Re: Gullwing Option on New Lotus Elise...Can this work?

[Jan van de Wouw <delorean@xxxx>]

On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 19:31:04 -0500, "Kevin Abato" wrote:

> the new Lotus Elise car that is set to ship in spring of 2004.
[snip]
> As it turns out, there is a company in brittain who is
> offering an aftermarket "Gullwing" option for the car.
> 
> After viewing pictures, I am wondering how this can possibly work...
[snip]
> OK...Here is what is getting me stumped: Notice how the lift
> pistons are positioned in the CENTER of the roof panels? How could
> it possibly close down all the way if the pistons are mounted there?

Dit you look at ALL the pictures? If you look at the following:
<http://www.autostyle-solutions.com/gallery/solutions/t_bar/pages/solutions_
t_bar_005.html> 
You'll see that the lower part of the strut is monted at the
outer most part of the body/roof ledge, just like on a DeLorean
When the top closes the strut lies allmost flat, again just like ours.
The picture from the lower front of the car has perspective fooling
you into trhinking that the struts are mounted in the middle.

> Even more strange is that this whole setup is made to be taken
> off the car when you want so that it can be driven as a T-Top.
> Wouldnt this require some tools to undo all the hardware in a
> clean looking fashion?

My Daily Driver is a Nissan 100NX T-bar (NX1600 in the USA).
It's just a matter of a couple of quick-releases, just like you'd
find on the Targa roof of a Porsche or the tops on a Honda Del Sol.
Nothing fancy and as with most "open" cars, with the top off/down
there's allways a small bit of the mechanics showing.

As for the "why" of such a roof; have you ever tried to get into
an Elise? It's REALLY low, even lower than a DeLorean I believe.
You should try to get into your D with a piece of string strung
from the windshield corner to the rear of the car, i.e. where the
roofline would be without gullwings. I bet you'll hit the string...

JAN van de Wouw

Thinking Different... Using a Mac...
Living the Dream... Driving a DeLorean...

#05141 "Dagger" since Sept. 2000
--------------------------------