How Close is it????

[Big-boss]

Ok, So the MK IV is made from the Dick Smith Car, How close is it? I had a Mk I that I was never really happy with the back fenders and the way the tires fit in-It looks like that is fixed- very nice. The dash looks right now- not so dune buggy, What is the consensus on the rest? Thanks

[CraigS]

IMHO the MkIV is a huge improvement over previous bodies. The joint lines require much less body work to fix. To me though, there are still 2 idiosyncrasies. The rear tires look like they are an inch too far back in the wheel well and the front fenders are too close to the tire at the front. The big improvements for me are; the rolled edges front and rear cockpit, the rear wheels w/ 315s fit just fine width wise, the butt has now been dropped, the body wraps around under the frame along the rocker panel area

[Jeff Kleiner]

I have stood between the Dick Smith car and a Mk4. Looked to the left at the CSX, looked to the right at the FFR; left, right, left right... Let's just say that it's closer than the Mk1, 2 or 3 but still far from exact.

Jeff

[Gordon Levy]

It's pretty close, close enough that FFR should pay me royalties because I shaped the quarter panels on Dick's car.

[Ducky2009]

IMHO the MkIV is a huge improvement over previous bodies.......... The rear tires look like they are an inch too far back in the wheel well............

I felt the same, so I made an adjustment. First, I have a solid axle. I cut 1/2" off both ends of the Upper Link. That left 1-1/8" threads on each end after cutting. I then installed the rod ends, with nuts, all the way in. After assembling, but leaving the four axle clamp bolts loose, I set the pinion angle, then tightened the four clamp bolts. The rear wheel now looks center in the wheel well. When attaching the front of the upper link axle mount to the front axle flange, I had to add a spacer (approx 1/2" thick).

NOTE: Reducing the upper link by 1" total, the rear wheel moved forward 1/2", centering it in the wheel well.

[RR20AC]

I think I like the look. Others don't with the 18's. Body is a little off here and there but it was from a hand made car. Right?

[Gumball]

The original cars came from AC with lots of variations - often not even symetrical from side-to-side on the same car - as the exterior skins were added to the chassis by outside firms.

That said, each version of the FFR body has improved, but they still require a bit of massaging if you want to get the appearance right. Given the nature of the running gear, though, there will always be proportions that are off from the original cars, so it's all about striking a balance with those dimensions. The little details help, too, to draw the eye away from body lines that aren't quite perfect and to give a greater similarity to the original cars.

Here's my Mk III - it's a late one.... often referred to as the 3.1..... and I'm really happy with how it turned out. I did quite a bit of tweaking to the body, from rolled cockpit edges and wheel wells to reshaping the tail light pads to fit the rectangular Lucas lamps - even going so far as to add rivets around the cockpit to simulate how the body skin was held onto the chassis of an original car, adding drain tubes to the side curtain ferrules, and a stub of pipe at the top center of the dash-to-cowl to mimic the original support tubing.

The Mk IV came out just a few months after I picked up my kit, so I was a bit bummed, as the only thing I don't like about my Mk III is the "perky butt," which would have required a bit more surgery to eliminate.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/IMG_20150801_131238342_HDR_zpsy1clgmuy.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/IMG_20150801_131238342_HDR_zpsy1clgmuy.jpg.html)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/Graduation/IMG_20150614_172844286_zpsnitwfdgs.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/Graduation/IMG_20150614_172844286_zpsnitwfdgs.jpg.html)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/Graduation/IMG_20150614_173333533_zpsn8blybbf.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/Graduation/IMG_20150614_173333533_zpsn8blybbf.jpg.html)

[Big-boss]

Hi Gordon, I remember the day you and Dick brought his car out for the first time after restoration (Tulare Cars in Park) I was the guy with the red Butler sitting next to you guys.
I think your rear quarter panels look great. I am getting ready for another project and it is a toss up on either a 33 hot rod or Cobra No. 6.

Thanks again for comments.

[Gordon Levy]

Damn that was a long time ago, like 30 years. I think I remember you having a LM002 at one time also.

[chmhasy]

Lets not forget the License plate not fitting correctly between the light and latch handle. I'm truly surprised that FFR did not address and fix this

[mburger]

Or, @Big-boss you could just buy an original and be done with it.
Edit: This was supposed to have a grin emoji...