slabside w/fender flares

[jasond29]

I am set on getting the 289FIA car from ERA but in researching the early cobras I have fallen in love with the early slabside cars that where converted to the comp cars. I am wanting to recreate CSX 2433 or the dragonsnake car CSX2472. I know anything is possible with money but was just wondering if its something ERA can do at the time of build. Thanks for any information.

[DanEC]

I'm sure just about anything is possible for a price. Another option is to have them send it to Metal Morphous for the body and paint work. The work they did in re-creating a narrow hip 427 street roadster from an ERA was outstanding.

[strictlypersonl]

Those flairs don't look like any shape that we've got "in stock" so all the work will be strictly one-off, and billed by the hour. We usually build up the shape without regard to weight, then take a quicky mold to make bond-on pieces. That could get pretty expensive for 4 fenders.

[Kit Coyle]

I have an ERA FIA that was ordered as the USRRC variant. It came from ERA
with the FIA fender flares, roll bar, oil cooler scoop, comp seats, dropped
dash, grill and bumpers. It did not have the quick jacks, hood scoop or the
trunk dimples. It is very much like a street 289 car converted for track use. I
always wanted the flares, the comp FIA wheels and the roll bar in the CSX car
I had in the late sixties but had little money and the pin drive hubs and Halibrand mags weren't available to me. Now I have it...call ERA!

[jasond29]

That answers my questions, thanks. I am anxious to get the ball rolling on the car. Just a couple more questions, I am wanting to have the car painted by CCC but want to do the bonding myself, is that an option? What is the wait time for the car? I am wanting to do as much work myself as possible but I am not a painter and best to leave that to a professional.

[Murky781]

CCC does great work. I had the "Walts" paint both of my cars and yes you can do the bonding after they have done the body work and paint. ERA sends the bodies out on rollers and CCC has done many bodies so they know the drill. Wait time, hmmmm. As any ERA owner and pretty sure we'll all answer, as long as it takes. If you can get an answer to this question from Peter, you will be the first. You can sometimes get a very general idea from him like, Don't worry, you're in line. It is well worth the wait. Good luck and enjoy

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jasond29

I am set on getting the 289FIA car from ERA but in researching the early cobras I have fallen in love with the early slabside cars that where converted to the comp cars. I am wanting to recreate CSX 2433 or the dragonsnake car CSX2472. I know anything is possible with money but was just wondering if its something ERA can do at the time of build. Thanks for any information.

Four fenders will not be cheap, whether it's done by ERA in-house or Walt does it over at CCC. But, if it's something you have your heart set on, then go ahead and pony up the dough and get it done up front. You will be happier in the long run getting it exactly the way you want it. If you skimp on something that important, and that elemental to the car's final appearance, you'll forever kick yourself for doing so.

[jasond29]

thanks everyone. The fenders are not a deal breaker just curious if it was an option or if anyone has done it. I have actually been looking at ERA since the late 90's but finally find myself in the perfect position to get one and get all the options that I want. I have built several drag cars and just started getting into autocross events. I run my 2000 Viper GTS right now but want to run my dream car now 289 Cobra. Hopefully I can be driving around by the end of the year but I am willing to wait for an ERA car.

[DanEC]

There is one minor issue with bonding the body after painting (that I can think of). The 427 body (and I assume 289 body) doesn't have the rocker panel flange any longer and the bottom of the rocker rivets to a tube at the outer edge of the chassis that secures it. If you rivet after paint you will either live with the unpainted rivet heads or touch them up in body color by brush. They are only visible down at the ground level with under car exhaust, or from underneath. Same thing at the upper inner roll of the grill - a couple more rivets.

[xb-60]

Jason,
Your thread strikes a couple of chords with me.
#1
As Murky says:

Originally Posted by Murky781

....Wait time, hmmmm. Ask any ERA owner and pretty sure we'll all answer, as long as it takes. If you can get an answer to this question from Peter, you will be the first. You can sometimes get a very general idea from him like, Don't worry, you're in line. It is well worth the wait.....

I had been (and still am) a big fan of ERA Cobra replicas, and a few years back I placed a deposit for a 289FIA with Peter. I needed a RHD car (I'm in Australia), which the ERA website said they could do, but after repeated phone calls and letters and promises and no quote (and an elapsed seven months), I pulled the pin and got my deposit back.

#2
That led me to start talking with a local Cobra replica maker (AP, aka Absolute Pace); they were keen to add the 289FIA to their list, and now we are well down the track with my car, AP2289, which (I think) is the first FIA replica to be built in Australia. At the time, AP suggested that another option for me could be to modify a 289 roadster body to create a replica of the early Comp 289 cars, complete with the flares and 'kidney bean' wheels, so that might be an option for you.....and the exchange rate is favorable.

My point is that if you really want to do a particular replica, then don't settle for something else. Ask around....it might cost you a little more, but it will probably be worth it in the end.

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

I should have added above that if you do 'settle' for an ERA 289FIA, you would no doubt be very, very happy with your choice

Also, welcome to the forum!

Cheers,
Glen

[1985 CCX]

ERA could as Bob said. I started there but at the time slabside was new.
I did my own flares on SS body.

[DanEC]

If you haven't seen the fender work Metal Morphous did on the 427 ERA to make it a narrow hip car - take a look at this thread.

The making of a 427 Narrow Hip Cobra starts now!!

[jasond29]

Thank for all the info, I am going to contact metal morphous and see what I can work out

[jasond29]

I just noticed something, I wonder if they could use the FIA body pucks for the front and standard slabside pucks for the rear. I would just need the rear fenders molded then and that would give me the oil cooler option for the front if I wanted. hhmmmm

[DanEC]

You would need to talk to Peter at ERA. If possible it might cause a bit longer fabrication time as I seem to remember they try to have a few bodies fabricated in advance and curing/weathering in their yard for a few months before pulling them in for fitting and assembly. So a custom body mixing molds might add a bit of time to delivery. Not sure.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by jasond29

I just noticed something, I wonder if they could use the FIA body pucks for the front and standard slabside pucks for the rear. I would just need the rear fenders molded then and that would give me the oil cooler option for the front if I wanted. hhmmmm

Jason,
The Comp 289 body that comes to my mind has largely standard front fenders, sometimes with 'spats' added just aft.


Here's CSX2128...



Cheers,
Glen

[jasond29]

Yeah, some of the earlier comp cars had the stock front fenders with the rears flared to cover the larger tires. The more I look at the fia car though I love it. I am just torn between the 2 options right now. I am going to call Peter Monday and see if I can nail down what I want to do. Thanks everyone.

[*13*]

Had the Comp Slab been an option, at the time, I would likely have gone down that road. Such a great look! The FIA is a great car, as well. Tough choice. ERA do nice work. Might be best to let them handle it.
On a side note, i did my body & paint. Did not do the bonding. I've heard it's a doable job. It was nice having the car arrive attached to the frame. One less worry...

[tkb289]

Hi Jason,

First off, welcome to the club!

Lots of great advice above, here is my .02 for what it's worth.

Below is a link to a thread that Illustrates exactly what you are talking about … there are a lot of choices when considering which way to go.

CSX2000 Fender Flares - AC / Shelby American / Privateers -

ERA makes a wonderful Cobra and can pretty much custom make whatever you like, but as mentioned above, if you stray too far from their standard offerings, it will cost more money … and take more time.

I was interested in a 289 car, and after a lot or research selected ERA and ultimately went with the FIA body with no hood scoop, no oil cooler scoop and no trunk bumps. It has the FIA dash, quick jacks and to me the best part is the grille. In a way it's bit of an odd duck, as it does not replicate a particular CSX car and I doubt any were ever built quite like this one and that's OK with me.

You are wise to do your homework, and as also noted above, when choosing the key elements of the car like body shape (and color for that matter) take the time and spend the money (within reason of course) to get what you are looking for. Things like motors, suspension options, wheels, seats and the like can be changed later if needed, bodywork and paint not so much.

Best of luck with your build!

- Tim