CANADIAN RIVERSIDE RACER KIT INFORMATION
As Canada has specific rules re kit cars Riverside makes a special Canadian Car Kit for Canadians Only.
Roy from Classic car Connection is the appointed agent to handle all of this for you to make sure that what is required by law is done correctly and all that is required from you is to fill in the necessary paper work and sign.
KIT CONTENTS
The Canadian Starter car kit includes the following
1. FRAME/CHASSIS - Complete original Tojeiro style 3” Round Tube ladder style
Frame using DOM type tubing. Jig welded for accuracy and includes necessary small block Ford motor and selected transmission mounts .
The Riverside is an exact replica of the 1960s AC Ace/Cobra. Unlike other replicas, it consists of a round tubular frame with the body being an outer skin with no interior panels being part of it. All of the interior panels have to be fitted once the skin has been attached. Therefore the skin alignment and bonding/riveting is critical.
Unlike other replicas which merely consist of a rectangular tube chassis and a tub with footboxes and other panels molded in which can just be laid on the chassis and bolted down, the Riversides chassis plays an integral part in retaining the shape and strength of the unit. This is achieved by wrapping, bonding and riveting the loose skin to the frame. Like the aluminum cars it so closely resembles, this is a highly specialized procedure and to ensure it is done correctly, it is done by Hi Tech in specialized fixtures to assure proper alignment and structural integrity.
2. BODY - Complete hand laid fiberglass body including attached fiberglass foot boxes, doors, hood and trunk. Doors and trunk are hinged. Loose aluminium panels that do not perform a strengthening function ie trans tunnel, flooring, bulkhead etc are supplied loose
3. ROLL BAR - Complete and ready to be attached
4. EXHAUST - Complete assembly and mounting hardware ready to bolt on
5. LIGHTING - Headlights with integral running lamps, front amber indicator lamps, Rear red tail-light sand chromed license plate light
6. EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR ACCESSORIES:
1. Authentic chrome on brass windshield
2. Le Mans style roller gas cap
3. 15” wooden steering wheel and boss
4. Chrome latches, handles and locks
5. Rectangular rear view mirror
6. Kwik jack bumpers
7. Leather seats and slides
8. Gear shifter and emergency brake boot and ring
9. Aluminum dash covered with all buttons, toggles warning
Lights.
10. Hood, bonnet and emergency brake handles
11. Carpet set if ordered
12. Steering Shaft and all required bearings and U joints
13. Electric cooling fan, shroud, mounting hardware and hoses
14. Bracket for fitting Jaguar style diff.
7. COOLING - Aluminum radiator and pipes
WHAT DONOR CARS ARE REQUIRED FOR FINISHING YOUR CANADIAN RIVERSIDE RACER
1. AC ACE, ACECA BRISTOL OR GREYHOUND FROM 1954 AND UP
From these cars the complete front and rear suspension including transverse leaf springs brakes, Shocks, differential and side shafts can be used The fuel tank and radiator are also correct.
The steering box will also fit as long as it is of the rack and pinion type.
The pedals, linkages, master cylinders,
The wiring harness and switches. All the lights will also work.
2.JAGUAR XJ6
The diff, preferably the lsd type will work
3. MGB
This is the steering rack but requires shortening of the arms on both sides
4.1963 CORVETTE
This car has the Harrison radiator expansion tank
5. Early MUSTANG, FAIRLANE etc supply the transmission (MANUAL) and SBF Motors. Both engine and transmission mounts are from the same source
If you choose not to go the donor route, as a lot of these donor parts may require attention anyway, a NO DONOR REQUIRED package is available. Note that all parts( other than the starter kit ) must be Canadian sourced. Roy from The Classic Car Connection , tel 9057048475, e mail classiccarconnection@hotmail.comwill assist you to obtain completely Canadian sourced new or used donor parts in accordance with Transport Canada regulations New aluminum fuel tanks ,Transverse leaf springs and other suspension parts are presently being MANUFACTURED in Canada..
The wheels, wheel bearings, balljoints, brakes(calipers,rotors and master cylinders,brake lines and hoses) differential and sideshafts are either made in Canada or the USA. The correct type gauges are also made in America.All ignition parts are Canadian/USA made as well.
Further Information on the 289
AC cars were at this stage trying to source different motors with the Buick/Rover V8 being one of them. Initially the 260 SBF and then after 75 cars the 289`s were fitted. Again some significant body changes took place with this modification. Front fender louvered side air vents were fitted and the nose altered to allow more air in. The chassis was also tweaked once again by Alan Turner at the AC cars factory. Heavier gauge tubing with extra cross bracing was used and because the rear brakes had been moved from inboard to outboard, the diff area could be modified and strengthened as well.The first 126 frames used the same front suspension tower as the ace but when the change to rack and pinion steering took place, a different type of front shock tower was used. This allowed for further strengthening. The change from worm and sector to rack and pinion transformed the handling of these cars. At the same time the bottom control arm pick up points were able to be repositioned. Originally the 3” tubing was all arc welded whilst the body framework, consisting of ¾” and 1” steel tubing, was gas welded. 1 ½” tubing was used to strengthen the scuttle area. Today GSM uses state of the art technology and has vastly improved on these methods, although hopefully none of the charm has been lost.
The John Tojeiro designed 3” tubular rail and cross member ladder style chassis, with front and rear suspension towers welded to it, started off life under a Cliff Davis 2 liter special in 1953.The little red Ferrari 166 barchetta look- a- like body placed on top of this chassis proved to be a formidable force in the local club racing events, so much so that AC cars decided to buy the design when it was offered to them. The first Ace’s used the Weller designed ohc motor and then later the more efficient Bristol BMW based 2.0 l motor. When Bristol stopped producing these, AC tried various other options including the 2.6 Ford zephyr motor tuned by Ken Rudd. This motor was fitted for a while and because of the extra weight and horsepower, strengthening of the chassis and slight body changes were done. The nose and hood line were changed, (lowered) improving aerodynamics. From these changes the Ace 2.6 evolved.