Driver's roll-over bar on 289FIA

[xb-60]

Got a question on the forward-braced roll-over bar on 289FIAs...
Should the vertical legs of the bar be visible from the cockpit?

I haven't been able to find anything definitive in all the pictures I've collected.
The most illustrative pictures I have of the area are of CSX2433 (and no, it's not an FIA car but it has an FIA roll bar) and it looks like there's a removable panel that fits in front on the legs.
Some shots show the legs of the roll-over bar exposed, and another shot shows this extra (?) panel in place.

Anybody know what is correct? Am I right in assuming that there are two panels - one is the bulkhead between cockpit and trunk, and the other is in front of the legs, and is removable?

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

No panel:




Panel fitted:

[LMH]

CSX2345 has the rollbar legs hidden behind the rear bulkhead. There were two different bulkheads used on the leaf spring cars. I suspect the one covers the rollbar so as to allow the largest fuel tank possible to be fitted. There are sealed cutouts in the tank to accommodate the rollbar legs. Because the race car doesn't have to use the space to store the side curtains, they could move the bulkhead out to meet the body and accommodate the tank.
Larry

Larry

[xb-60]

Thanks Larry. I see the logic. Safe to conclude from the pictures of CSX2433 that there are two panels used on this car?

Incidentally, I checked the pictures I have of CSX2345 and all but two pictures show CSX2345 with no strut (forward or rear) bracing on its roll-over bar! That would be unusual, and strange, as it can't be as strong as a braced bar.
In the '64 Targa Florio with Bob Bondurant at the wheel, it had a forward braced bar. That's just by-the-way....nothing to do with original question.

So should I assume that exposed vertical legs would be the norm on an FIA roll-over bar?

Cheers,
Glen

[LMH]

A little bit of a guess on my part but I'd say that comp cars back then used for endurance racing would have the bigger bulkhead. Every little bit of gas you can squeeze into the car would be important. Looking at the cars now, they could be either way as restorations may have changed what once was original. I saw that no-brace thing as well on a number of pics but I have no idea why it's like that. I sure wouldn't want just a hoop in it.
Larry

[mickmate]

I'd say Larry has it figured out being a gas tank thing. Ask the guy who hammered roll bar divets into the 289 tanks at Shelby. The roll bars are right against the front of the tanks and the indents looked pretty ugly so I think the rear bulkhead is used to cover them. I think one of the cars you mention has the extended range tank in it which uses a smaller tank with the piggy back tank behind it. Long Range Tank [289 Comp Le Mans FIA] - $1,595.00 : Acton Custom Enterprises, Custom Metal for Cobras

[CompClassics]

Actually 2259 and 2260 had the standard street interior panels and the roll bar passed through them where needed, later FIA and USRRC roadsters had a simpler closer panel fabricated with bead rolls in it. Earlier comp built cars used a fuel tank that had provisions for the roll bar legs to pass through, I'm sure that with the evolution of the "long range" fuel tank system it was easier to mount an auxiliary fuel tank in the trunk than fabricate the tank that allowed the roll bar legs to pass through it. 2345's roll bar brace was removed when Sears drove the car during 1965.

[1985 CCX]

John is correct
I opted for panel.............
Car #2 will be street type legs showing....

[xb-60]

Thanks gentlemen. Seems like sometimes changes were made just because something cheaper/simpler became available, but other times (like this) there's a real story behind the differences between cars.

Cheers,
Glen

[CompClassics]

The three SAI team Cobras that ran at the 1963 Times Grand Touring Race the Cobras had no panels covering the tanks, as stated the roll bar legs went through the SAI fabricated long range fuel tanks. There is a good color utube video showing the fuel tanks sticking out from under the cowl in a couple of shots. I have some photos of one of these fuel tanks removed from a Cobra, I could see why SAI opted to change the design and opt for an auxiliary tank in the trunk.

[1985 CCX]

I went smooth and naked on this car.
My next tank will hopefully be bag less and maybe from John at Racewhere.