I have thought about this for a long time, and I think it may be doable... Please read my whole post before saying or suggesting anything...

I love the looks of the Formula, But I have 2, and I like the Traditional look of the 67-69 Firebirds too... So it got me thinking, what would a 3rd gen look like with a Quarter window... hmmm

The first obsticle and Probably the most important would be the strength of the structure of the car, so a Tube like Roll cage would have to be fabricated to replace the existing B pillar, kind of like what the 95-99 Riviera had It would be Indescrete, But unlike the Hardtops of the 60's the window would be stationary, and not able to roll down.

Then I would have to tie in the rear quarters with a similar structure... From there, I would have to tie in the T-bar roof structure.

Then build a Fiberglass Shell that would be the cosmetic top of the car, and the T-tops would tie into for seal.

The Hatch would be a rectangular piece of formed Glass, much like that found on the Riviera again, with a Fiberglas Ring to attach to, and the Whole hatch (Except the rear window) would be made of Fibeglass.

The spoiler would be then made into 3 pieces, and shortened about 2 inches... This of course is not possible with a Stock Spoiler, but it would be possible with either a Fiberglass replacement (like Hawks) or by making my own...

To finish off the effect, a new front and rear Bumper would be made out of Fiberglas, lengthen the front bumper about 3 inches, and shorten the rear bumper about 2 inches.

I was also thinking of removing the pop up Headlights, and makeing a Stationary headlight system that would resemble the new C6 Corvette. (not pictured)

I have alot more to think about and design, but what do you think so far... Any thoughts would be appreciated...

 

i think it looks pretty cool .....

but thats alot of work to be doing just to get two small windows that cant be rolled down ....

just my

 

Before looking at you pic I'd have said absolutely not. But it really looks great, and I'd love to see it done

 

I say no. I've always loved the sail panel looks on the 3rdgen cars...

 

That would definatly be sweet at hell man! Expensive, but I'd had an extremely unique look...that's what I like!

 

I would say no because I like the way the sail panels look but after seing that picture I say "go for it" it would be different, an attention catcher for sure

 

That kicks ***, do it!

 

this just my i do not think it will work that pice holds alot of strength for the roof and if you flip over your really out of luck but you did a good job and i would have never thought of that.

 

would take a bit of body work and customizing, but the pic you posted looks pretty cool. I think you might even save some time, if you were to use a olds alero roofline. It looks really close to what you've drawn, you could graft in the side windows, and rear glass, with some metalwork, you'd be all set.

 

I was thinking that too... then I realized, A Convertable has NOTHING... Plus I was thinking of making a Tubular structure, like a Roll cage that would tuck under some Interior Trim...

John

 

Yeah...what he said. I like it!

 

it looks ok , i think you should do it, it would be different!

 

Maybe be just me .... but .... it reminds me of a Fiero.

 

I'd say go for it! Then you will have a personalized and unique car! Or you could blueprint everything you do to make it happen and market it to those who wish to duplicate it...

Either way, it would look awesome.

 

That looks sweet, however I would only consider doing this mod would be on a full restoration. Starting from nothing would be better than hacking a nice f-body IMO.

 

That is where this might be Beautiful...

I have an 1983 Trans Am with T-tops, that is rough shape... The body is straight (except for the front left fender) And I was thinking about Hacking up that one, Making all the parts, making sure they all fit... THEN transfer or just do it to my car...

That way I am not out a perfecly good F-body

It would work out perfect, then I could make templates, and Create Dies, Molds, and eventually I could sell it as a Kit...



John

 

Sounds like you should just go for it...

Good Luck if you do!!!!

 

Do it!

 

Actually I thought some nice custom Ground Effects would be a nice touch ...

What I like about Dreaming is its cheep...

I am really thinkingabout doing it tho... If I get the courage...

John

 

looks good, but I think of thirdgens having straight body lines, the curve kinda throws me off.

 

that curve looks way outta place, it looks like a giant feiro .


i'd love to see it done, i personally don't think it looks right, but hey everyone has there opinion. go for it and let us know how it turns out

 

Fiero... Similar, but not really

From Fiero.org...

 

close enough

 

looks interresting ive always liked only having 4 windows in the car. i always thought haha mustangs with your 6 windows a real car has 4 lol

can you shop one up that makes it come to a points at the corners that might look better?

 

A little modding to improve on a kick *** idea.......... I kinda like the window pointed more maches the car better IMO

 

Here, a little more pointed...

John

 

looks real nice, might help with the blind spot a bit, tho chassis
integrety will suffer ..

The second pic looks more functional.

 

I like the ones on grand nationals and monte carlos, more "upright" like rectangular. Might be harder to do on a thirdgen, or look outta place....

 

that is hawt

 

I say go for it, that pic has me sold!

 

first pic looks the best. i would like to see what it would look like on a camaro if some one would ps that.

 

That last one, though not perfect (assuming just a photochopping error), looks VERY good and flows VERY well with the lines of the car! It's one of those things that not only can I say that it looks good to me, but it's also one of those things that I'd do to my own car (given I knew I wouldnt FUBAR it)

Like NIKE says.... "Just Do It!"

 

That looks very cool, but I would have to think that you would lose body stiffness and the car would flex alot more. But if there was a small cage added that didn't take away interior space that would help and also help in stiffening the roof up in case it rolled over.

 

i like it ide do it if i wasnt getting a paintjob and the Lt1 make a kit for it and sell it foo a couple grand someone will buy it

 

Weighing in late here... that looks awesome. Sailbirds can go otherplaces:

 

Are you saying I have a flexibility problem with my car?

 

the first pic looks like italian exotic to me..modena esque
couldn't you weld in one them roll bars they sell for convertibles?
rather then building a cage?
some of the other pic's though look aged. LIke you could look at the styling and just say oh yeah 80's..but the first pic is def' sweet.
they all look good though.

 

Convertables have extra stiffining built on to the car where t-top and hardtop do not. I am not saying it will I am just throwin out something to think about since our cars are not that stiff from the start. A roll bar would be better so it doesn't take up as much room. I forgot about them.

Nevermind he has already thought about the cage idea, I must of missed that post

 

I say go for it that will definatley provide a very nice touch and a one of a kind look also , let us know of the progress if you decide to go for it.

 

Well... Considering our cars are aged "like...oh yeah 80's" then it must be a good fit

Actually I was thinking more like Maranello

John

 

so I looked up the marenello
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...o.r3-4.500.jpg

yeah i see where your coming from.

The 80's styling cues rule..
I've a lourve just waitn for me to fit it around the TA spoiler...

If your going to start cutting into the car and making it your own, are you going to go for a certain stlye or cheese up the 80's feel?
you could make it timeless instead.

 

just woundering what would you do about your spreakers? where would they go?

 

I knew someone would ask that

 

First, I was immediately against it...only because I really like a stock look to the cars...so I judged before I looked. When I looked, however, I had to admit that is a really nice idea. It seemed to really fit the car, in an elegant sort of way. Nice job, John.

You put a lot of thought into preventing a structural compromise, too. If you do this, I would look into every bit of structural security you can find and use it.

If you do it, good luck! I look forward to seeing it. Seems to me that at the very least 3/4 of the responders of the thread like/love it.

 

Since he is fabricating the rest, couldn't he fabricate something like the convertibles?

 

i dont think it would look right witha t-top car...maybe a hardtop...but thats it.

 

Thats what I was thinking... I would have to move the speakers down to just above the armrest...

Of course since I have to Fab up interior pieces too, I could make something further back... I will figure something out...

John

 

what about an 80's Monte Carlo style quarter window?

 

entering this thread, I was pretty skeptical.. however, looking at your photoshops and reading on, it sounds like an awesome idea (including the fact that you won't be hacking up your nice formula). I love your second photoshop, with the larger rear window and the ground effects.. gives it kind of a european supercar look.. kinda like this porsche gt2..


one thing I might object to is the longer front nose... we've got a huge front overhang as it is, I really don't think we need any more.. however a tasteful custom nosepiece would be really cool, and I'd be really interested in what you'd come up with. keep up the good work!

 

I like some of the others more