ERA Skunk Works - the latest

[Jim Holden]

A little project discovered sitting out in front of ERA the other day...

A 289 Slabside, No: 2132, finally sees the light of day with help from Tony Stefan and all the guys at ERA.

Jim

[mrmustang]

Jim,

You are out of control...................



Bill S.

[imagine2frolic]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........i2f

[imagine2frolic]

Now that I am over my shock....HOW MUCH?

[Jim Holden]

In my discussions with Peter he insists that inasmuch as I have bludgeoned them into doing this, it's "gona cost a million bucks."

It will, in all likelyhood, be more on the order of a ERA427SC due to the full leather interior, guages, grill, header tank, wire, spline wheels, pain and suffering, etc. etc. Some savings will be had because I have provided the Jag rear (a "removal" from some property a client had for sale) and a relatively stock 1966 289. I, also, happened to have a Tremec TKO "on the shelf" and a set of tires that I originally purchased for my XKE...

Jim

PS: Here's another shot of the car from the rear.

(Well dang, it keeps saying "upload has failed" Ah well its in my gallery.

[patrickt]

That's pretty cool. The shot from the rear is pretty small. Can you post some larger shots?

[Jim Holden]

Frankly, I don't have time to struggle with this site's photo restrictions. Why it doesn't automatically resize photos (in this day and age) is beyond me.)

I'll be happy to email some pictures directly to you that are FULL SIZE, however, if you will e-mail me at jholden@bestweb.net


Jim

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

Frankly, I don't have time to struggle with this site's photo restrictions. Why it doesn't automnmatically resize photos (in this day and age) is beyond me.)

I'll be happy to email some pictures directly to you that are FULL SIZE, however, if you will e-mail me at jholden@bestweb.net


Jim

Email sent. I'll resize them, post them, and add them below as soon as you send them to me.

[patrickt]

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[Jim Holden]

Thanks Patrick!

Jim

[imagine2frolic]

Jim,

Is this your project, or is ERA going to be offering the slabside?....confused as always.....i2f

[Jim Holden]

At the moment, it is my project. Having said that, I have made sure that ERA has the jigs and molds to be able to duplicate the car. Changes were required to the FIA frame and, obviously, to the body, doors, fuel tank, suspension (track) etc.

Peter is not convinced that there is much if any demand for these cars. Candidly, if I was a first time Cobra Replica purchaser and had not already done two ERA427SCs and an ERAFIA, I might not be interested in a 289 slabbside. But now, I view them as the original manifestation of the "breed" and have reached the point where its (relatively) understated appearance and early British sports car look are compelling. ...and, too, there are so many big block cars out there that this presents a nice alternative.

I feel that ERA needs to have another arrow in its quiver. If they sell only a few of them, they may be sales that they might not have otherwise made.

So, my goal at this point? It is to bookend my ERAGT with the two small block ERAs evidencing one extreme to the other.

Jim

[xracerbob]

I love it. How many changes were made to the FIA frame and other "underneath" parts?

[Jim Holden]

X:

The changes to the basic ERAFIA frame included modifications to the area around the rear of the door to remove the "cut back" door frame and change it to a standard door opening. The door was changed to a standard door. The rear lower Jag locating arms and half shafts were shortened to narrow the track.

The gas tank had to be modified to be a center fill and use the small filler cap.

As for the body, the lower FIA oil scoop and hood scoop were deleted. The front flares were modified and the entire rear quarters were changed.

The car will be finished with front and rear bumper "hoops" and full leather street interior and small block street dash.

Jim

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

In my discussions with Peter he insists that inasmuch as I have bludgeoned them into doing this, it's "gona cost a million bucks."

It will, in all likelyhood, be more on the order of a ERA427SC due to the full leather interior, guages, grill, header tank, wire, spline wheels, pain and suffering, etc. etc. Some savings will be had because I have provided the Jag rear (a "removal" from some property a client had for sale) and a relatively stock 1966 289. I, also, happened to have a Tremec TKO "on the shelf" and a set of tires that I originally purchased for my XKE...

Jim

Jim,

In terms of dollars, is this around $70,000 finished? It looks great! Have you chosen a color? How long did/do you have to wait? Thanks.

[Jim Holden]

Rod:

It is more on the order of a $50-55K car. As I indicated, I supplied the motor, trans and rear, wheels and tires, so my price is reduced by the cost of those items.

Future "Slabsides" should be, as a roller similar in price to a 427SC with the same options.

As for time... I've been waiting a life time. (More on the order of six months to this point).

Jim

PS: and the color is black (the interior will be "Harlot" Red). That's the finished paint job in the pictures.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

Rod:

It is more on the order of a $50-55K car. As I indicated, I supplied the motor, trans and rear.

Future "Slabsides" should be, as a roller similar to a 427SC with the same options.

As for time... I've been waiting a life time. (More on the order of six months to this point).

Jim

PS: and the color is black. That's the finished paint job in the pictures.

Sorry Jim, nowadays the finish gel coat can look so good, you can't tell the difference at least in photos. I love the black. Excellent choice. Who painted it?

I'm actually very interested. Does ERA include the spline hubs and wire wheels as well as source all the interior and exterior bits (gauges, dash, bumpers and hoops, grill, etc.)?

It's been six months and you haven't taken delivery yet, is that correct?

Thanks for the info.

[Jim Holden]

Rod:

The paint was done by Tony Stefan, a true artist, one of ERAs regular painters.

As far as all of the parts to make a slabside (or as the boyz in the welding shop refer to it; sloberside), ERA has sources for all of the special parts. Due to the way it was developed, it requires an ERAFIA body which is then modified. ERA is going to do the assembly on this car because it is the first one for them.

Check with Peter about a time line. I've been talking with them for some time about this car and initially put things in motion just after Kit Car Carlisle last year to develop the body molds, take measurements from an original car, etc.

Inasmuch as I have, at any one time, multiple projects in the works, I care little for how long a project might take, but rather that it come out right in the end.

Jim

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

They did a beautiful job as usual. Nice to see you did it in the right color.

[marcalan]

Wow, FANTASTIC. Any chance it will be at Carlisle this year?