What If?

"jlmounce" (jlmounce) 02/05/2014 at 16:14 • Filed to: Firebird, Trans Am, Vintage Trans Am, Vehicle Wrap

0

12

As some of you know I'm in the middle of a restoration of a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I had the car painted in late 2007 and while the paint is still in excellent condition, the color isn't exactly what I had hoped for.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Personally, I love clean vehicles. Sticker free zone, is what I tell everybody. I don't like wild paint schemes and prefer the simpleness of a single tone paint job, freshly waxed and shined at all times.

However I'm also a racing buff and Vintage Trans Am is some of my favorite. I'm giving serious thought to having the car wrapped when it's finished and creating a replica of the Titus/Godsall 1969 Trans Am, that I've lovingly recreated in Forza 4.

It's a bit wild and probably a little brash to be seen out on the streets, but it would protect the paint one the road and I wouldn't have to worry that I picked the wrong color.

Thoughts?

daender > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:16

1

Only get it wrapped if it has the upgrades to back up the looks!

crowmolly > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:16

1

If you don't go "road racer" with the rest of the car, don't do it.

jlmounce > crowmolly 02/05/2014 at 16:19

0

I do plan on doing lapping events with the car. That's been the plan all along. I'm ditching the front buckets for Recaro's or equivalent and playing 4 point harnesses in it for those excursions. It's primarily a road car, but will see track time.

Right now it's sitting on a Hotchkis reworked factory suspension. I've got a bit more to add to it. I'll likely add the Heidt's front and rear bars and I'll be going with SC&C control arms to correct camber curves and bump steer out front.

It's already running four wheel disks and a torsion differential out back.

jlmounce > daender 02/05/2014 at 16:20

2

updated suspension, built 455, track oriented torsion style rear differential. It's far from stock...or comfortable for that matter.

daender > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:21

0

Perfect, wrap it!

Casper > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:22

0

I'm agreeing with the other commenters. Don't do it if you aren't going to back it up with the mods. I'm completely anti-poser, especially with classics. The impressive part in replicating a historic race car is trying to get the hardware as correct as possible.

crowmolly > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:23

0

That's cool. Make sure you actually need a rear bar if you are running leaf springs. Surprisingly the Jegs/Summit house brand sport seats are pretty decent.

Aside from making it handle there are other styling things that would probably make it look cool, like a splitter, brake ducting, etc etc.

lone_liberal > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:30

0

The faux race car look is not my cup of tea, but it's your car so the real question is how you would feel driving a car that looks like that. Would you be embarrassed or all "fuck yeah"?

jlmounce > crowmolly 02/05/2014 at 16:32

0

The rear bar is admittedly more for a tuning standpoint. The Heidt's units have more built in adjustability, which will help dial overall balance. At least in teh rear, they're also fairly easy to install/uninstall so I can make those changes as necessary depending on what the car may be doing.

I've actually heard good things about the Summit seats as well. I may try a set and save some coin.

jlmounce > lone_liberal 02/05/2014 at 16:38

0

Question of the hour right there. There's a large part of me that thinks it would be really cool. Especially for enthusiasts that know anything about vintage racing. There's the other part of me that feels that a) it's not a former VTA car so why dress it up like one and b) it may attract more attention than I'd really like.

JR1 > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:42

0

If you do it you gotta really want it. In 5 years looking back you still have to think its a good idea

lone_liberal > jlmounce 02/05/2014 at 16:44

0

My thought would be that car guys are going to think a 69 Firebird is cool no matter how it's painted and I'd like to avoid too much attention. I'm an introvert, though, so your thoughts might be totally different and your thoughts are the only ones that matter.