Gauging interest in an FIA roller.

[mj_duell]

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--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[mrmustang]

HHHHHHmmmmmm, 289FIA roller

[mj_duell]

So Bill, that would be a "Yes" How about a Turnkey minus FIA for around $30,000? Just add motor and tranny. Panited in the color of your choice and includes 15 inch knock-offs and tires.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[Rick Parker]

If it is detailed correctly, it seems like a very good pricepoint.

[LMH]

I might be interested in one but I'd have to see one before I would buy. I'm one of those who looks for how close to original it appears. The ERA is what you'd be up against for me.
(I would especially be interested if an accurate LeMans top was offered too!...hint, hint)
But I like the idea of an optioned kit.
Larry

[mj_duell]

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--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[LMH]

Thanks Mike, I'll do some searching.

This would be my ultimate goal: (thanks for the pic Cal!).
Larry

[KevinM]

Bruce was working on a Le Mans top for the car. If he sees interest in the car, I expect he will finish the top.

Kevin

[*13*]

You build an accurate looking FIA for less than ERA you'll probably have a lot of interest. I think it's all in the details, really. I say build one & play "Show n' Tell" That will be the real guage!

[mj_duell]

Originally Posted by *13*

You build an accurate looking FIA for less than ERA you'll probably have a lot of interest. I think it's all in the details, really. I say build one & play "Show n' Tell" That will be the real guage!

I know we can probably get the body "accurate", but the frame would be our EVO 5 frame. In the cockpit the dash layout is no problem, but you would have the dropped floor pan and the tilton pedals. In other words, the body, wheels, tires and all of the other visual parts we can make look accurate. The mechanical and frame pieces would be different however. We can come in less than ERA if we use our current panels and frame. The changes to the suspension for the knock-offs is minimal. We've already done a quick cost analysis and we can come in around $30,000 for a base Turnkey minus. I am seriously considering a "Show & Tell" FIA car, but we just started finishing our EVO 5 display car and have been dumping money in shows and our "40" project (More on that in September).



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[DavidNJ]

Here is the issue...the current car is very nice, but the body isn't quite up to ERA standards. For a 289 FIA to really work, the body would have to be correct. And that would be nice for the 427 also. Otherwise, what would be the advantage?

[mj_duell]

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--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[LMH]

Mike
Just curious, what are the demensions of the EVO 5 frame?
F&R width (track) and wheelbase.
Larry

[mj_duell]

Originally Posted by LMH

Mike
Just curious, what are the demensions of the EVO 5 frame?
F&R width (track) and wheelbase.
Larry

Hi Larry,
The EVO 5 (427 body) uses 275/17 x 9 fronts and 315/17 x 10.5 rears, I believe with Track is 57” for the front, 58” for the rear. Wheel base is 90”. I'll check the track measurement on Monday. We would change this for the FIA body of course as well as make some modification to the front and rear suspenion to allow for the knock-offs and shorter track.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[*13*]

I think ERA & others have proven that the correct body & modern suspension is a winner. I would say that so long as everything looks accurate & has "the look/the attitude" it will be a hit! As an FIA & 289 fan I personally can't wait to see the the model you end up with.

[DavidNJ]

Originally Posted by mj_duell

Hi David,
So have you seen Bruce's FIA body in person? I have many pictures, but I won't see it in person until next week. I would like some input.

--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

No. However, 427 'replicas' in many cases have a variety of deviations from the original. And this is just accepted. The 289 is distingushised by a different nose, door, flare, trunk, filler, roll bar, etc. The details become more important.

For example, the Carlisle car in your gallery takes wide liberties on the Cobra theme. Half Cobra, half hotrod. The ERA could stand next to an original and you would (at least I would) need to see the emblem or the frame to tell them apart.

I would be ok with an ERA/Kirkham/orignal style body and interior. Everytime I see an ERA next to an FFR, EM, Shell, etc. the differences seem dramatic.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by mj_duell

Hi Larry,
The EVO 5 (427 body) uses 275/17 x 9 fronts and 315/17 x 10.5 rears, I believe with Track is 57” for the front, 58” for the rear. Wheel base is 90”. I'll check the track measurement on Monday. We would change this for the FIA body of course as well as make some modification to the front and rear suspenion to allow for the knock-offs and shorter track.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

Thanks Mike!
Definitely agree with Hyde that a modren suspension and accurate body is a winner. Kirkham as well as ERA have proved it.
Larry

[mj_duell]

Originally Posted by DavidNJ

No. However, 427 'replicas' in many cases have a variety of deviations from the original. And this is just accepted. The 289 is distingushised by a different nose, door, flare, trunk, filler, roll bar, etc. The details become more important.

For example, the Carlisle car in your gallery takes wide liberties on the Cobra theme. Half Cobra, half hotrod. The ERA could stand next to an original and you would (at least I would) need to see the emblem or the frame to tell them apart.

I would be ok with an ERA/Kirkham/orignal style body and interior. Everytime I see an ERA next to an FFR, EM, Shell, etc. the differences seem dramatic.

Hi David,
We have a new body which is very faithful to the original. The problem with producing a dead-on 427 or FIA car is price to the customer. FFR's car is not even close, but they out sell every other manufacturer. We are not trying to duplicate the 427 cars exactly or compete with ERA or Kirkham or Shelby. This was seen in our Carlisle car. I have seen a trend toward a more modern, high-tech looking car lately and that is why we are building not traditional display cars. I can duplicate a very close replica of a 427 if needed and have in the past and I can keep the cost down as well. We wanted to stand out at Carlisle and we want to do the same at London. We have the ability to deliver a high quality replica for an affordable price, but without the sacrifices of the even lower cost brands. We are still doing work on a small scale so we can build cars with a high level of performance. Imagine an FIA replica with our EVO 5 frame, gun-drilled sway bars, Tilton brake set-up, custom valve shocks and a weight of around 2100 pounds. It is a trade off as far as the body, but you also get some good performance. If we were selling $50,000 rollers I would say we have a problem with how close the bodies are to the original cars, but we are just not working in that market.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by mj_duell

Hi David,
The problem with producing a dead-on 427 or FIA car is price to the customer.

--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

Mike,

Actually, the problem with producing a dead on 427 or FIA car is choosing which 427 or 289 FIA car to reproduce and which body configuration as they sometimes changed from race to race, let alone season to season.

DavidNJ,

If you are not sure of what I am talking about, or cannot tell the difference from car to car or race to race, then you better do a whole lot of research before making the next post.


Bill S.

[joedeats]

Build it and they will come....The FIA is in my opinion the best looking cobra. I would love to see another FIA to choose from as I have been pondering an era car. There are so few FIA cobras to choose from compared to the gt40 which is being done to death as of late. If you made an FIA roller especially a usrrc version that looked even close to original for 30k id buy one. One caveat a 6"3' guy needs to fit it ....that would be me.