------------------ New Name.... New Attitude.... AKA. "SmoothGT".... Custom Built SHAVED~WIDEBODY~GT!! ***If you like my contribution and the new attitude, Please rate me with a Positive.***
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03:27 AM
Jan 11th, 2004
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Looking good Archie! I talked to you about yours last spring before I got the Avenger Im working on. Its dead on, if I remember you made your molds off a real original one. If you can get yours out before the new real GT goes on sale, you could make a quick killing. Only a few hundred dealers nationwide are going to get one to sell, much less have one to show off. My goal is to have mine totally road worthy by march to beat Ford. Mines paint is done, just finished interior except for some minor details. Im under the hood now working on the Porsche drivetrain. People can laugh all they want, no one else has ever tried to reintroduce a car designed 40 some years ago with just minor appearance changes....a true classic. Of course the new one has all the newest high tech mechanicals, but going down the road, no one notices that.
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08:35 PM
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rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Sorry Guys but this kit just screams Opel GT!! If you don't know what it is go look it up on classic autotrader! And before you tell me i'm an idiot i know there are a few small differences like the front but it looks more like an Opel than a GT40... Don't be mad just an opinion Looks good though!! Thanks--Nathan
Its an exact GT40, the original body was designed by Lola, ford bought the rights and modified it for mustang engine. The only part even close to an Opel GT is the covered headlites, and even that is entirely different. Archies does appear to be a little too short, but i think thats due to the Fiero wheels and sitting on stands. On the ground with proper wheels, its as close as any. Right now ERA has the best replica of it for around $80K without drivetrain. A guy here on the north end has one and its perfect, even has original Webers on it.
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08:45 PM
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
Hey Kelvin, I might have seen you there and not known it was another Fiero guy! Got some pics of that car too, but I can't post them. LOL, I was looking at the engine in the MR2 Spyder and commented to my friend that I still preferred my Fiero and this other guy looking at it gave me an incredulous look and said he hadn't heard of those in forever.
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12:49 AM
JacobHaley Member
Posts: 269 From: Columbus, OH Registered: Feb 2003
Hey Kelvin, I might have seen you there and not known it was another Fiero guy! Got some pics of that car too, but I can't post them. LOL, I was looking at the engine in the MR2 Spyder and commented to my friend that I still preferred my Fiero and this other guy looking at it gave me an incredulous look and said he hadn't heard of those in forever.
Yep, we could have walked right past each other and not known - it is for this reason that I advocate that we all wear bright green neon shirts with a large Fiero emblem on the front and "Fiero" written on the back, when attending any public car show gathering....
I also liked the new Ford Mustang - it has a retro-look to it, with the larger grill.
kv
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02:44 PM
84se-Stock Member
Posts: 430 From: Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Registered: May 2003
Ya, I love the front of the new Mustang, but the back and the interior really aren't doing anything for me. Can't argue with an optional supercharged V8 though.
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06:00 PM
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Russ544 Member
Posts: 2136 From: S.W. Oregon Registered: Jun 2003
I've always tried to bring something new to Carlisle. This year is no exception. I'll have my new Blue Fino there and, if everything works out, We plan to bring the new A4T. (<~~ temporary name, maybe we'll get the PFF members to name the car later).
Seems pretty obvious. It should be called the "GT4T"
How's the headroom for a 6'2" driver?
Russ Camp
------------------ 86 SE350 x 4 speed (my way) 86 SE2.8 x 4 speed (all-option restored)
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08:09 PM
Fastback 86 Member
Posts: 7849 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Sep 2003
The primer has begun! We spent Saturday at the Archieland Fiero shop and got a lot of bodywork done, but I still found a few mold imperfections that I wanted to touch up. But, things are looking great. She'll be totally in primer tomorrow night, and if all goes well, I'll stick a pic or two up. She's totally cool!
As for this thing being a kit, that can't happen. There is so much modification to the chassis that even good directions wouldn't help. It's amazing the way this thing is put together, and how well built it actually is. If you are interested in one of these, we'll paint it whatever color you want!
Mark
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11:11 PM
Jan 13th, 2004
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
Looks sweet Archie!! I wish I could give you another plus
A question: Are you going to be selling it as a kit like the fino or finale?
Thank You, I just can't wait 'til it's painted.
The Fino/Finale are designed to fit onto a stock Fiero chassis without any major modifications. There is just a little sheet metal to remove and no welding or fabricating needed to mount the Fino/Finale bodies.
To mount this correct GT40 body on a Fiero a lot of cutting and welding is going to be needed. As I've said before, This is a correct GT40 Mark I body and instead of modifying the body to fit the chassis, we've modified the chassis to fit the body. The total height of the car you see in these pictures is 40.5". I expect it to be about 41" once we have the suspension adjusted and aligned.
A lot of the original Fiero chassis has been removed to allow this body to fit it without modification. For example: in the area of the engine compartment (from the rear window back) The only original Fiero chassis left is the lower frame rails and the engine cradle. Everything else was removed and replaced by our custom tubular framework. All of the original Fiero roofline, rear window area and all of the cowl above the heater box has been removed. Also everything in front of the cowl except the front frame rails and the suspension crossmember & the radiator mounts has also been removed.
We have designed a tubular frame work that we have jigged and welded to reinforce what is left of the original Fiero chassis. This tubular frame goes the full length of the chassis and is all one pc.
I think it will be quite a while before we ever sell a kit for the home builder. I plan to sell this project as a "Turn-Key" & as a "Roller" for those that want to do the finishing themselves.
I hope that answers your question.
Below is a picture of the tubular frame sitting on the welding jig.
Archie
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12:01 AM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Ok....it's coming along nicely! It's in primer, and the painting begins tomorrow. But, I know that there are thousands of PFFers that are looking for pics of the progress, so here are a few!!!
The lighting conditions weren't the best for the pics, but it looks a whole lot better than before the primer. Everything is on schedule and looking great!
More to follow!
Mark
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11:13 PM
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
Ok....it's coming along nicely! It's in primer, and the painting begins tomorrow. But, I know that there are thousands of PFFers that are looking for pics of the progress, so here are a few!!!
The lighting conditions weren't the best for the pics, but it looks a whole lot better than before the primer. Everything is on schedule and looking great!
More to follow!
Mark
Looks good so far Mark.
Hey, give me a call tomorrow on my Cell or at the shop, I have something I gotta tell you.
Archie
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11:20 PM
Firefox Member
Posts: 4307 From: New Berlin, Wisconsin Registered: Feb 2003
, and the GT-40 is not ugly by any means.
