How slab side is slab side suppose to be?
 

After spending several months sanding, filling, smoothing and detailing the body on my ERA in preparation for primer I think I know about every square inch of it intimately. I was looking at a couple local MK 3 FFR cars yesterday and picked up on some subtle body contour details that I have been wondering about for awhile. My ERA body sides are essentially flat, or straight, from rear of the front wheel opening flare to the front of the rear wheel flare. This would be at about lower door panel to top of doors. That's basically how I finished it - long board sanded it flat front to rear - mostly to fill and take out isolated concave areas. The FFR cars I noticed have a subtle convex curve from front wheel opening to rear wheel opening. It's actually a nice looking detail but I'm not sure how close to the originals the detail is. I know the MK 3 FFR and earlier bodies aren't known for being especially accurate to the originals but having spent several months massaging the ERA it has me wondering just how flat the sides of the original aluminum body cars are. Can anyone say from first hand experience? I've studied many photos of the original cars and they look pretty flat but it's hard to tell from pictures.

I need something else to lie awake at night thinking about.

Dan

I neglected to clarify that I'm working on a 427 body instead of a 289 - not sure if there is much difference in the center body contours or not. I thought using the term "slab side" would illustrate a part of my question.

This is one reason why the 'term' slabside should not be used when referring to an original street 289 Cobra. The sides of the car are not flat. The only 'flat' area is the small verticle section of the flares around the wheel arches. This area tapers in width from front to rear of the wheel arch.

Anyone else? what are the sides of your car like running front to rear - flat or gently curved?

They look pretty flat but all the panels on an aluminum car have a slight crown or loft to them. If you try to hem the edges on a flat panel it oil cans and goes concave.

Thanks for the reply.