289 fia question

[peterpjb]

the 289 fia windshield:



is it just the normal windshield tilted back or is it a special windshield ?

thanks for your answers

[CompClassics]

The Cobra in the photo unfortunately is not an original 289 FIA Cobra so I am not certain what the procedure is that the owner / builder used to install this windshield assembly. Having worked on CSX2323, I can tell you that the windshield frame was mounted using one pivot bolt on each side and a stop to limit the amount that the windshield could tilt back.

[LMH]

The windshield is the same as the standard street car but tilted back a little more on an FIA car.
Larry

[CompClassics]

The windshield posts are modified / altered (similar to a door hinge) to permit the windshield to tilt back from the stock position, it's a way to cheat the wind at speed but retain the stock appearance when being scrutinized by the tech inspectors. Otherwise the windshield assembly is the standard Cobra assembly.

[peterpjb]

and ist the tilt back angel well defined e.g. to the lemans-hardtop
or is the angle different in every fia car?

[cobrajeff]

I'd expect the angle to be pretty standardized on Cobras with LeMans hardtops, for the roadsters, pretty much whatever you can get....



This is not an original Cobra either (it's my ERA 289 FIA). The holes in the base of the windshield frame were fairly large, allowing quite a bit of adjustment (I may have hogged them out a bit more...can't recall, it's been nearly twenty years). Adding this much rake to the windshield will affect the shape of side curtains and soft top, if you have one. I had to modify my top bows and tonneau cover to work with my windshield angle.

Jeff

[strictlypersonl]

I had the impression that the cars were theoretically required to run with the stock windshield angle, and that's how they started out each race. As CompClassics said, they left the second bolt out, so the windshield "accidentally" tilted back further as the race progressed. Purely accidental, I'm sure.

[1985 CCX]

Mine is a replica as well, not sure what you guys mean "angle"???

[CompClassics]

As far as I am aware the only 289 Cobras that received this modification were the 1964/65 FIA Cobras, the same 1964/65 USRRC Cobras used the small racing screen like Jeff's.

[G-Pete]

The angle is 43*

That makes the windshield weather strip lay all across the same distance and the windshield frame actually does not touch the body.
In some cases there are stay brackets in the center from the body to the frame.
Besides all that the buffeting is much less than with any other angle.

However the modification of the angle on the FIA cars came with the long straights like on the Nurburgring --- But they got in trouble for that. It is known as the “cheater” tilt-back windshield. Faster car but puts more strain on the driver.




Nurburgring




Targa Florio

[G-Pete]

[peterpjb]

thanks, g-pete, for your precise information

[G-Pete]

Little bit more...

At Targa Florio there were 4 FIA Cobras

CSX 2345 (142) blue later 21 with the cut forward brace on the roll bar --- Shelby Museum Colorado.

CSX 2323 (146) blue

These two cars had the famous trunk dimples.

CSX 2260 (14) blue

CSX 2301 (150) later 12

CSX 2155 (152) white, also in the Colorado Shelby museum - stripped of paint sitting on a trailer.


Yes, one white -- these three cars passed inspection without the dimples.

[CompClassics]

CSX2323, #146, Dan Gurney's FIA Cobra for the Targa Florio in 1964. My friend was the crew chief on that Cobra during this race. CSX2155 was not one of the (5) purpose built 289 FIA Cobras, it was a comp spec 289 Cobra though. The first, by serial number, 289 FIA Cobra was CSX2259.
Here is Mark P. in a discussion with the likes of Dan Gurney, Gerry Grant and Phil Hill......those were the days!

[*13*]

As far back as an ERA FIA will go w/o mods. I haven't actually measured the angle. Now you have peaked my curiosity...

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

CSX2323, #146, Dan Gurney's FIA Cobra for the Targa Florio in 1964. My friend was the crew chief on that Cobra during this race. CSX2155 was not one of the (5) purpose built 289 FIA Cobras, it was a comp spec 289 Cobra though. The first, by serial number, 289 FIA Cobra was CSX2259.
Here is Mark P. in a discussion with the likes of Dan Gurney, Gerry Grant and Phil Hill......those were the days!

The 2259 never made it to Europe.

As I stated above 4 FIA cars at the first race Targa Florio 1964

(142) - PHIL HILL/BOB BONDURANT - White stripe - CSX 2345 (USA)
(146) - DAN GURNEY/JERRY GRANT - Red stripe - CSX 2323 (USA)
(148) - INNES IRELAND/MASTON GREGORY - Yellow stripe - CSX 226O (USA)
(150) - V. ARENA/V. COCO - Maroon stripe - CSX 23O1 (Italy)
All blue.

(152) - T. HITCHCOCK/Z. TCHKOTOUS - No Team Stripe - CSX 2155 (USA) build by Shelby to pass FIA inspections --- technically an FIA car.
The registry states a Shelby Factory Team Cobra, CSX2155 289 LeMans Roadster.
White