sooo i have been staring at the picture of Toms grill. can you all post pictures of your grills. multi-angles. Please and thank you. i seem to see an inconsistant grind pattern in that picture, but cannot tell if its just a bad angle. does it look uneven? mine are straight to a tirangle. and spot on to each other. also very interested in the 2 piece anomily in reholmes grill. some kind of topper would be cool for the two tone feel. I would/may put black on mine if we find something. heck, i will use electrical tape....hahahaha....(sorry i dont LOL) back to the staring. D
in the 2nd pic. slat 1 looks different than 2 and 3 but the grind looks the same on 2+3. but 1's grind looks more rounded. even in the shadow. they look different to each other. could be the turkey. i am sleepie.
in this 3rd pic. i see a length optical. the 2nd and 3rd slat looks shorter than the 1st. a sign of a grind. maybe?
this silver strip reminds me of the silver "track" the robot mail delivery units follow at Pfizer. It is poured into the floor.
*edit for photo comments* D
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 11-26-2009).]
damn my eyes! problem look at the pictures. see it. the slats on my grille start on one side of the rail they are welded on and point on the other. yours both don't. seems mine are shorter than yours. I HAVE THE GRIND. crap! this will have to wait till tomarrow. D
I found a couple of spots on my grille that provide evidence that the slats are one piece and painted--don't look to be masked, but done during a manufacturing process subsequent to extrusion. Probably never repainted--only Tom would have gone through the pain of meticulously masking off the edges before spraying ;-) So, what about the ends? If I were Contemporary Concepts, I would have contracted out stuff like this, and if the specifications weren't sufficiently detailed, there could have been some variation in the product.
found these in the archives. under 328 rebodie. look familiar? the problem is i think they are upside down. you know, the points should point down. also they are pointed on the inside(other end) to center. thats interesting. i am sure none of us have these. for lack of the detail at the top of the ones in this picture. there are more. i will be staring at these all day. the cool thing about all our slats pics, is they all have the same pattern with the lines and rolled edge length wise. i am satisfied that they all came from the same source! as far as, in the pictures above. sooo cool. i'll get these below pics. now. Later Daniel
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 11-28-2009).]
yup, i think this fact sould be added to the Mera list. slats held in 4 spots. this is another difference between kits and even me! rules. its all comming togeather. i am trying to organize Quotes in my MERA OWNERS.... thread in the Technical Discussion area. i have to write them all down first. its gonna be awhile. Later D
That auction has been running on ebay for a few months, that seller has alot of rare/interesting car related materials such as that one. I have a few originals of that color brochure which were given to me when I purchased my 88 Bracey Mera. But I don't believe there are actually any Mera emblems viewable on the car shown in the pictures of that brochure. Also, interesting to note that the Mera pictured in the brochure has the real Carello Ferrari tail lights (as my 87 Mera does), and not the ford backup lights more commonly associated with the Mera. That brochure can also be seen by going to fiero.net, clicking on "showroom", then go to "mera sales brochure". Rodney's Mera article as well as another 2 page black & white sales ad are also viewable there as well. Of the Meras I own, none of them came with any original Mera emblems. I'd imagine that most all of the original Mera owners got rid of them to re-badge with Ferr. emblems, not really thinking much about the history or rarity of the Mera down the line.
did this cut und paste thing work, over *EDIT* Dang it worked. hey what do you all make of this? this is my Mera The 87, Mera-NSX is refering to. NO back up lights. well, when i got it they were there. now that i know how the cutting und pasteing this is going to get good. time to get to the bottom. Dan
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 11-28-2009).]
It was not an idle threat. In 1987, Ferrari filed a suit against Corporate Concepts. They decided to settle out of court. This was their public release at the time:
MERA PRODUCTION TERMINATED UNDER CONSENT DEGREE WITH FERRARI
Detroit, Michigan (June 1, 1988) -- Corporate Concepts Limited announced today that it will promptly cease production of its "Mera" automobile body conversion under a consent decree it has entered into with Ferrari S.p.A to settle the trademark infrigement suit that Ferrari filed after the Mera was introduced. Ferrari's suit in the Federal District Court in Port Huron sought a permanent injunction against the Mera, alleging that its body and exterior appearance was a simulation of the Ferrari 308 and 328 automobiles. The consent decree provides for the production of a small number of additional Meras during a short phase-out period. (RELEASE ANY TIME)
I vaguely remember reading someplace where as part of the consent decree, all of CC's original modes had to be witnessed/destroyed by running over them with a bulldozer, or something like that. I'd wager, however, that at least some of the remaining unused panels went "underground" to give birth to the 308 Kit Car.
Tom
if C.C. stopped production by June 1st, this fact shortens the time frame considerably. I have a request of all 1987 Mera owners. i would like to see if you can all post your GM build date from the inner sticker from the drivers door jamb??
assuming 01/01/87 to 06/01/88 is the alotted time frame for Mera offical production. 1 1/2 years. with the fact that CC may have built some cars after this date. these are the cars i want to find. 1987 Fieros converted in late 1988. maybe this could explain Mike's (Mera7) High Vin#. I re-read the article on the buy-thru purchase agreement CC had with Pontiac. i beleive this establishes the "pool of Fieros" thinking. the biggest stumbling block is the lack of info. about converting, 1987 Fieros into '87 Meras in the year 1988. what are the chances of an early VIN 1987 Fiero SE being rebodied in 1988. from the left-over Mera parts?? after June 1st?? after the suit was setteled they were allowed to satisify their remaning contracts. Wonder if this would be reflected in the list Mr. Dickman has?? Hey Rodney? do you have any 1987 Fieros converted in late 1988, by chance on the list?? i am back to the mines, Later Dann
more of und cutting von pasting *EDIT*this below is supposed to be a QUOTE from "87registery". how did i do that??
"not sure I understand your statement. All VINs are sequential within the model year. For the 87 model year they ran from 200001 to 246581. Production ran from about Sept 1986 to about Sept 1987. For 1988 the VIN numbers start over again. You need to read the year digit to know if say VIN 212001 is a 87 or 88. For the 87 model year there were only 88 MERAs made. I would guess that MERA numbers would be in sequence to the VIN number but it might be possible that they had a pool of cars to pull from and did not build them in VIN order."
can anyone verify the statement. "Prod. ran from about Sept.1986 to Sept 1987....." this will offer 88 model year Fieros in 1987. this is a very necessary fact to the case. soo fun playing detective...Later D
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 11-29-2009).]
thanks Rodney. thats weird. My GM build sticker says 10/86. but your (Mera7) vin is earlier. built on 2/87. wonder if there was a random bin of Vins to choose from? new quest for info. i guess that there is no pattern. its all willie/nillie... off to work. Later daniel
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 11-30-2009).]
RIGHT ON! thanks reholmes, thats very insightful. a built 11/87 ('88) Fiero, built Mera in 1988. I assume your title is for a 1988 Fiero. now i need the highest 1988 Fiero build date for the highest GM Vin# possible for conversion by say early June 1988. no possible Meras past a certian GM build date. this helps (I think) ....cut off a Vin # sequence. does that make sence. if 1988 production starts in Sept.'87 and the end of Meras is in June sometime??....10 months...for 159 Meras.... 16 a month. average 4 a week. its too hard to track the early Meras, so i want to concentrate on a hopefully smoother line with the '88's. with the last 1988 Mera being 8159?? i will stop soon....almost out of questions/options....i am sold that i have a real Mera, just dying for that stupid #.... once i get horsepower it will fade. that will be my Mera number. MERA350. yeah...that is nice. off for grub. Later Daniel
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-01-2009).]
46 -'88 Meras built in 3 months. this reads that way, Right? Like reverse enginerring? unless 1988 Fieros were available before Sept 1987. I hate Math!!!! *EDIT* after i break out the calculator, if they built 4 a week, at average- 46 Meras in 3 months is possible. but they need the full 3 months. this gives a 2 car fudge factor. D
P.S. hey Rodney? do you have Mera 1-or ??? registered? for both years.maybe? i would like to find both earliest and latest 1987+1988 Meras for the GM build dates. thank you in advance.
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-01-2009).]
you know? i bet, you could walk into a dealership in 1988 and order a 1987 Fiero SE for a Mera conversion. what do you all think about that? i am done with this line of thought for now. thats me i am all out. got no more Ammo/???. once i tear into X this winter i will have better "....how to questions", anyway. bye D
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-01-2009).]
yup. guess i need to focus on the future of MERA X. time for new pic. sorry. i am swaying side to side on weather to go 3800 and a paint or go big 350 and no paint till say ....maybe 2011?? its all 'bout the Money. That is the big question. Not purchase price related as much as the continuing gainfull employment type. so hope this downturn ends soon. single with no dependence (kids) and broke. How did that happen??? this winter i 'finna tear apart the car interior and get under and around the exterior. see what i can see. C-ya D
Tommy must be paintin' his grill. he's been quiet. TOMMY! hows that workin' out for ya?? bloody pain in the a-noos, eh?? i am wanting to paint my grill tops Black. this weekend gonna Photo Edit (color) some things on my cars. may prove fruitful.
say, anybody have an opinion on puttin a spoiler/wing on a Mera. looking for ideas. big and honking like the Aldino, is one of mine... or nice and tight like a older Dodge Intrepid....low and rounded down just past the rear 1/4 panels. BLACK. could also custom something out of aluminum from my shop..anidoized!!..yeah! ohhh....off to consider over dinner. D
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-02-2009).]
hey, Mike. Morning all. is not your spolier the one on top of the rear window near roof?? i like the tails i have found on the Koenig Ferrari 512's.
man, that car is sharp! maybe both. the bottom one has bo' 'dem.. wonder if there will be a ".... heat from the engine, removal problem"? off to work. later Dan
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-03-2009).]
My driving season ends Now. fricken snow. well it had to happen, one day soon. least i got a shoveling job this winter should i get laid-off between now and April. Dan
Originally posted by batousai666: My driving season ends Now. fricken snow. well it had to happen, one day soon. least i got a shoveling job this winter should i get laid-off between now and April. Dan
shivering? kinda. the blurryness is because i had to use the "night" flash. i was born clinically hyperactive. its sooo hard to stand still. also, seems it may make me talk a mite much..... at work most of my co-workers have I pods. :shrugs: i like to communicate. the rims are nice. 'specally after Rodney helped me with the fact that 87 Meras did not have the Cromodoras. then i saw some light into the early Mera "bugs". i like how the fronts are 15" and the rears are 16". still want see about the GT rims though. goodnite all. tomarrow anew. Daniel
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-03-2009).]
yup 712 made. and it was "glass reinforced plastic"' had to look it up on the WIKI.. D
Ferrari originally intended to make the 308's in fiberglass but they found making the panels took too much time (they could not keep up with production) and switched to the steel body as soon as they could get the stamping dies finished.
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
OK, guys, if you've received strangely late and incoherent PMs from me, I have now set mail preferences to aid my failing short, mid, and long-term memory. Huh?
Dick
[This message has been edited by reholmes (edited 12-04-2009).]
The steel 308's did not have much anti corrosion protection when they were built, and tend to have body rust issues. I saw a glass 308 once but it had a lot of spiderwebbing in the fiberglass. It was from here and the desert climate had taken it's toll on the fiberglass. The bodywork did not appear to be very thick. I still would have taken the car in a hearbeat........
I've never seen one. Was hoping to at the F-car cruz-in up in Carefree a couple weeks ago. There were some beautiful cars there--some I could afford to buy, none I could afford to own.
Per Rodney's observation, I decided to go back to stock lugs nuts and black caps:
Before pic:
After pic:
I do plan on keeping the Pontiac center caps, however. It took me a while to find ones that were large enough to cover the hole in the Cromodora rims. I know...not "stock," but it personalizes the car, and I think the Pontiac emblem on the center caps is a nice subtle way to identify the car's heritage better.
Edit: Forgot to add the (LOL) totally unnecessary bling to the engine carpartment...MAP sensor cover.
Tom
[This message has been edited by Fiero-in-Paradise (edited 12-06-2009).]
That is where I was going to put the other Mera emblem. It looks great. How did you make the cover it is attached to? Also did you add the decklid assist strut to car? Mine is all stock but does not stay up if there is any kind of breeze.
