I'm impartial to em.. dont like em,... dont dislike em..
and dont worry, you already had a neg from me j/k.. + for ya for stating your opinion. however, I am planning to change the angle of my windshield on my 88.. as well as change the windshield..
OK, I take the risk... I don't like them. I think the car loses its proportions with the top chopped.
------------------ www.yellowfiero.com/fiero.html 17" DEZENT T wheels with 215/40 tires front and 235/45 rear, KONI shocks, EIBACH lowering springs, PU dog bone, bushings and engine mounts, K&N air and oil filters, OZELOT exhaust, Mercedes SLK yellow, Mr. Mikes seats, door skins, shift and e-brake boots. MP3 player and custom subwoofer behind passenger seat, F355 style front. Fiero Store rear swaybar, strut tower brace, black carpet. Rodney Dickman's competition short shifter.
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01:04 AM
Electrathon Member
Posts: 5241 From: Gresham, OR USA Registered: Dec 2002
I've got just a couple small reasons for liking choptops; it's a mod that substantially increases the Fiero's exoticism without (at least in Archie's work) either making the car a ricer or entirely destroying the Fiero's intended styling. Also, it can't hurt performance, as it makes Fieros at least slightly more aerodynamic and lightweight.
As for the appearance itself, like you said, it's a matter of opinion. Personally, I like the chops, especially from the front, though from some side and back angles I've noticed, in some pictures, that the proportions don't look right. From the reactions of the people who have actually seen chop top Fieros in person, though, I've got faith that that's not an issue outside of pictures. I'd like to see what a pro photographer would do with a chop top Fiero (no offense Archie! Your pictures are great... kinda like "Where's Waldo" sometimes with all the stuff people find in them... =P)
There's always a tradeoff, of course... like getting into one! And all the chops I've seen were dropped, too... sheesh, how many people step up onto the curb when they're getting out of their car?
There's my two cents!
------------------ '86 5-Spd 2M4 Sport Coupe / 68k Miles Aiwa CDC-X437 Head Unit Audiobahn 4x10s (Looking for Replacements) Borla 2" Exhaust (Straight Pipe)
Upcoming: www.PontiacSound.com Custom Subwoofer Box JBL 600.1 Amp Feeding a 600wrms Resonant Engineering SE10 Sub
Also:
'84 Auto 2M4 SE Parts Car
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01:28 AM
stimpy Member
Posts: 8197 From: Salinas, CA Registered: Jan 2000
Fastbacks look really good chopped. Notchies I kinda like better stock. But like Stimpy I will never have one just because it is not practical for me. I've ridden in both Orville's and Curly's and my head is in the roof on both. Of course my kit is a chop top... Top chopped all the way off! haha
They look alright. I'd never have one. At 6'6" that's kinda out of the question.
lol, i hope you dont get offended by this, but you are 6'6" and your name is stimpy? that is awesome!
oh, and for the topic, i have yet to see one in person, but from what i have seen im pictures, they have a comic book car look to them. they WILL turn alot of heads but they do throw the line off the car. (for fieros) i love old trucks, rods, ect chopped. but on the fiero they are just not my taste. maybe after i see one in person, i'll change my mind!
Joel 87 GT 5-speed
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03:01 AM
LITEDAZE Member
Posts: 1894 From: Timmins ON Canada Registered: Apr 2004
lol, i hope you dont get offended by this, but you are 6'6" and your name is stimpy? that is awesome!
Joel 87 GT 5-speed
Just don't ask to see a picture of stimpy. You may never sleep with the lights out again,
Some of the fastbacks look okay. I haven't seen a coupe that I like yet, just ruins the proportions. It's not something that I would do to my car, even if it was a freebie.
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05:46 AM
Philphine Member
Posts: 6136 From: louisville,ky. usa Registered: Feb 2000
i like 'em myself. i've seen 3 "in person" including my one off, two coupes and a fastback. i don't think it will ever be an "everybodies got one" issue 'cause in the overall scheme of things, not many people have fieros to begin with. if i ever get mine done the closest one to me would still be at least 50mls away for now.
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06:37 AM
GT86 Member
Posts: 5203 From: Glendale, AZ Registered: Mar 2003
I've never seen one in person, but some pics make the proportions look wrong. But then again, that's true of a stock Fiero too (or any other car for the matter). Some angles just seem weird in photos. Most of the time, pictures don't really do a car justice, because you're seeing a fixed angle, in only two dimensions.
In some other photos I've seen, though, the chops look incredible. I guess I need to see one in person. Any choptop owners feel like driving to Arizona?
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07:02 AM
vlatus Member
Posts: 394 From: Raleigh, NC USA Registered: Mar 2003
I'm on the tall side myself, although I could go either way on the look. One thing I've always loved about my Fiero is the headroom. I will say that there are some very choice cars out there with the mod, like Stinger and Mad Curls car. Real NICE cars.
Bottom line, I wouldn't do it for myself but I have alot of respect for the well concieved, well engineered mod.
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07:05 AM
1MohrFiero Member
Posts: 4363 From: Paducah, Ky Registered: Apr 2003
I am not very excited by them. I wonder if they would look better somewhere between stock and where the normal chop seems to be. Oh and I am only 5'11" but think the roof is low enough already so I am sure i would bump my head too. Don't know how you tall guys do it.
donk, I too have noticed this among the rash of choptop pics.. the only choptop i ever really liked was the great blue choptop.. but i agree it throws the lines off.. i'mm still middle of the road .. but i won't be gong that route - since i'm 6'4" and i like being able to see as much of the hood as possible
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07:14 AM
Master Tuner Akimoto Member
Posts: 2267 From: South Florida,USA Registered: Jul 2003
Personally, it depends on what day it is. Somedays, I think "man... I gotta get a choptop!" And other days (like today), I'm kinda like "I dunno... I kinda like the stock roof-lines..."
So right now, I'd say "no chop".
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08:05 AM
achawkins Member
Posts: 1891 From: Greenville S.C. Registered: Jun 2003
I always wondered about a not-so-much chop choptop. Maybe about half of the normal chop. It might be the best of both worlds, maybe someone wants to photochop one and see.
------------------ Marty, '84 SE, '85 2M4, '86 SE, '87 GT, '88 GT
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08:26 AM
PFF
System Bot
Pyric Member
Posts: 951 From: Raleigh, NC, USA Registered: Nov 2001
I'm not a big fan of them.... but I've seen a lot worse things done to our cars. But hey, if it's your car, do what you want. It just seems like a lot of work. I'd rather have a Targa top or convertible.
But thats just me...
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08:33 AM
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
It's not that I don't like them but at 6' 5" I doubt I'd fit, I hardly fit in my car as it is and I'm not sure a shopped notched back would look right either.
Okay I'll take a chance and post in a "chop top haters" thread
Actually you all make valid points...it does reduce head room, the lexan windows are a turn off for many, and it does change the lines of the car. Photos can sometime accentuate the look of the chop and make it look awesome. Other angles the photos make it look squished. But as some have pointed out photos can distort pictures of any car.
It all boils down to personal choice. Those with the desire for a chop top will have it done. For me, I have other non-chopped Fieros to drive if I'm not in a chop top mood.
I've always loved the GBCT since the 1st time I saw a photo of the car... the Stinger I always thought was a "neat" car, but I never thought it'd be the style I'd want to own. Until I sat it in... and saw what it looked like in my garage (I was just "helping" with the car ). Now, I love the car - and would take it anyday
But I certainly can understand why some people wouldn't like it - the headroom is definitely tight, and you lose some visibility (although Racingman24 can fit in the car - and he's roughly 6'5"). As with any other modifications - to each their own!
Originally posted by MinnGreenGT:I've always loved the GBCT since the 1st time I saw a photo of the car...
Couldn't agree more. I think it's possible Archie got it correct, right out of the box. Something about the GBCT that just looks right...the integrated rockers, low in front, high in the back, raised spoiler. I really like the way it looks.
As pointed out earlier, the best part of a chop top is that it looks exotic and modern, yet clearly still a Fiero. People look at it, and go, " I don't remember the Fiero looking that good"
I don't like them because I doubt I can fit in one, I barely have enough headroom in mine stock. As far as looks go, I could understand it if you were going with a Ferrari look or plan on replacing some of the body panels, but not if you are keeping it stock.
i think the fastbacks look awsome chopped, much more exotic, but im not a big fan of chopped notchbacks. The one car i really dont like is the purple pavement eater almost everybody else seems to love it for some reason, am i the only one?
------------------ Carbed 2.9 engine build in progress. forged pistons, crane cam, fully balanced, ARP bolts, double roller timing chain and more --Adam-- IM AOL: FieroGT5speed
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12:49 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Hmmm, I just took that for granted. How do you determine the drag coefficient? I saw somewhere that my notchy is .36.
I like this tread and I like constructive comments too. Archie did stated on a thread I have forgot that the drag coeficienty is better. However, using the IRM rockers negates that theory. However, that being said, what does the general public say about the Fiero lines being off? Look here for proof:
As for me, I have different cars and I'll tell you, even with HRE 20's before the chop, I have never recieved as mush attention as I have since the choptop. At the West Fest one guy said it best when comparring Spddy's car with mine. "With Sppdy's car people will stop and say Damn, what a bad ass! With yours (mine) people will stop and try to find out what it is."
As a side note: I did like the new 2005 Mustang until I found out it ain't chop'd. It's a little know secret that car makers do while promoting their cars. "chop it while on tour" and later produce it with a regular top for the masses. Thank God I'm 5' 11 1/2 so I guess...I'm blessed, hehehehehe. However, I do like the chop'd Magnum....hmmmmm?
Well I have loved the look since I first saw the GBCT and the Purple Pavement Eater in 1998 . As with any mod you do to a car there are good and bad points. To get the look that a chop gives a car you have to give up some of the headroom. To get the power of a V-8 you give up some gas mileage. To get that lowered look you give up some ride quality.
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01:25 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
To me the lines of the choped Fiero look better then stock. When you look at them like in the pictures above, the stock Fiero looks bloated, where the chopped looks exotic. That's one thing that Elvira and I were amazed about - how natural the chop looked on the car. Maybe you have to see it in person - I dunno, but obviosly, I'm one that does like it...
Rob D.
------------------ The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! Choptop Targa #1 383 Stroker MPFI with N2O 1" Drop 3" Chop 11" Brakes 19" Motegi Roja's wrapped in BFGoodrich Gforce T/A KDW-2 rubber RCC Coilover Suspension Updated Jan 21 '04 www.dirtyratracing.org
Fastbacks look really good chopped. Notchies I kinda like better stock. But like Stimpy I will never have one just because it is not practical for me. I've ridden in both Orville's and Curly's and my head is in the roof on both. Of course my kit is a chop top... Top chopped all the way off! haha
I agree, it suits the fastbacks because of the long swooping roofline... on the notchback the roof ends fairly abruptly and it doesn't look quite as good.
j/k.. + for ya for stating your opinion. however, I am planning to change the angle of my windshield on my 88.. as well as change the windshield..
). Now, I love the car - and would take it anyday 
