ERA vs Unique FIA

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by A/S65

Unique
ERA

IMOO, the ERA holds more the classic lines - especially the doors. Here two pictures of the original.






If I would build a kit - my choice is the ERA. Besides the body the chassis looks more appalling to me and is well engineered.

[Rodney D]

Being 6'2" does the ERA have good leg room?

[A/S65]

Well I met up with Wolf k today to check out his ERA 289. Thanks for taking the time to show me around the car and especially for the ride. The ERA is a solid car for sure, was very impressed with the quality all around.

[wolf k]

Your welcome Troy.

Rodney D; I am 6'2" I have comp seat mounted as far back as possible, pedals adjusted forward. I would call leg room still tight, but not cramped. My problem is left leg, as there is no room between clutch pedal and footwell to stretch out, you have to cock your leg and wedge your left foot on the dead pedal.

[Fullchat289]

Glad you got to see an ERA, Troy! Wolf's is definitely a nice example. Confused yet?...lol

- Allen.

[A/S65]

Allen no more than before. I couldnt believe how nice it rode. No rattles,squeaks. We easily carried on a conversation going down the road. His Weber equipped small block is so well mannered. In a nutshell I was very impressed.

[PDUB]

Have you seen the Unique 289 yet Troy?

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

IMOO, the ERA holds more the classic lines - especially the doors. Here two pictures of the original.

I agree with G-Pete. Something about the Unique 289 that makes it look more like a morphed 427 and seems a bit heavy looking in front and back. For my taste, this is the standard for 289 FIA cars and ERA captures it best by a long shot.

[A/S65]

Not yet Paul. Ive been trying to get down to Gadsden, no luck with that yet.

[moore_rb]

I know I'm waking a 4 year old thread back up, but this afternoon our local club had a get-together, and I had the opportunity to photograph My Unique 289 USRRC style car, side by side with a similarly styled ERA 289 FIA car.

I figured these pics might help anyone in the future who is trying to decide between these 2 manufacturers for their 289 build.

First are the rear shots, showing the differences between the wheel flares

Unique on the left, ERA on the right-

(This shot also demonstrates the difference between ERA's "perky butt" versus Unique's "droopy butt" - The Unique on the left is running 28 inch tall rear tires, versus 26" tall rear tires on the ERA car, and yet the tail lights are still about an inch or so lower on the Unique.)



no trunk bumps (left), versus trunk bumps (right):



Close up of the rear fenders- Unique on the right, ERA on the left:



Side views, Unique on the left, ERA on the right:

[moore_rb]

Front views- ERA on left, Unique on the right:





And front fender closeups- ERA on left, Unique on the right:

[1795]

Robert,

Thanks for the comparison photos. We usually do not end up with such detail and having the two cars side-by-side really helps.

[Tig65gs]

Hi, i don't no much about the unique car but i have an early ERA 289 fia car with 33,000 miles on it and it doesn't have a squeak or rattle in it and to boot i left all the aluminum panels exposed with no carpet.I have several cars and it is always my favorite to drive.

[Jdata]

By those pictures, I like flares on Unique.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Jdata

By those pictures, I like flares on Unique.

They are more "427" than the original FIA flares. The front flares on an FIA are almost "flat" where the Unique flares are rounded in 427 fashion.

Both are great cars and this is not a dis on either one. If "original"
is not a high priority then go with what you like!

[xb-60]

Valuable comparison shots, thanks for posting them.
My only comment on the ERA FIA - and it's a very minor negative - is that the dash panel is too deep. You could almost fit another row of gauges above the top row.
This is only really obvious when the ERA car has a roadster dash panel as this car does; on an ERA FIA with the more normal comp. dash, you wouldn't notice it.

Cheers,
Glen

[Jdata]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

They are more "427" than the original FIA flares. The front flares on an FIA are almost "flat" where the Unique flares are rounded in 427 fashion.

Both are great cars and this is not a dis on either one. If "original"
is not a high priority then go with what you like!

I have never studied the 289 FIA. I thought regardless of model, the actual cars weren't consistent in their shapes.

[66gtk]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Valuable comparison shots, thanks for posting them.
My only comment on the ERA FIA - and it's a very minor negative - is that the dash panel is too deep. You could almost fit another row of gauges above the top row.
This is only really obvious when the ERA car has a roadster dash panel as this car does; on an ERA FIA with the more normal comp. dash, you wouldn't notice it.

Cheers,
Glen

My ERA has the comp style FIA dash - LOVE IT! I also like the 427 dash offering and the street 289 offering on these cars. It's all about personal choices.

[tboneheller]

Both are nice, but for me, the ERA sloping radiator and the hood scoop make it far more appealing.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Jdata

I have never studied the 289 FIA. I thought regardless of model, the actual cars weren't consistent in their shapes.

They aren't but to a degree there are certain 'tells" that the FIAs had and the flatter front flares are one of them.

Here are the front flares on a Superformance FIA: