Flip Top Wheelbase?

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

The Daytona coupes had a 90 inch wheelbase. The 427 Super Coupe did not run until much later. The original design of the 427 cars had a lengthend chassis, but AC Cars had already bought the main rail tubes cut to length so they were stuck with a 90 inch wheelbase.

Where did you find the reference to 3 inches?

The 427 Super Coupe was never completed by Shelby American. I think it was finished by an enthusiast sometime in the 1980's.

The coupe that was lengthened was one of the original 6 daytonas. It was supposed to be a surprise for LeMans. There were apparently several different wooden mock up engines sent to the mechanics, because it was not certain which would be used in the end. I think that the 427 sohc was even considered. But one of the other 5 coupes was damaged in a transporter accident, and the lengthened coupe was then put back to original configuration. My memory may be fuzzy, but I'm sure I read it at some point. Probably in either the Shoen or Brock book.

I have never heard anything about lengthening of the chassis for the flip top.

The 3 holes in the nose were in the original configuration of the car as the first car to get a big block motor. The car was banged up after it's race in that configuration. Since it was banged up, it was a good candidate to convert it to the flip top (why rip the body off of a perfectly good car, when you can rip a damaged body of a banged up car).

Thomas, don't you think you the best way to show off that new billet chassis would be with a flip top body? Hint, hint, hint.