Yeah without doubt but I would not put the tunnels behind the driver With the top down or OFF you bet a beautiful low belt line. the tunnels look out of place just too much to add
Ryan at West Coast Customs did Shaqs 355 back then. Given they're current operations and talent, I'd give them a shout on the project.
We did a viper roadster like that out of alum and not my cup of tea at all Image Unavailable, Please Login
As someone said thats a great example of how not to do it. This is also why i dont think covering the fabric top works. Makes it too bulky. The 355 is a very sleek shape so the decklid needs to be sleek as well (which is why the big bulky fabric toneau doesnt work for me)
Part of the 348 and F355 Spider appeal is the purity of the wedge lines that run the length of the car in profile, and a low beltline that lends a sleekness to the shape with a classic open top feel when driving. Tacking on a mass behind the headrests like in the photoshop detracts quite a bit from the profile and really makes the car feel more bulky and frumpy. It brings it a lot closer to a hybrid with some of the higher-beltline and rear deck 360 and 430 styling cues and proportions which IMO do not work very well with the more classic features and design language of the 348/F355 bodies.
Interesting in that I never really thought of the fabric boot cover as big and bulky. In fact I have found it to be pretty sleek compared to other cars I have had. That silver car tonneau has no reason to have the side bumps like that unless there was a problem with the top not retracting correctly or some drunk designer thought that looked cool. In the end, I can't help but wonder if you could get a composite tonneau that laid pretty flat, had the hoops / tunnels (low profile and understated) that snapped in place to create the look you are after. I think it could be pretty slick if done correctly.
Hard soft top boots have been available for years in Miata land. Then again, the Miata's top folds completely flat into the body..... Ignore the silly roll hoops. Those things jumped the shark years ago--not sure why some people still insist on their looks, they do nothing for rollover protection. Image Unavailable, Please Login
If that's what you want I don't see why it couldn't be done. I agree the top would need to be completely removed for this to end up looking even remotely good. What about a GTS and remove all the glass (well, except windshield)? It's a bit more open then. If you want to sell it, put the glass back in.
That's beautifully executed, in my opinion. Much better that the 308 "Spyder". 308 Spyder Convertible SOLD (1980) on Car And Classic UK [C369872] . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Get 'lucky' enough to find one that has rear window delamination and needs it anyway? Pretty much none of the options here are anything I would do anyway, just trying to think of options for Jerry
Better start with a GTS, and convert that to roadster. That way you already have the longer rear buttresses that connect to the fenders at the rear. But it will need extra strenghtening in the bulkhead/sills as well I guess. Come to think of it, I have a project GTS, I would be very interested to see how a conversion would turn out...
While I certainly understand the concept, I think a lot of the 'problem' you see may simply lie in the color(s) involved. I cannot claim to have as good an eye as a professional artist, but I don't see that 'heaviness' in my spider. My car is Hyperion (metallic silver blue) with both the interior and tonneau in matching dark blue. All that said, it will be fun to design your own 'one-off'.
For sure color plays a part. My 355 was yellow w black top and it stuck out like a sore thumb. Plus there is simply a degree of my wanting to do something fun that doesnt IMO detract from the beautiful lines.
Is this what you are looking for? Post #156 http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/266200-everyone-348-355-spider-8.html Egh...
Well someone knows how to do it but I'm not sure I want to risk breaking my rear window. I have a spare good rear window seal so If I decide I can cut the rubber remove it in one piece then using the rope technic put the window in with the (new)seal.
No, thats a tonneau cover for the fabric roof, which is why it sits high of the deck. However its pretty well done. better than i had expected it to look. Regardless, Im talking about a true roadster. No top. Ever. Everything about the top will be completely removed. No mechanism. Nothing. It wont look like an add-on. It will be a new rear decklid.
