talking about is in front of the shock tower base, and is black (errr...greyish) in the pictures. It lies on the chassis, and looks like the piece, along with the a-arm pieces, are all one. I'll find out for sure when I disassemble this weekend. I gotta clean this thing up - it's terrible looking in the pics, but is in decent shape. Came with 3 bodies, all pretty decent.
Also - any idea why the steering servo is mounted crooked-like? I'd think that I'll want to straighten it up, so the long side of it runs parallel to the lenght of the car.