CSX vs. Superformance Body Mold

[snakeeyes]

Originally Posted by LMH

Kirkham and current CSX cars have no relationship with the original Hi Tech. Hi Techs 427 body was molded off CSX3190. Ive seen the plug used to make subsequent molds. I don't remember what car(s) Kirkham and therefore Shelby, used but I seem to remember it was a couple different ones that were scanned, not molded.

Larry

Thanks, Larry. I stand corrected. I know I read somewhere (I think in a post on this site) about the Hi-Tech body serving as the starting point, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the first time the good old internet has been wrong.

As an aside, I love that green ERA in gtk’s post. I’ve always been a sucker for FIA wheels on a 427.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by snakeeyes

Thanks, Larry. I stand corrected. I know I read somewhere (I think in a post on this site) about the Hi-Tech body serving as the starting point, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the first time the good old internet has been wrong.

As an aside, I love that green ERA in gtk’s post. I’ve always been a sucker for FIA wheels on a 427.

I should clarify my response! No relationship between KMP/Shelby and Hi Tech as far as the car is concerned. I believe Tom D'Antonio worked for Shelby later after Hi Tech, so there is that connection but not the cars themselves.

Larry

[tomshep]

Great info here. I appreciate the responses. This confirms what I suspected in looking at SPF vs. CSX cars. And also where part of the price difference comes in. Not only are you paying for the CSX number but a more accurate body line and also the chassis with a round tube frame.

I'm not trying to stir the pot or cause waves amongst the members. But if I am spending $50K+ I want to get as accurate a car as I can.

Tom

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Only after artfully Photoshopping it to make it appear less attractive.

Busted.

[Buzz]

The Kirkhams own(ed?) an original CSX3--- Cobra roadster, and I'm pretty sure that was the initial baseline for their bodies, albeit with some tweaks and adjustments to correct the original's hand-formed imperfections and inconsistencies.
I might be wrong on this, but I seem to recall that their original Cobra started life as a street roadster and they needed to perform the requisite modifications to their tooling to produce their signature SC-style replica. I'm sure as the product evolved they developed the ability to produce any original (or other - like the flip top) body style that a customer preferred.

[snakeeyes]

Originally Posted by Buzz

The Kirkhams own(ed?) an original CSX3--- Cobra roadster, and I'm pretty sure that was the initial baseline for their bodies, albeit with some tweaks and adjustments to correct the original's hand-formed imperfections and inconsistencies.
I might be wrong on this, but I seem to recall that their original Cobra started life as a street roadster and they needed to perform the requisite modifications to their tooling to produce their signature SC-style replica. I'm sure as the product evolved they developed the ability to produce any original (or other - like the flip top) body style that a customer preferred.

Thanks, Buzz. Now that you say that I recall reading an article—in Autoweek, I think—very early on in Kirkham’s history about how they digitally scanned the body of their CSX car, corrected side-to-side dimensional differences on a computer, and then had a metal shaping outfit in Poland actually produce the finished bodies. Slightly more involved than a couple of guys forming aluminum on a body buck at AC Cars

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by snakeeyes

Slightly more involved than a couple of guys forming aluminum on a body buck at AC Cars

Actually AC didn't form the bodies, that was sublet to two other firms who supplied the front/rear clips to be joined at AC in Thames Ditton.

[Buzz]

Shelby once said in an interview that the original AC bodies were being beaten out by a couple of winos under a bridge.

[Blas]

From my notes:

Arntz/Butler: splashed CSX3193
Contemporary Classics: splashed CSX3045
ERA Replicas: splashed CSX2345 and CSX3252
Hi-Tech Motorsports: splashed CSX3190
Hurricane: splashed CSX3235
Kirkham: modeled their cars after CSX3104 (and drawings from CSX3107)
Shelby Autos: splashed CSX3178 for their fiberglass continuation series cars (CSX4000/6000s)

Blas

[E5USMC]

Great thread.... any info on where each 289 mold came from?

[RUFdriver]

Originally Posted by Blas

From my notes:

Arntz/Butler: splashed CSX3193
Contemporary Classics: splashed CSX3045
ERA Replicas: splashed CSX2345 and CSX3252
Hi-Tech Motorsports: splashed CSX3190
Hurricane: splashed CSX3235
Kirkham: modeled their cars after CSX3104 (and drawings from CSX3107)
Shelby Autos: splashed CSX3178 for their fiberglass continuation series cars (CSX4000/6000s)

Blas

More data...
Lone Star Classics (now UCC) reportedly used / splashed CSX 4288 for their molds.

[LMH]

I always wanted to ask this! What the definition of “Splashed”?
Larry

[Tjd]

CSX 3178 was not used to make the tooling for the 4000/6000
Tom

[ERA 626]

Originally Posted by RUFdriver

KMS and CSX ( continuation Cobras) look the closest to the original Cobra, the others not so much. But it’s all good, they’re all replicas at the end of the day, have fun and drive ‘em like you stole ‘em!��

Dont even start with "they,re all replicas" SMH, different topic all together. How in the hell can a Shelby be a replica of a Shelby? Different year? yes... replica no.
is a 2019 Ford GT a replica of a 1965 Ford GT? no... different year but its still a Ford GT.

[rodneym]

Uh......ooooooooooohhhhhh.....

Looks like cc is back on track!
Welcome back everyone!!!!!

[RUFdriver]

Originally Posted by ERA 626

Dont even start with "they,re all replicas" SMH, different topic all together. How in the hell can a Shelby be a replica of a Shelby? Different year? yes... replica no.
is a 2019 Ford GT a replica of a 1965 Ford GT? no... different year but its still a Ford GT.

Fair enough but if it wasn’t built by SA in the 60s what would you call it? Don’t call it a come back! 😀

[snakeeyes]

Originally Posted by LMH

I always wanted to ask this! What the definition of “Splashed”?
Larry

Larry, it’s a process of making male and female molds from an existing body. Here is a link to a book chapter that discusses various techniques for doing it. I would bet Tjd could give us a doctoral dissertation if he felt like it, though.

https://books.google.com/books?id=il...20mold&f=false

[ERA 626]

Originally Posted by RUFdriver

Fair enough but if it wasn’t built by SA in the 60s what would you call it? Don’t call it a come back! 😀

OK do we really need to dive into this? who actually Built the cars in the 60's? was it AC bristol? then SA installed the drive train? Correct me if Im wrong, Same thing as now, Hi-tech builds the cars same scenario different year.
I think we need to let this go as it will start a 50 page debate on stuff we dont agree on... I completely understand the different level of replicas out there, yes some are nicer than others. But there is a valid point that some people pay a premium to get that CSX vin number, and if you look at the market you can see that the CSX cars are at or near the top of the market in terms of resale and value.

[twobjshelbys]

This "Is it real or is it Emulex" discussion crops up at least once a year. As in the past, nothing new will ever be added. So instead of hijacking this one, can't we just go read the old ones and leave this one alone?

[FredG]

After reading and occasionally commenting on these originality threads I have come to the conclusion that they are just a gigantic waste of time. You are never going to find a car that is a 100% accurate replica and even if you did, it's still a replica. Going back to something I posted previously, what do you like better....real tits or fake tits.

Fred