Getting Ready For ERA Build ... Suggestions ?

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by DoneByDoug

If you're thinking of doing a stripe and you want to go with the original white color, you may want to do a lot of comparisons between that white and a body color.

I was considering a stripe, but in the end felt the FIA body style was better served without one. However, I did a lot of test samples and had some very nice combos. I was using industrial colors, non metallic, cold in value (light blues, lights greens, and light grays) What I was looking to do was create a color combo that had the effect of being total color all the way through. Almost like if you cut the car in half, the cross section would be total color.

I know this may sound crazy to some, but the slightly off-white of the stripe next to these types of colors really look "thick". They don't lie on top as a white does on the traditional cobra blue. They also look very retro and industrial, the way a lot of the original 289 racing cobras look. To my eyes, the white on a metallic, makes both the metallic and the stripe look like a skin. In the end, I thought it was too radical a choice. What I ultimately chose was a blue from a 1974 Chevy truck with a Ferrari red rookie stripe. However, the next build I do, I'll do exactly what I originally wanted. I'm planning on doing it on an altered wheel base Ford Falcon funny car.

In the end, John at ERA helped me a lot. He and Doug have a lot of common sense, and see a lot of these cars. In fact, John thought it might work and said they'd done a couple of non-metallic grays that looked killer. I was ultimately afraid of growing tired of a baby-blue-battleship grey FIA with an off white stripe. But, every time I see one of the Gulf sponsored GT's in blue with an orange strip, I still have a tinge of regret.

One other observation: I know you don't want the grill in front, but it truly is a piece of art and I'm really happy I chose it. I've heard rumors that Peter comes from an old line of Italian metal smiths, and that these are hand made by monks in a monastery in the Southern alps. They certainly are priced that way, and I WILL be trying to write it off as a donation to the Catholic Church!

I am going with no stripes of any kind, but that is good information to know. You have put a lot of thought into this, that's for sure.

Like you, I plan to make my contribution to the monks as well, would like a grill. Thanks for the suggestions ... it's great to hear from guys that have gone through the process. Any photos of your car ?

Thanks.

- Tim

[Jim Holden]

A website with numerous pictures of original cars is:

http://www.csxinfo.net/web/modules/xcgal/

Always a good source of ideas...

Jim

[tkb289]

Jim,

Great site! I will have to take some time and look at what was done in the past, with an eye towards using some of those elements in my build. Thanks!

- Tim:

[Jim Holden]

"Peter comes from an old line of Italian metal smiths"

Actually, he comes from an old line of Italian horse thieves who jumped ship in NY harbor a generation or two ago and are still wanted by police in New Jersey for questionable dealings there.

Jim

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

..still wanted by police in New Jersey for questionable dealings there.

That's the only type of dealings that ever take place in New Jersey.

[WarrenG]

Originally Posted by PDUB

I would love to see these... any references to photos online?

Thanks!

Don't know about on-line, however Dave Friedman has photos of examples of these in his "Cobra, The Shelby American Original Archives 1962-1965," pages 104, 113, 155 and Rinsey Mills in his "Essential AC Cobra" book on pages 32-42. They are not pretty, but functional and "original." If I was to use that style, I'd probably round off the corners for appearance.

[cobraviper_99]

I get a lot of compliments for the Torq-Thrust wheels on my CSX. If you like them, get them.

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by cobraviper_99

I get a lot of compliments for the Torq-Thrust wheels on my CSX. If you like them, get them.

Me too ... I just like the look. I am considering going with a darker color for the spokes. Either very dark grey, or black, with a polished lip.

Sending you a PM

Thanks.

- Tim