AP2289 build log

[xb-60]

Update on the body work for AP2289:

Splashes for the standard bodywork (roadster guards/fenders and also the no-oil-cooler-scoop) on the front section have been made.
Bodywork mods to change the front end into FIA configuration are underway.
Mods are:
• FIA spec. flared front guards/fendersto accommodate the wider FIA wheels and bigger tyres
• the addition of an oil cooler scoop under the nose


This (above) shows the forming of the changes on the body front end ....the shape of the wheel arches is not the exact shape we will end up with.
There is plenty of allowance for trimming and shaping to complete the mould. The mould is made bigger, allowing an overlap that can then be adjusted back for a strong trimmed edge.





Same comments for the rear flares....again, plenty of allowance in the mould for a strong trimmed edge

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

So, the AP craftsmen are working away on making the body for their first 289FIA replica as accurate as they can.
There will be some features (or omission of features) that some might think are unusual about AP2289.

'Trunk bumps'. I'm not having them. I don't like the look of them. Only three of the original FIA cars had them and none of the USRRC cars had them, so I can justify not having them.

If you don't know what they look like, here they are on CSX2345 (one of the FIA cars):




The dash board on FIA cars - typically, but not exclusively, had 2⅝" SW minor gauges spread in-line across the dash, with a 3⅜" speedometer on the passenger's side of the dash. The tacho, in front of the driver, could be a SW or a big Jones or a Sun....or even a Smiths - whatever the driver's preference was.


Here's CSX2323's dash:



I'm not having that either

[xb-60]

My dash config. is something closer to the standard street roadster dashboard. Authenticity-wise, that's OK because a number of otherwise FIA spec. cars had street type (dropped-centre) dash layouts.
One is CSX2514, which is a factory-built but customer-ordered FIA-bodied car.

Here is its dashboard:




Another car with a street type dash, and also with full ex-factory (AC) FIA-spec. body, is one of my favourites, COB6008. Being a COB car, it is of course a RHD config. car, so AP2289 will be quite close to COB6008 in appearance.
COB6008 is now back in its original ex-factory ivory white, but for many years it was painted Viking Blue, which will be the colour of my car.


Here's an early picture of COB6008's dash layout:



.....and here it is now:




More later...

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mike

It'd be easy enough to get two boot lids and paint them up the same. One with the bumps and one without. Change them as the mood takes you....

Umm....the mood's taken me....

Originally Posted by xb-60

.....'Trunk bumps'. I'm not having them. I don't like the look of them....

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Another dash config. that I considered for AP2289 is a variation on the roadster's drop-centre dash. It's the dash on CSX2257 (a similar setup is on CSX2558 as well), which is a factory USRRC roadster.
It's got that 'road car, modified to race car' look about it...which it really is, in effect.

Here it is:




What I finally settled on is something closer to the roadster, but modified in areas that I think don't affect the basic originality of the layout.
It was quite a challenge to track down a correct shaped dash to start with. There are definitely significant differences between some of the roadsters, and then there are the changes from Smiths gauges to SW gauges, and even that switch seems to have resulted in minor movement of gauge and switch locations.
With the help of a good friend (thanks tkb) with access to a CSX2xxx car, I obtained a complete set of dash measurements. 1985 CCX (thanks Jeff) supplied me with a tracing of his CSX2375R dash.


This is what I ended up with:




Cheers,
Glen