427 Car rear fender types

DanEC · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 11:17 AM

What's the history on the different size rear fenders for 427 cars? I understand the "narrow hip" fenders, the "wide fenders" and the "SC flared" fender types, but on the street cars there appeared to have been a combination of the two. Were the narrow hip cars the very early 427 street roadsters and later the body was standardized for the street roadsters and the SC models to have the wide hip fenders with some SC models having even more flare? Or was there some other progression between the different styles and sizes? Or was it just random? I would like to have built a 427 steet car, narrow hip replica, as that is my favorite style - but not many have an interest in the street roadster and there appears to be virtually no demand for the narrow hip body for replicas.

Thanks

computerworks · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 11:29 AM

You have to be cautious looking at these cars today...as many have had quite a bit of tin-pounding over the years.

Here's the chronology

427 Comp cars had no flares and the 'standard' 427 rear profile

When they began the street car run, it was felt that the street tires were getting lost in the rear hips, so they tried a narrower rear fender for a run of about 25 cars, somewhere in between CSX3123 thru CSX3158. They went back to the normal rear profile for the rest of the run.

The S/C variants had their rear fenders pounded out into an approx. 1 inch flare, as a pebble-catcher.

That's it... anything else was "aftermarket"

DanEC · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 05:47 PM

Thanks for the info

mickmate · #4 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 07:45 PM

Ditto on variations of fender flares. I've heard from eye witnesses of phone book backing inside with hammer on the outside to shape flares to suit the tires to be run, yes on originals.

428street · #5 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009, 08:04 PM

Dan:

You're correct. There is very little interest in a "correct" street car replica and even less interest in a narrow hip street car BUT you can (money unlimited) get whatever you want. Whoever is painting your car can probably do the bodywork to make it close to a narrow hip car...there are some good pics of these cars in the latest SAAC registry. For nothing more then 1000's of pieces of info it is a MUST HAVE for anyone into the Cobra....

DanEC · #6 (**permalink**) 12-31-2009, 06:11 AM

Hi Frank - how's it going? Yes, we are kind of the odd men out with a street car. Mine is ready for shipping. Probably ship in January. The street fuel cap mod looks like it came out really well. Still in a delima on wheels although I did put a deposit down on some Vintage wheels. The news that Team III may be reproducing the Sunburst wheel has peaked my interest in them again. Have a great New Year.

Dan

mickmate · #7 (**permalink**) 12-31-2009, 06:30 AM

I have the new correct Ceandess smooth button filler caps in stock, also the necks for them and I'm working on the threaded collar to go under that.

428street · #8 (**permalink**) 12-31-2009, 07:57 AM

Nice Mickmate, you da man!

Dan the Sunburst REALLY make the street car if you are into that look OR I have seen, read, heard about 7.5 Trigo style wheels all around as being correct as well...down the road that might be an angle I go after to "save" the original Sunbursts I have or even a set of the Team III's...you have time..again if I can help with anything let me know...

DanEC · #9 (**permalink**) 12-31-2009, 10:50 AM

Frank - what size tire did you end up mounting on your car? I think some of my final decision is going to be based on getting delivery and doing some measuring to see if I can get at least a 2-1/4 inch tailpipe through there.

Thanks

Dan

428street · #10 (**permalink**) 12-31-2009, 11:30 AM

Dan:

My car is at ERA now getting the gas tank straps Nick made final fit so I don't have the car in my garage. I'll be down there this week so I will get you the info or I'll see f I can find it. One thing I will tell you is go with Doug's recommendation and/or there lack of. This is not to say you can't do whatever you want but in my book he is God from a "what is reasonable and practicle"...he's been there 25 years and knows all the angles, dangles and things that work and won't...

I think I've stated this before but I am far from a real technical gear head but my engine which is a 428 PI has 400 HP and is an animal (for me) with the 2" pipes..I know there are a lot of guys who like 500/600/700 HP but these cars just don't need it (unless you are racing)

Just my .02

DanEC · #11 (**permalink**) 01-06-2010, 11:43 AM

Hey Frank - did you get a chance to check the tire size you have mounted on your car?

Dan

SoTxButler · #12 (**permalink**) 01-06-2010, 02:39 PM

Interesting question. I spoke with Ron Butler and his explanation is that the tires were rubbing badly on the fenders and they were using anything they could to flare the fenders to clear the tires. He said most of those flares, which were done while racing, were not very pretty and that it would be rare to find two fenders flared exactly alike. Ron says the first 50 bodies from AC had what you call narrow fenders and beginning with body #51, the fenders were 1" wider. They just split the fender and added 1" in the middle.

So, depending on which body number you look at, there are both narrow and wider fenders. I'm sure it gets complicated since the early CSX numbers may not (probably won't) correlate to the body number.

Personally, I had no idea how it happened, but that is Ron's account.

428street · #13 (**permalink**) 01-06-2010, 07:03 PM

Dan:

I haven't made it up to ERA yet but if you call Little John or Peter my car is right outside their door and I am sure they can get the correct sizes. Plan is to try again to go there next week but that's what I have been saying for the last couple of weeks!

DanEC · #14 (**permalink**) 01-07-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 428street

Dan:

I haven't made it up to ERA yet but if you call Little John or Peter my car is right outside their door and I am sure they can get the correct sizes. Plan is to try again to go there next week but that's what I have been saying for the last couple of weeks!

I may do that. I need to give them a call this week.

Thanks

Dan

TimG427 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 03:22 PM

Here's a shot of CSX3134, one of 32 narrow hip Cobras.
This is a nice original car with one repaint in black. You can see the difference in the width of the rear fenders. Everyone liked the wide hip cars, but now the narrow hip cars have taken their place in history.

This shot is of me driving the car on the original Road America race course, I had to keep up with a GT40 that was in front of me.