Starting the Search for an ERA

[tomshep]

Originally Posted by 6TNCRZY

My new FIA (3158) is in process, I will be selling my beautiful 427 (649) in the near future. It is a great car with 12000 miles, well built 428 and has all the accessories, top, tonnaeu, stainless side pipes and more.

Beautiful car. I will keep it in mind but ideally it would need to be a newer chassis and 427.

Tom

[6TNCRZY]

You may need to order a new car from ERA if you want the newer chassis, there are only about 100 new ones out there. I would send them a deposit today, 26 months and the body is not on the chassis of my new one yet. The cars are amazing, but the wait is agonizing.

[patrickt]

The changes beginning with ERA #731 are pretty significant. The only change since that big upgrade point (2006) has to do with the steering column mounts that began with #758 and on. Before #731, the cars were more similar than not until you go back to the really early cars.

[vntgspd]

Originally Posted by tomshep

Beautiful car. I will keep it in mind but ideally it would need to be a newer chassis and 427.

Tom

I can't remember if I saw the details on the ERA site or on here regarding the new vs. old chassis but I suggest you familiarize yourself with the changes. If I recall correctly, the changes were evolutionary and would not be readily noticeable during ownership. I know they did revise the body a bit. I actually prefer the pre-updated body but that is subjective.

There was a change further back where they changed to round tubing for the front shock mount cross-bracing and changed the rear bulkhead in the cockpit to better mimic the original cars. I do prefer these changes even though they are purely aesthetic.

If you consider a pre-731 chassis then your market may increase dramatically but your experience will likely remain the same.

Patrickt may provide a better opinion on this as well...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by vntgspd

Patrickt may provide a better opinion on this as well...

If you're willing to wait two years, then you're going to get the latest vintage by default. You can see the exact changes to the cars, and when they occurred, by going here: 427 Frequently Asked Questions and scrolling down, past the picture of me, about three quarters of the way to the bottom, until you get to What changes have been made since the beginning? and there's a chart that outlines them. IMO, anything after 350 will do you just fine, but anything after 731 is particularly nice. The outboard braked rear is a joy to own, but putting it in to an earlier car (pre-565) is dicey. And yes, I do look great in that pic.