re: Chassis Stiffening - 105 GTC

["John Hertzman" <johnhertzman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

James Murphy gave a fine descriptive overview of the GTC variant details in
response to Beatle Bayly's question about decapitating a coupe. An appropriate
complement for anyone interested in such a project would be the plates in the
parts book covering the GT, GT Veloce, GTC, and GTA in a single book, where
the coupe details and GTC variants are generally shown on adjacent plates.
GTC-specific plates are #127, frame reinforcements; 130, frame sides; 131,
more frame components (windshield header, rear bulkhead, and other upper rear
panels); 143, exterior mouldings; 147, windows; 158, vent windows and quarter
windows; 162, weatherstrips and strikers; 164, door opening mouldings; 166,
interior panels; 171, front seats; 175, rear seats; 178, carpets; 181, top
details; and 182, hardtop. The conversion takes more than a hacksaw.

A possibility which I have idly considered (assuming I wanted a Spider, which
I don't, and disliked the Pininfarina versions, which I do) would be to trim a
Spider hull down to the platform and enough of the front and rear bulkhead and
other core elements to keep the windshield and a manageable top, and channel
an appropriately sectioned and shortened set of front clip, rear clip, and
doors from a coupe onto the Spider base. It would still be work, but within
the range of challenges that rod & kustom builders routinely do, and would
have much of the most finicky details above the waistline (which seem never to
be finished on homebuilts) already solved. A variant would be to do it with
Berlina panels, a more outrageous in-your-face variant would be with Giulia TI
panels.

People who prefer the Spider's looks won't understand, but the Spider, coupe,
and Berlina have (apart from different wheelbases) identical chassis layouts,
and the Spider has the most extravagant packaging, two inches wider than the
coupes on the same tracks, four inches longer than the coupes on a four inch
shorter wheelbase. It is not a big deal, but the tighter packaging of the
coupes comes with no sacrifice in grace - at least for those who like them -
and no other aesthetic or functional losses. YMMV -

Enjoy yours,
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