AC Owners Club Forum

AC Owners Club Forum => Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum => Topic started by: French Frie on February 03, 2014, 08:29:11

Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: French Frie on February 03, 2014, 08:29:11: not cheap...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-Cobra-Mk-IV-/281220718834
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: dkp_cobra on February 03, 2014, 10:12:10: but nice [:)]
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: 302EFI on February 03, 2014, 10:23:57: Yes, the car looks very well kept. However, I could not detect AKL features beyond the straight dash and the missing leather cabin edging.
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: French Frie on February 03, 2014, 10:29:01: ...and the roll bar !

edited : and the hood scoop...
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: 302EFI on February 03, 2014, 10:56:14: Wasn't a roll bar among the specifications of the standard MkIVs?
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: French Frie on February 03, 2014, 10:59:05: nope ...
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: dkp_cobra on February 03, 2014, 11:24:02: ... and the short nose (but that was standard MK IV on request)
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: 302EFI on February 03, 2014, 13:06:57: For standard MkIV specifications pls see here:
http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1639
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: French Frie on February 03, 2014, 16:39:28: ok... it wasn't in the specifications, but available as options [;)] ! to me, a "standard" MKIV (as far as it has ever existed !) is a kind of 427 street version (or AC289 without wire wheels), ie underbody exhausts, no hood scoop, no roll bar, chrome bumpers, etc...
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: westcott on February 04, 2014, 10:05:40: Don't agree to you FF.

   The upper left corner of the company brochure shoes a driver side roll bar as standard for later cars doesn't it?

   Therfore it was not on the option list.

   Will check my early brochures but i think it changed from 86 on.

   http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1639
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: 302EFI on February 04, 2014, 10:08:58: And the photo in the company brochure shows a MkIV with a hood scoop... ;-)
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: westcott on February 04, 2014, 10:16:36: Photos are teasers and mostly not related to base versions :-) the same with actual brochures for all OEMs, the text is relevant.
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: jbottini on February 04, 2014, 17:36:38: Seems that manufacturers often show options in photos. French Frie, check the factory build sheet that came with red head, perhaps that will settle it. I believe you are correct though, 289 sports with a 302/5sd, under car exhausts, no roll bar, no knock spinners( nuts were std) no hood scoop. But you could have many factory changes done.
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: 302EFI on February 05, 2014, 10:40:55: The only point I intended to make is that roll bar and hood scoop do not belong to the items which distinguish a Lightweight from a standard MkIV.
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: jbottini on February 05, 2014, 20:37:30: Correct
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: French Frie on February 05, 2014, 20:41:50: Yep, but going this route, the only very specific MKIV features were longer cockpit, doors reinforcement and telescopic bumpers ! I assume all the others items/ modifications were available, as options or special order, weren't they ?
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: SB7019 on February 05, 2014, 22:16:34: Some other items were, I believe, unique to the Lightweights. These include:- location of fuel filler and fuel tank, two rather than three wipers, steering column, no lip on wheel arches and exact location of roll bar ( uprights inside cockpit not boot). These are things that could not be changed ( though SB7020 was part built with a side filler and floor tank). Based on my own experience of having a car built AC were able to modify:- bumper mounts, dash, pedals, instruments, heater controls, door cards, headrests headrests ( deleted) and side marker on a non Lightweight MkIV ( or Superblower in my case). Lightweights were also fitted with 15, not 16 inch wheels - but that is very easy to do at any stage.
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: 302EFI on February 06, 2014, 10:16:13: The issue of standard MkIVs vs. Lightweights has been discussed in various threads of this forum with the Lightweights being further divided into 'true' ones and not so true ones. I believe a clear-cut general consensus on what features a MkIV must at least possess to qualify as a Lightweight has not been reached. Alan Faulkner-Stevens published an instructive article on this topic in ACtion magazine of July 2012.
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: jbottini on February 06, 2014, 21:34:01: In reality, it's Data plate fro AC Cars either says AKL or the Bible , if patience allows, when the VIN is looked up refers to AKL XXXX or not. The rest are "posers"
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: 302EFI on February 07, 2014, 09:52:49: To distinguish between standard MkIVs and Lightweights merely on the basis of the 'L' in the chassis number prefix would of course be very clear and simple. I doubt, however, that it would also be meaningful. In the earlier discussions it turned out that there are AKL MkIVs that carry virtually none of the commonly accepted Lightweight features as outlined by Peter in his post above. Should we name such cars Lightweights without making a qualification?
Title: MKIV (with some AKL features) for sale
Post by: jbottini on February 07, 2014, 11:57:37: My point exactly....it is how the factory records designate the car, but in any event it must have the proper data plate , modifications or records to back up modifications