427 Body shape and dimensions

[skip beat]

Is there any difference in the body shape and dimensions between ERA and Superformance. Are they both accurate replicas of the original 427SC.

[kris-kincaid]

The ERA looks more original. The Superformance has a pretty distinct shape.

[LMH]

There are differences between the two as there are in each manufacturer. Some are closer than others for sure. I'd have to say the ERA is closer/closest to original though.
Larry

[Excaliber]

Every replica manufacturer varies to some degree some where. ERA is indeed right up there with the best of the best for an accurate body.

Consider the old 'High Techs', also considered among the best of the best for accuracy (in build specifics as well, often VERY detailed to original specs). My friend has one, beautiful car. We were comparing the ERA one day when he mentioned the bottom of the rear fender flairs on his High Tech protruded out farther than on my ERA. Which was 'correct'? A tough question because even the originals had varying degrees of wheel arch flair in them.

We concluded that the High Tech protruded a little to far, to pronounced. The ERA was a little cleaner, looked better. I had to agree, 'really'...

It is often said, 90% of the people you meet at a car show couldn't tell the difference from one replica to another. I tend to agree, but I don't care about the uneducated 90%. I care about first what I personally see, those seeking more knowledge of what to look for and the 10% who DO know!

[Power Surge]

As mentioned, SPF and ERA are both quite faithful to an original shape (notice I side "an" original shape, because there are many). Each has it's little differences, but neither has anything majorly wrong about it. One thing I have noticed with ERAs, is that the rear section looks "dropped" (slopes downwards after the seats). Both cars use a non original type chassis. The ERA looks a liitle more correct under the hood though.

[CJ428CJ]

Here's a number of different views of an original Shelby vs an ERA. I can't tell them apart. http://www.erareplicas.com/cars/669/index.htm

Chris

[1985 CCX]

Power Surge is right on the $,

Many cars like CCX, ERA, KMS, HT, and even the new component CSX cars are patterned off an original. Replicas that use donor parts are usually a bit more altered. HT are probably the most accurate Replica, aside from KMS and CSX, since they use the most correct frame.

ERA used a street CSX3252 (427) and CSX2345 (FIA) for their molds. Contemporary used CSX3045, Hi-Tech CSX3190, and as for the others I can't remember off hand.

Most cars are pretty close to their molds and yes even ERA are slightly different as is CCX. All originals are slightly different anyway since they were all hand built.
Jeff

[brettco]

Hi-hech cars have curved rockers-ERA are straight.This matters most for a street car.

[xlr8or]

The SPF seems to have a little narrower hips as well. Put it side by side with an ERA, Kirkham or CSX and you'll notice the rear arches are a little taller and more vertical on the sides.

[kris-kincaid]

I think ERA fixed that: http://erareplicas.com/427/newfeatures.htm

Originally Posted by brettco

Hi-hech cars have curved rockers-ERA are straight.This matters most for a street car.

[brettco]

I wonder if you could buy a ERA body and put it on a kirkham chassis-that would be a sweet glass car and save a little money over an aluminum body.

[CJ428CJ]

I wonder if you could buy a ERA body and put it on a kirkham chassis-that would be a sweet glass car and save a little money over an aluminum body.

I'm not sure why you'd want to do that. I'm not aware of any significant advantages of the Kirkham chassis over the ERA chassis. If your content with a glass car, go with the ERA. If you have your heart set on aluminum, then go with the Kirkham.

Chris

[Bud Man]

Came close to buying a SPF before I decided to stick to my original plan of buying a Kirkham. Two aspects of the SPF body that have never appealed to me are the side louvers and the nose. Side louvers because the shape and turn-in of the openings aren't right, and the nose because the originals where more elliptical with a milder turn-in, whereas the SPF is a bit too oval with a sharper radius to the turn-in. Th rest looks pretty good.

While I still love my Kirkham (#142), overall, I think ERA has always had the most esthetically pleasing shape of all, with the second generation Hi Tech a close second. Kirkham third.

Bud

[Three Peaks]

Originally Posted by brettco

I wonder if you could buy a ERA body and put it on a kirkham chassis-that would be a sweet glass car and save a little money over an aluminum body.

The Kirkham and ERA have completely different body mounting systems. You would need a fair bit of fabrication and redesign/rebuilding to mount the ERA body on a Kirkham chassis.

For a short while, Kirkham offered glass bodies for their "car in a box" idea that ended basically before it began. You can find glass bodies quite often on the classifieds, ebay, and other places that will fit and are designed to fit on a Shelby/Kirkham chassis. Some of them are very true to the originals. My carbon fiber body was splashed off an original, but I don't know which body. I heard a rumor my body came off the old High Tech molds? Can't verify that for sure.

Bob

[sportyworty]

How about an unpainted Kirkham body, on lets say a good deal on an existing new or used rolling chassis. Has this been done yet to anyones knowledge

[GVS]

Along the sames lines, is the Unique Motorcars Cobra body based off a real CSX? I saw one in person this weekend and the body shape of the Unique was convincing to my untrained eye.

[DrivinWest]

Originally Posted by GVS

the body shape of the Unique was convincing to my untrained eye.

I don't know if it's based off of a CSX, but I agree that Unique bodies look right.

[DanEC]

I don't recall ever seeing anything that said if the Unique was splashed from a particular original body - maybe I missed it. I agree that they have a very original body appearance. Most of the departure from originals is in the interior and under hood.

[Maricopa]

I'm not aware of any significant advantages of the Kirkham chassis over the ERA chassis.

Well, it's more original in overall design (twin 4" tubes etc) and so it looks more original under the hood. Then there's the standard billet suspension and better overall brakes and shocks, etc.
Still, seems like the savings wouldn't be that great and since the aluminum skin is wrapped and riveted to the 'birdcage' on a Kirkham I can't imagine it would be very easy to attach a 'glass body. Kirkham did make a few but never (to my knowledge) sold them, they ended up upgrading the depositors of the 'glass cars to aluminum.