Ok I was going to keep this under wraps until I could afford to produce it. We are talking at least 1 year away if things go well for me with bodykits etc. But what the hell. This will possibly be in production then for around a retail price of US$4500. Will be designed to be fitted in a weekend or 2 by the average home handyman.
Styling is actually a little bit of Ferarri, a little bit of Holden, a bit of stage 2 body kit and bits and pieces just chucked in from my imagination, making it a real mongrel. Hmmm may even be a good name for it. Ok lets just call it The Mongrel.
At a quick glance I was not sure if it had a large dent on the side over the front wheel all the way to the door, but then I looked again and I guess it is the way you have it lighted. Now I do like it. Are you going to include some type of brace for the undercarrage or is it up to us to get that done??
Aus, you are genius. That is amazing. It may be what the Fiero might have looked like off the line in 2001. That is something I would definitely be interested in. That would turn heads for sure. I thought you were supposed to be taking it easy.
just out of curiosity, how do you plan on doing a targa top? I hear that it is difficult to make the top seal good. i have suggestions... Carbon Fiber!!! awesome material. i think the body is awesome. very nice.
Excellent! I love the style... very euro, sleek, everything. I assume as with all your other stuff, there will be variations (Hardtop, etc...) I guess I can quit looking around for 355s and start a savings fund just for this! Hmmm... I wonder how Med.Metallic Green would look
Keep up the great work! (And I'll still save up to buy the stage 2 stuff first...guess I'll just have to get another doner car!)
------------------
Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
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11:04 PM
85fierogt Member
Posts: 125 From: pottstown.pa.us Registered: Aug 2001
Dude, that's fantastic. And I like the price. If I can't get one next year, I will surely get one a year after. Unless Archie drops the Fino price some more! (just making sure he sees that, heheh)
BTW: let's see some more colors, okay?
[This message has been edited by Cheever2 (edited 08-14-2001).]
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11:37 PM
Fiero5 Member
Posts: 8882 From: Arecibo, PR Registered: Jun 2000
Now you've done it!!!! Do i save up for the 89 kit or the Targa kit? My wife says the Targa, And I almost have to agree. Heck who knows maybe I can build both You are THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Fortune Teller in me see's A VERY rich Aus in the future!!! Such insight, Such talent, Such a sweet design!! Randy
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11:57 PM
Aug 15th, 2001
Nashco Member
Posts: 4144 From: Portland, OR Registered: Dec 2000
Interesting Aus...just a couple days ago you announce you have an official business...and you are now announcing your first full vehicle prototype
First of all, the car looks great...that will be very slick if you can minimize the body lines like you have in the picture.
I say keep the vents in front of the wheels for tire/brake/interior venting...vent holes are so multi-purpose I can't believe people don't like them. Even if you don't want to vent, you can always install some extra lights there!
Also, you can't have a removeable rear window like a real targa with the fiero because the vacuum created with the notch there will no longer be there to suck air through the engine compartment. If there was enough air flow from the bottom up, it would flow engine compartment fumes into the passenger compartment...being an air cooled bug owner, I know from the heaters that engine fumes are very uncomforting!
I was curious what the deal is with the upward slop of the front fender directly over the wheels...do you have a front profile yet? I'm curious if that hump is similar to the AMC Javelin/AMX fender...or if it goes across the entire front. I'm also curious to see what rear exhaust setup is like. Here's what I'm talking about, if you don't know:
My only criticism is a retarded one...I wouldn't have the roof mounted antenna...I wouldn't have a visible one if any at all (I'm a huge supporter of mp3 cd players, so you can have over 100 songs on a cd, and 10 cds stash easy in a fiero even...side tangent...sorry). Keep up the good work!
Bryce 88 GT
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12:40 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Very nice, Aus! Very nice! I like the brake cooling scoop in the front fender, too. Add some door handles and make it available for hardtops/sunroofs (to simplify cost and construction) and you've got a winner. I take it you're going for a bit of the new Ferrari look on the front end? I'd like to see front and rear shots, too.
I'm drooling over the idea of your '89 kit, but this one could give it some competition. If your 89 gets closer to the factory 89, it'll win out, but if the 89 stays a hybrid style, I'm giving this new one the edge. Just my .02.
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12:42 AM
PFF
System Bot
BAM-BAM Member
Posts: 2258 From: Las Vegas, Nv. Registered: Feb 2000
How about Fiero Outback! I think with this you need to incorporate something to do with the country of origin. Awesome Aus, You really are the man. Now I may have to wait on the Stage-2. Or perhaps, I could have them both. Kind of a chronological history of Aus Fiero.
Originally posted by rogergarrison: Hey Aus, you know anything about the guy down there working on a Porsche Boxster type kit made for Fiero?
Yeah I do Roger. Well I think it is the guy you are talking about. 90% sure. I doubt it will look anything like a Boxster though. It has been the rebody he has been talking about at the Pontiac nationals for years. Talking being the operative word. From seeing his cars in the past, he has no taste. Guy in his late 60s with late 60s guys tastes "very dated". Same guy that wont get back to me with prices on things for the last 10 weeks after numerous requests by phone and by email. Same guy that soon as he found out I export things to the states claimed his 3.8 ltr Holden engine conversion kits sell like hot cakes in America. Anyone ever seen a Holden engine in a Fiero in America? Now reckons his rebodies with Commodore engines are going to be allowed to be sold as new cars in Australia. Shame the engine he uses is now outdated by the new 3.8 engine and will no longer pass new car pollution regulations. The new 3.8 is a totally new engine unable to be put in a Fiero.
Same guy is the reason I decided to become the Fiero Shop in Australia. Down to the domain name, as he had been advised by me to grab it many times and wouldn't. I cant see a guy not willing to spend $125 on his domain name to protect his business ever making the kit, as he only has a Ferarri rebody that he bought. I am waiting for the moulds to go up for sale as he doesn't promote them and I have heard they will be for sale soon.
Plus imagine how much of the Fieros chassis will have to be cut away at the rear to make it into a sloped back Boxster.
Don't hold your breath Roger. He's a mechanic not a body guy. Like I am a body and design guy and know sh!t about mechanical things.
Not that I really have anything against the guy but he wont respond to price requests and has to always better you when you talk to him. Was no mention of his "exporting Holden kits" until he found out I exported parts for Fieros. He is best left to mechanical things which he does well.
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07:25 AM
California Kid Member
Posts: 9541 From: Metro Detroit Area, Michigan Registered: Jul 2001
Looks great Aus, Like a Fiero had intercourse with a Vette, Diablo, Mustang GT, VW antenna, and a Porsche 944.
While the picture has very clean stlyling lines, the more I looked at it, the more something keep telling me "it needs to be just alittle more agressive". Know it's just a picture, but it looks just a little bit too tall, suspension tweak and lower profile tires might fix that.
Just my 2 cents, keep up the excellent work.
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07:49 AM
Tonker Member
Posts: 612 From: Ottawa, ON, Canada Registered: Jun 2001
Heres a few other versions based on various requests. I will definately have to build it eventually now. My wife all of a sudden has this new found interest in Fieros if they can look like this.
Front will had hood scoops, moder headlights, small and round. Will get to that view one day. And the rear.
AUS... I've been in the "Fiero Scene" for nearly 8 years now- NEVER have I seen or even heard about a holden-engine kit for the Fiero. Ask him to cough up some references.
As for the Porsche thing, there is a company in California www.exoticrebodies.com who has produced a replica of the new Porsche Carerra GT Prototype show car. It was stretched nearly 13 inches (more than a Diablo replica) and looked pretty sweet. They were selling the original and had planned a high-ticket rebody kit- but I haven't heard any updates from them lately. You have to register to get into the site-just a warning.
[This message has been edited by MinnGreenGT (edited 08-15-2001).]
I LOVE this car. My first impression was... GT40. It will be interesting to see it from a couple of different angles. Could you do an overlay with the Fiero profile?
------------------ Roy :D 87 GT
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09:55 AM
AusFiero Member
Posts: 11513 From: Dapto NSW Australia Registered: Feb 2001
I just did a quick overlay...have to adjust the wheelbase slightly and make the windscreen less shapely. Or use another one altogether. Will post pics of that tomorrow night. Is late here now.
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10:12 AM
Monkeyman Member
Posts: 15845 From: Sparta, NC Registered: Nov 1999
Dammit, Jim! I've said this before and I'll say it again. You are a freaking genius!!! If I had 1/2 the talent you do, I'd never have any money problems. I could design and build these things all day and be a millionaire. I'm glad that you're putting your talent to work like this. I know it'll pay off for you soon. If not, there are some pretty stupid Fiero owners in the world.
------------------ 'Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.'
MM
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11:13 AM
Voytek Member
Posts: 1924 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Jan 2001
Ok, I've seen your mods before and thought they looked good, but this is awesome! I would buy it based on the side view but definitely need to see the front/rear. Since you're looking for feedback, here are some comments: 1. Keep the trunk accessible - I would only buy a kit if it has a trunk (I believe the Finale does not). 2. Around $4500 US sounds pretty good. I'd definitely be interested within about 2 years (funds will be available then). 3. I DO like the Fiero pop-up headlights - they are VERY unique. I would take a vote and see if the market prefers original headlights or fixed ones.
The bright yellow is the one for me. Curious to see the front / rear.
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01:14 PM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
I wouldn't mind see'ing that first pic as purple.. It doesn't look right without the vent in front of the tire and with that bottom 'stuff' on it but anywho.. its sweet.. and if it wasn't for cliff being around, You'd be the MAN!
------------------ Ray - "With one drop of blood he realized his own mortallity, it was then he saw the true face of God. For he is not someone watching down on us, but he is in us." - Galen 2001
Originally posted by California Kid: Looks great Aus, Like a Fiero had intercourse with a Vette, Diablo, Mustang GT, VW antenna, and a Porsche 944.
While the picture has very clean stlyling lines, the more I looked at it, the more something keep telling me "it needs to be just alittle more agressive". Know it's just a picture, but it looks just a little bit too tall, suspension tweak and lower profile tires might fix that.
Just my 2 cents, keep up the excellent work.
You are soooo right on. I was thinking the same thing, but you said it before I could. It needs to be more aggressive. I hope the hood slopes in the middle in between a late 70's corvette and the 308. I like the body lines, but something on the back is bothering me. I think its the way the rear wheel wells have the hump too, but with the lowering, that just might be fixed. Keep up the good work aus .. sweet ride.
OH... MY... GOD... AUS!!
