Some
details of
"The
Look"
The original
FIA race
cars were hand formed at the AC factory in
England before
being
shipped to the US for the engine installation, and ultimately,
competition.
Unfortunately, as happens in racing, all but one of the
original
cars
were damaged enough to be re-bodied at one time or another.
To make our original
prototype buck
(a perfect body to take a mold from),
we first bought
a
buck that was used to make replacement bodies for the race cars.
Unfortunately, we found that the shape just didn't match up
to
the
pictures we had of the original cars. Finally, in
desparation, we
flew
to Arizona, where the only un-rebodied FIA had a home. Phil
Gaudette,
our President, spent two days going over that original car with camera,
tape
measure and template to utterly define the
PERFECT
289FIA SHAPE. |
![Front corner](img/fdetail.jpg) |
For those who need more
protection, we
also offer the
full complement
of street equipment, including bumpers, grill and grill guard.
This car also has
wire wheels and smooth
hood.
Even the oil cooler scoop can be deleted.
You can
choose to have the chrome
plated
street bumpers (at right) or
use
the
quick jackpads
that the original
Cobras
raced with. Stewart Warner instruments are standard. Smiths
instruments
(which were only used on the British 289s) are optional.
Front and rear
bumper hoops are
optional.
If you are going to drive your car daily, the extra protection is
useful. |
![Street bumpers](img/strtbump.jpg) |
![Hood inner panel construction](img/hoodinnr.jpg) | Look
at the details: Correct
flares, both front and rear. Doors with concave
rear edges. Forward-braced roll bar. Trunk lid
with bumps for
the
FIA suitcase (or a smooth lid, for the street look), and a authentic
aluminum trunk laid
out as original.
Our
windshield
(in chrome-plated brass
-
it will exactly replace an original) can be laid back 6 degrees or
mounted
in a more upright (street) angle. And many, many more details
that
only an expert would notice.
Our inner hood and trunk inner panels are fully finished, with
all
the correct
hardware. Even the hood prop (seen at the left) is detailed
like
few
others would attempt.
Our engine
bay
has aluminum wheel houses and brushed aluminum
firewall,
with
fiberglass footboxes, as original. The pedestal that carried the
original
transverse leaf and expansion tank is there too. Our trunk duplicates
the
original configuration, with aluminum panels for everything except for
the
spare tire well. |
Original-style
rectangular tail-lights, license plate light and jackpads are standard.
The license bracket and bungy hold-down
system are
optional. | ![Tail lights](img/tailites.jpg) |
The throttle box, wiper mount and cowl reinforcing tubes are
details
that
would normally be included only in a kit that costs twice as much.
Authentic exterior
hardware
is standard.
The windshield is chrome plated brass, and is mounted so that it can be
adjusted
to either the stock street angle or the flattened installation of the
race
cars. The door handles and latch mechanisms are reproductions
of
the
originals. We even include the stainless steel side curtain and top
frame
receptacles. With the street option, door and trunk gaskets and
aluminum
door moldings are included.
The fuel
filler is polished
aluminum,
with a spring loaded latch system. Even the proper exterior side
mirrors
are included.
Original style 3 5/8" and 2 5/8" Stewart
Warner
instruments are standard. All but the tachometer
are exactly
as
used in the original race car. We are working on a reproduction of the
original
90 degree sweep Sun tachometer.
The standard (Competition style)
aluminum dashboard
has no glovebox
and the
speedometer is in front of the passenger. If you wish, we can shift the
speedometer and add the glovebox to the configuration immediately
below.
Since the basic kit is a duplicate of a race car, the doors have no
upholstery.
Thinly upholstered (vinyl) racing bucket seats hold you firmly but
comfortably.
All the original aluminum interior panels and tunnel are exposed. |
![comp dash](img/smcompdash.jpg) | With
our
Street
Interior,
the doors are upholstered and have a storage pocket like the
original
289 street car. Duplicates of the street 289 seats are covered in black
vinyl
as standard, leather and other colors are available on special order.
|
![Small standard dashboard](img/smstrtdash.jpg) | A
dropped-center
dashboard,
with clock, is also available at extra cost. |
![Small dropped dash](img/smdashdrop.jpg) |
E.R.A.
is unique in offering as standard
ducted
fresh air
to the footboxes. All the
necessary
ducting,
valves and controls are
included.
E.R.A. even drills the holes in the cowl and supplies the male
Lift-a-Dot
fasteners for the tonneau and soft top.
The engine compartment has holes for all the
components
pre-punched.
All the aluminum is
covered
in protective plastic film to prevent marking during the kit-building
process.
The fuse boxes, relays and wiring harness are included with the wiring
harness.
Our standard roll
bar is
visually just
like the original, with a forward brace to the floor. It's
sturdily
mounted to the main chassis rails and fully
functional.
For a
street driven car, you can choose
the
optional front and rear
over-riders.
Optional bumper hoops offer even more protection.
![Fuel filler cap](img/fuelfill.jpg) | Authentic
exterior
hardware is standard.
The
windshield is chrome plated brass. The fuel
filler
is polished aluminum, with a spring loaded latch
system.
We
supply all the connections to the tank, including vent and drain lines.
Of
course, all the parts are already installed on the kit, complete with
custom
gasket seal between the cap and body. No drilling or hole
cutting
is
necessary. |
Original style
mirrors,
both fender and dash, are supplied with the kit, appropriate to whether
you
are getting a standard competition (at right) or street model.
| ![Windshield mirror](img/windmirror2.jpg)
We
also offer
windshield-mounted left
and right rear view mirrors. |
E.R.A. even
drills the holes in the cowl and supplies
the male
Lift-a-Dot
fasteners for the
tonneau
and soft top.
Our optional oil
cooler is
mounted with
special aluminum shrouding. Also
included in the oil cooler kit are all the hoses
with
"aeroquip"
style anodized aluminum fittings ,and the block adapter.
The engine compartment firewall is brushed
aluminum, with the holes for the firewall
components
pre-punched.
The fuse boxes, relays and wiring harness are included.
E.R.A. offers a steering
wheel
(15" instead
of the original 16") and upper column that are
visually
identical
to the original, complete with the proper center cap.
|