I've finally changed from being an 'FIA wannabe'
The build of my 289FIA replica is finally starting. AP (Absolute Pace) are the guys who will be building my car up to roller stage, and it will be AP's first 289FIA car.
Here are some of the basics for the build:
• Chassis__Absolute Pace
• Body____289FIA by Bruce Chervenak
• Engine__SBF
• Gearbox_WR Toploader
• Wheels__15" Trigo Cobra FIA
Inspiration cars are important, and the two for me have always been COB6008 and CSX2259 (Lynn Park's rebuild of the first FIA Cobra).
My car will have the FIA-typical cut-back doors with wide hips, but rather than having the more normal FIA front flares, it will have standard looking roadster front fenders, consistent with COB6008's and CSX2259's setup.
CSX2259, even though re-chassis'd and rebodied, appeals not only because of its colour (Viking Blue) and configuration, but also because it is raced and hence very appropriately 'patinated'.
My car will have the roadster drop-centre dash and RHD, same as COB6008. It will be painted Viking Blue as on CSX2259. COB6008 also was painted Viking blue for a significant part of its life.
My aim is to build a car that looks period correct in the body and interior, and is a competent performer.
The body has just now (last Friday) arrived from Bruce in Pittsburgh and it will be mated with a lightly modified AP 427 chassis. There will be some degree of development work in checking and adjusting the standard AP 427 semi-monocoque chassis so that the FIA body fits correctly and looks right.
The car will be a mix of 'old school' where you can see it, and modern where you can't. An SBF engine and Toploader gearbox, along with the Smiths-instrumented dash, the 15" Trigo FIAs and the colour, are the 'old school' essentials. OK, the gearbox isn't a T-10 as fitted to original 260/289 cars, but it's definitely a period gearbox. The modern part is that aluminium alloy TIG-welded semi-monocoque.
Here's part of what landed last Friday....
