Building Fiat Spider Body Kit / Ground FX

[ShazDlux]

Hey, I figured this post should be over here too, since this is the Custom stuff area.

Hey all,

happy to have found this site here, its a great resource, hope i can add to it.

Im building a body kit for my Spider 2000. I quit my job as a painter to go work at a boat repair yard to learn how to fiberglass right. One of the guys there built molds for a company that makes AC Cobra and Corvette replicars and he is helping. Score~!! The molds are about half done. I started this project because I was originally just going to buy a body kit for it but a search for a full body kit over a few days turned up NOTHING!! whats up with that? I will post pics of the drawings soon! Its a full kit, including rear bumper with 4 round tail lights, large spoiler, side skirts, front bumper and headlight buckets (and covers possibly)...

any one else out there doing something similar?

my best

Shaz

[ShazDlux]

So here are some in progress pics

NOTE: CLICK ON A PICTURE TO GET THE FULL SIZE IMAGE
Have an idea for this kit? If any one wants to modify or edit the design drawings or have suggestions I will consider them for the final product,


Im using salvaged bumper covers (for the base mold) off of a subaru wrx (for the front) toyota and acura for the rear. It just so happens that they fit together so perfectly, it was like they were made for the car, after I cut them and pieced them together. I went through a lot of salvaged bumpers! now i have a whole mess of them behind my shed. I cant believe body shops throw these things out and are glad to have you take them off their hands, most of them just have scratches.


THESE RACCOONS HANG OUT ON MY BACK PORCH....OK BACK TO THE BUMPERS ALEADY

SOME DRAWINGS:






I couldnt find the pictures of the front bumper, but they are around. Tomorrow Im taking the flat steel that will replace the original bumper behind the kit to a buddy to get ready and prep for welding.

more coming soon...

[ShazDlux]

So here is the pic of the front bumper so far.
NOW....For some reason, people tend to think that I am going to patch these bumper covers, off other cars, together and drive around like that and call it a body kit! WOW....that cracks me up.

Im using them as an UNDERLAYMENT for the basis of the mold. The finished mold will look quite different than the plastic just sitting on the car.

Don't forget to click on the pic to make it bigger!




Have an idea for this kit? If any one wants to modify or edit the design drawings or have suggestions I will consider them for the final product,

[racydave]

Im doin a console mold now. Keep up with the pics!

[stefhahn]

Somehow this reminds me - Heinrich Unterholzer (Italy) was racing back in the late 70ies with highly modified Spiders:

ciao,
Stefan

[So Cal Mark]

the rear body work and wing are interesting

[bandit]

I think your ideal is cool but for this car maybe less is more, to much change always tends to make the 124 something
else some may like it when your done but IMO if you down sized all the things your doing maybe made a small air
dam small side skirts that flow with the lines of the car without drawing a lot of attention to the mods that would
be the way to go ? just my thoughts .



Daniel

[Danno]

I'm not feeling the rear (yet), but the front is wicked cool. I have mixed feelings about the whole project, though because I like the body lines as they are. It's a spectrum, though, some people prefer completely stock, I'm a little more liberal than that, you are at the other end. So keep it up and pictures galore are always appreciated.

[stefhahn]

Here's another one of Heinrichs cars - could be inspiring and shows more details of the rear:

ciao,
Stefan

[Boomerbaum]

I purchased a 82 Spider about 4 years ago with a body kit installed. Was told it originally was for converting a 911 to a 930. It has 345-35-15 wheels on back. Kit includes front spoiler, both front fender flared about 1-2 inches, side railes then the wide rear fender flares. Original tail lights. No bumpers front or back. Rear wing is off a Fiero.I have not seen one like it. Just finished it a couple of months ago. Definently a head turner. Bright Yellow.

[narfire]

This one has been for sale for quite some time.
Has a few bits and pieces added
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/c ... 52533.html

[azruss]

Here is an FX kit i developed back in the mid 80s when i had a fiberglass shop. I am currently modifying it to fit my 80 FI. all is the same except the front airdam where i have opened up the middle for more air to the radiator and modifying the upper tips for bumper clearance. I was looking to create a conservative look that blended with the body style and actually worked ( and it works great). Most of the feedback i have gotten from our fellow Fiat brothren has been negative. There are several modified spiders out there with some very well done bodywork and for the most part are scorned by the masses. (like the guy with the V8, or the guy with the ferrari nose, or the florida guy with the canary yellow spider who did his FX in sheetmetal.). So, as i have found the approval of your efforts will be few and far between. Good luck with your project and know you have at least one guy that says " go for it".

[maytag]

This might be a good time to remind us all that the love affair we have with these cars is frequentl related to the modifications we create ourselves. And just like everything else in life: it takes all kinds. thankfully.

I'm not a fan of the ground-effects. But it is a personal choice about taste, like blondes or brunettes. I can always admire the creativity and the workmanship, even if not the style.

So I say GO FOR IT, as well. And don't worry for even a moment if people like me don't like it. this is YOUR car.

Make sure you post pics as you go. Maybe you'll change my mind!

[grittracing]

I think your idea is cool. but take it from some who is selling custom spider parts there. is not a lot of money to be made so make sure you are just doing it for the love of the car not to get rich. i do like the idea. not for me,but I cant wait to see the finish car.

[normanmanske]

dude that body kit is bad ass