Seeking an AC 289

[Phil Erikson]

Hi! I'm a new member of Club Cobra (as of yet, without a Cobra). I have been "lurking" for a while, but it is time to get more involved.

Does anybody know of a manufacturer who makes a replica of the European AC 289? I would love to build or buy such a replica.

Thanks,

Phil Erikson

[cob289]

Hi Phil,
we'll sell 289 aloy-bodied cars made by Kirkham or the fibreglas hand layed made by Hawkcars UK. Please ask, if you want more information.

[force8]

Are you looking for a 'slab side' 289 or one of the rare 30 or so 'European AC 289' cars that Shelby produced for European customers? The later looked like a 427 car without the rollbar, sidepipes or rear wheel lip and sported a 'roadster dash (the one with glove box & speedo and tach mounted directly over the steering column) with wire wheels. Also, the car didn't have a 'dimple' on the right rear fender for the Lemans 3 1/2 in. fuel filler. Instead, it used the smaller '289' cap mounted in the same spot. It did have a 427/428 engine and looked more like a British sports car.

In either case, John at John's Custom Fabricators, in Coos Bay, Oregon still sells both cars in any stage from a bare 2x4 square tube frame and body (around $8,500) to turn keys for around $45,000. His prices may have changed, but he makes a pretty accurate and quality product. His 'slab side" is very close to an original and is a very sweet looking ride. I always wanted to have one for my wife when I had one of his 427SC cars. I've known and done business with him for 13 years and he has always come through for me. Call him at 541.888.9313 and tell him Mike Berry gave you his number. If you don't get through, keep trying. Like most of us, he juggles half a dozen things at one time.

[Phil Erikson]

The AC 289 is officially known as a Mark III, with coil springs and the wider, flared front fenders of the 427. However the rear fenders were the narrower of the two versions used on the 427 bodies, but they had no lip at all at the fender openings. In Europe, where these were introduced in 1966, these cars came with either the 427 or 289 motors. I find this style very simple and elegant. Plus, it's about the only wide-fendered Cobra to be born with a small block.

So, Fritz, they looked like neither the Hawk nor the Kirkham. And, Mike, like you said, they had no roll bars, no hood scoops, no side exhaust. (Thanks for the tip about John; I'll call him tomorrow.)

Thanks, guys.

Phil Erikson

[Nedsel]

If you want a a true replica of the AC 289, also referred to as the AC Mk 3, it would be the narrow-hipped 427 body style but it would have wire wheels and a 289 engine. None of the original cars were sold with a big-block by AC Cars, although most have been modified to these specs today.

[saltytri]

Does anyone now make a narrow-hipped 427 body? If not, would the Cobra faithful cringe at a "sort of" AC 289 replica based on a 427 S/C body? That's pretty much what I have in mind.

[Phil Erikson]

Exactly what I'm looking for, Ned. But i haven't yet found any replica that comes close.

Thanks,

Phil Erikson

[jamvan]

Phil:

Check out my ERA 289 FIA. Pictures in my gallery. They make and build a pretty good and very authentic replica.

jim

[David Kirkham]

Phil,

I believe we have made a few of the car that you are looking for. (The smaller rear fender flares with no lip on them.) We only make them special order and we only make them in aluminum. Let me know if you are interested and we will do what we can to help out.

David

[Phil Erikson]

Jim,
Great looking 289 FIA! But what I'm looking for is the European AC 289 - street version. It has the narrower rear fenders with no lip. They didn't need the fender space as the wheels were 6x15 wires, running 185/15s.

Thanks,

Phil Erikson

[jamvan]

Phil:

You should contact ERA directly, I believe they have or can make what you are looking for. A great group of guys, provided you want glass body car.

jim

[Phil Erikson]

Thanks, Jim, I'll do that.

Phil

[grumpy]

Phil,
Are you referring to the COB/COX COBRA's that had a run of 32 cars or the later MKIII AC 289 RHD similar to Nigel Dawe's car that saw a very short run of 20. It is featured in the book AC Heritage, by Simon Taloer & Peter Burn, if you want a good set of pics for referreal.
These carried the zero rolled edge detail on the rear arch preferred by buyers in the UK and Europe.
grumpy

[Phil Erikson]

Grumpy, it's the Nigel- Dawes-type of Cobra that I find so attractive. This AC 289 is also pictured in the "Original AC ACE & Cobra" book (page 87, among others). Like you said, of the 27 cars made in this configuration, 20 were right-hand drive and stayed in the UK. A handful of cars (4, 5) were exported to the USA.

Thanks,

Phil

[Trevor Legate]

Phil

Why bother with a replica?? Get the old cheque book out and hot-foot it to Monaco where Bonhams auction house will be selling no less than TWO AC289 Sports on May 15th. Buy both and sell the other for a profit.
Only a suggestion, mind.

As a biased Brit, the 289 is arguably the pick of the bunch, with the looks and much nicer handling, along with perfectly adequate performance and no deafening side-pipes. I have recently photographed a couple of examples and they were the cars that got me hooked back in 1966 and I still feel the same. I've driven MkIIs, race cars and 427s but the AC289 is the best of the originals. (As I will never drive or own a genuine FIA Cobra, the Kirkham re-creation is a very, very acceptable alternative and the one I would exchange for money)

I hope you find what you're looking for.

Trevor

[Phil Erikson]

Thanks, Trevor. Wouldn't I love to buy an original or two, but as a semi-retired teacher, I'm afraid that those are only dreams.

Phil

[What'saCobra?]

Dear Phil,

You might want to consider purchasing a genuine but perhaps somewhat beat MKIV, which is a real AC Cobra, strip the weight off it, fabricate an older style instrument panel (not that tough) and you will have a beautiful real car at a budget price and your preferred AC289 shape.

The MKIV's are completely overlooked by the current American market, but there are hundreds out there waiting to be converted into very nice rides indeed.

They mostly have FI 302's which are stock and very low HP (225HP), but will respond to regular and fairly cheap hot rod mods with elan (375 is easy).

AND you will have a real alloy-bodied Cobra with the shape you want. It surrises me that no one is doing this. These cars are already DOT registered and ready to go. But, you have to do the work yourself, mostly. Depends on your state, of course.

Plus, there are some new low restriction EPA approved catalytic reactors that would even make it nice and clean, particularly with a small block and an advanced FI system.

Talk about a natural...what's wrong with this picture?

PS: Ask Trevor to what this resultant car would be the near-equivalent. Hint: it is his personal favorite, I think. And give him my best regards.

[Trevor Legate]

Hi Phil

As a semi-retired photographer and faking-it author, I know about dreams.........hence the reason I drive other peoples (AC) Cobras.
Actually, I am delighted to announce that it is now legal decent and honest to mention the dreaded AC name in connection with Cobras as I am in possession of the latest Shelby literature that is titled-

First make history TOGETHER - then repeat it

Wow, the old Thames Ditton parts supplier comes good.
And yes, I was at the factory the other day and - yes they are building cars, with two more bobbing around on the Atlantic as you read this.

Hi Whatsa

Again - in agreement with you posting as always. Some of the MkIVs have changed hands for very little money in the UK lately but the situation will not last for too long. Almost down to my level of poverty, or at least into the very low £30's. I know I should take advantage, just to get my name in the next Registry (alongside yours??) but.....! Anyone out there offering interest-free, non-repayable loans?
(As a matter of co-incidence, I was scanning through some early entrants lists and paperwork for the Supersports races in Nigel Hulme's office last week - he sends best regards of course.)

[Mark IV]

...brokered a deal for a very nice 87 MK IV few years back that went to a customer in Ohio (I had sold his brother a MK IV back in 1985) This car had an excellent sounding exhaust system with Borla mufflers that made it the sweetest sounding MK IV I have heard. Alas the convertors had been removed although the original exhaust with the convertors was included. My customer took the car for inspection as it was and Lo and Behold the car passed the "sniff test" without the convertors! I guess the EFI was clean enough to meet the standards for an older car!

As to the need for more power, I sold a lot of MK IVs to guys who had plans to "tweek them up" but few ever did. One guy did go with Gurney-Weslake heads and Webers, another did a supercharger but most found they either did not need more power or decided against the expense.

Today with the proliferation of 5.0 power parts it is easy and not expensive to gain another 100 HP with perfect reliability and smooth operation.

And yes, you can buy a MK IV for less than some Cobra replicas and have a proper built and engineered factory AC.

FYI, AK013 has been converted into what the owner alledged was the "only factory MK IV comp car".....ownership history that includes Edsel Ford- RUBBISH!!!!!! The car was an early MK IV with a stock 351 truck motor that I sold to a guy in Oregon. It was later modified to include a S/C style dash, an old style pedal box and other comp car type stuff. The car was never owned by Edsel, although he did drive it and show it to the Ford dealer council as part of the Autokraft/Ford linkup. This car was featured in a magazine article that quoted me (I never spoke to them) as part of his attempt to legitimize the car. The cars is painated a rather un-attractive shade of blue that Brian picked out to match the blue in the Ford oval but he missed and it was singularly a bad color...

Rick

[Trevor Legate]

Hi Rick

Now we really have hijacked this topic and got back on the MkIV bandwagon.
Re the colors that some of the MkIVs were painted - one guy who was related to a friend of mine ordered his car circa 1983 and thought it would look good in blue but he had a fondness for red interiors. It was just that the two shades he chose were not even a remotely close match!! Its was a disaster. I would pay money NOT to own a car like that. I'm afraid that Brian Angliss has some explaining to do regarding some of the color schemes he allowed to escape.
On page 162 of my book (The Real Thing) I photographed a row of MkIVs, one of which was painted an odd shade of light brown (destined for Japan) which sounds awful but really looked quite good in reality. He also knocked out quite a few in various shades of brilliant yellow.....still, as long as the punter handed over the folding!!
So thats sorted then - if in doubt buy a MkIV and yours troubles will be over. There are a few for sale in the UK at present. There is a 1995 model for £43,995 on www.redlinepe.co.uk or another with Duncan Hamilton (www.duncanhamilton.com) For those who crave the ultimate, a 427 MkIII side-oiler, one of the last of the AC Autokraft cars, is a available at Nostalgia (0 - 100 in 9.8 seconds) and in left-hand drive!! No idea on the price, but I would make sure I was sitting down before asking. Just to keep the angry phone calls at bay, the latter car is not a MkIV in any way.