Tamiya, why oh why did you do that....

Dan,
Tamiya still make a whole bunch of those fantastically detailed car models - engine, suspension and everything.......they also make a whole bunch of curbside kits......
You just gotta pick your poison carefully.
Normally, a Tamiya model that has full chassis detail will have transparent top and side views of the car on the side of the box showing the suspension and engine detail.
The curbside kits have the same top and side views, but the views aren't transparent.

That isn't a hard and fast rule, though. I'm currently building Tamiya's Austin Mini Cooper 1275s, which is NOT curbside, and noticed on the box that the views on the side are not transparent. It does say in fairly small print on the top of the box, however "completely detailed engine bay". Make sure you have a close inspection of the box before you buy it!

I hate to tell you man but curbside is the NORM for kits from Japan. Tamiya, Fujimi, Aoshima, Hasegawa..all of them. They also tend to be right ahnd drive too!, although I hav ebeen seeing some issue with optional parts for left hand drive. The kits normally have great detail and fantastic fit just no engine. Unless you see the words detailed engine and left hand drive, or see picture of both on the box assume they are not there. Best bet is to ask around on forums or at local shops if this is an issue with you.

 I used to buy for the hobby dept at our local shop.  Since most kits form Japan came in non-shrink wrapped (another odd forgein habit) I would check the kits and label them if they did not include engines and left hand drives. This tended to prevent a lot of return later :)

Hope This Helps...Andy