Marc
The headlight specification is a holdover from a previous series and I believe that it is referring to the real race cars having required head and tail lights. As many racecar headlights in period were covered during daytime racing, sometimes with tape, sometimes with metal or plastic covers, or otherwise not visible, I do not think visible headlights should be required.
Randy
Tracing Cobra race car body modifications can be tricky as it was a constantly evolving process, with various fender flares and extensions being used. The ultimate 289 body (and my personal favorite Cobra shape) may well have been the five FIA 289 Cobras that were built. These cars had a wide rear body, requiring the doors to have a cutback rear edge. The front wheelwells had wide fender flare extensions and an oil cooler inlet was added below the regular 289 flat-bottom grill opening. The hood had a scoop for fresh air in and added side fender vents let hot air out. The FIA cars also had the “suitcase” bumps on the trunk lids to clear the mandated FIA luggage space.
The 1/24 Revell slot car is a pretty accurate FIA car, except for the lack of trunk bumps. The AMT Cobra behind is a 1/25 early car.
After the FIA cars, there were 11 USRRC Cobras built, using the FIA mods. Then the Kardashian FIA rear body was used as the buck for the 427 rear body, although there were variations here as well; the street, competition, and S/C cars had slight differences on the rear fenders, all very similar to the FIA 289 rear fenders, except that the doors were not cutback. In addition, 33 427s were built with narrower rear fenders, closer to the rear tires. After a run of the “narrow-hip” cars Shelby went back to the wider rear, because it looked better.
In 1/32 scale, the Revell hardtop is an early 289 and pretty close to the LeMans/Goodwood hardtop cars, as they were raced in period. The MRRC car behind is clearly a 427.
Russell