Hello and a techy question, GT4 Convertible ? Options

[carlosfandango]

Hi, some of you guys may know me from Celicatech / GT4OC / Celica Club UK / TOC etc etc.

I test drove a ST205 a couple of weeks ago and have a unusual question, perhaps its been discussed here before?

its been on my mind for a while, a St205 and ST202 Convertible modification.

using the st205 as the project car and getting hold of a crash damaged cabby to molest and take bits off.

I cant find any info regarding chassis strengthening on the st202 cabby. I know that my convertible was sent from Japan to germany in coupe form and converted by a german coachbuilder, they did all the gen 4 convertibles for the european market and differ from usa version, our hood is manual and has a targe top.

i'm assuming the st202 vert left japan as a convertible and need to know what was done to the chassis.

any ideas?

This post has been edited by carlosfandango: Mar 31, 2005 - 11:43 AM

[carlosfandango]

at any stage in the developement of a project like this there will always be for and against arguments, and whilst all are a considered - i believe it would be easier retaining the gt4 and adding to it, it would be much harder adding to the convertible chassis to make it awd.

once the gt4 chassis is strengthened, the fabrication on the back end wouldnt be a great feat to have it take the convertible - in fact the convertible doesnt have much of a rear bulk head to copy. only manual and electric/hydraulic reclining soft tops with plastic rear windows have the rear bulk head, cars with glass windows in the soft top have to retract in to the trunk space instead of lying on a parcel shelf, so it will have strengthening of course but easier to copy.

I would estimate this project would take me 18 months on my own from taking delivery of the two stock cars to completion, however research wont be finsished until around August this year, i would obviously have the final spraying carried out by a professional body shop as i'm not a perfect spray painter.

that means that the project would be complete end of 2006 or beginning of 2007 by which time the 6GcGT4 will be over 10 years old and the GT4 as a marque will be celebrating its 21st Anniversary.

if i did this it would be a custom project to launch a customising and modification performance company. I would probably keep the car for at least 2 years after which time it would either be sold or kept as a show room piece.

anyhew, thanks again for all the replies, if you have any more angles for this just holler, I am grateful for any input.