Bumperless with spoiler??

[leftfield6]

In the process of getting my black 83 Pininfarina on the road, one of the projects I'm debating is removing the bumpers. Now I know it's been beat to death, but I'm going to hit it with a stick a few more times!

My Spider has been "tweaked" in the back, so my rear bumper was off towards the passenger side by about an inch. No worries, thought I, I'm going to be removing the bumpers anyway. Well, now I'm not so sure. You see I really want to replace the missing front spoiler, and I'm not sure how that's going to look with a spoiler, but no bumper.

Seems like the pics I've seen of bumperless Spiders are also not running with a spoiler. Red car in the header above as an example. Anyone have a pic of a Spider without bumpers, but with a spoiler??

Thoughts/opinions of keeping the bumper when I replace the spoiler? What about just not replacing the spoiler? I've heard it contributes "some" to cooling, but don't know that for sure.

[CajunMike]

If you look closely you will see that the red one above does have a black spoiler.

[leftfield6]

Wow, so there is. So much for my powers of observation. But you have to admit it's well camouflaged against that background!

Any clearer shots?

[grittracing]

maybe these will help .









i am worlikng on a new spoiler with fog lamps shoulg be done this month they will be for sale a long with turn signals you see and in the bottom picture you see the bumper hole blank I sell. i havent put them on my care yet. i have to re work my bumber brakets than i can cut the size of the braket into the blank and paint and install

[azruss]

the major advantage of a front spoiler is to reduce front end lift. Cars of this vintage with big grills, exposed headlights, and rear sloping lower panels shove a lot of air under the car. With the non-layback windshields, these cars also exhibit a lot of rear lift as well. This is from the vaccuum behind the windshield. The nose spoiler catches the frontal air and sends it down the side of the car rather than underneath. It does help cooling in the fact it creates a high pressure area where the spoiler meets the car and that forces more air thru the lower grill.
A rear spoiler will help with rear lift, exhaust fumes working their way to the driver and passenger, and fuel economy.
A little history. Ferrari came up with the rear spoiler. They were actually trying to figure out a way to push the tail down at speed and discovered they improved the top speed by 5mph. This is now known as aerodynamic separation. By disturbing the air in back you are breaking up the vaccuum behind the car. This vaccuum is actually sucking you backward. The question is with a convertable, your aero over the top of the car is such a mess, its hard to say how much help a rear spoiler would be. 90% of the spoilers on cars are cosmetic and were never designed to be efficient. If you want to see a good application of slippery design in a regular car, go back and look at the cameros that came with the full moon hubcaps. (mid 80s probably). That was a car with a very low drag coefficient. I am undecided about a rear spoiler. Hate to break up that clean line.

[So Cal Mark]

I'm running my car bumperless with a spoiler as is the car on the header of my website. IMHO this is the best look for a Spider

[geert]

half a car, half bumperless. But with a spoiler.

groeten, Geert.

[narfire]

Ok have a couple of pics for you

and a bit closer

Chris

[DUCeditor]

I am enjoying this thread. It once again affirms what to me is an interesting and unusual characteristic of the Fiat Spider: That its character can change greatly depending on what on another model would be relatively small variables.

I love the look of a hot red Spider. If I owned one I'd be doing just what you folks are: Dumping the heavy bumpers, possibly adding that spoiler, and going into full 'sport' mode.

My Ivory 77 has a totally different visual feel. It has the look, not of a sporty racer, but of a classy GT convertible. Look around for pix of these cars and you'll see unusual unanimity on what colors goes with what mods. On these the heavy bumpers actually visually adds to the look. Take them away and the car looks unsubstantial.

I guess if anything is lacking for me its that I'd like to own one of each so the car can perfectly match my mood.

Thanks for sharing all!

-don

[leftfield6]

Okay, I'm convinced. My black Pininfarina is going to be bumperless with a spoiler. I'm working on a solution to move the front signals into the grill with some "bullet" turn signals from the motorcycle world. Thanks for all the pics everyone, I appreciate it!

[grittracing]

use the 2008 or newer dyna bullet style turn signals ( FRONT ONLY ) they are trun and park where the rear or most other bikes are just park or turn but not both

[azygoustoyou]

I would go either with Gritracing's or SoCal Mark's turn signal kits. For the money, they are worth it after all the mod's you would have to do yourself.

[leftfield6]

Do either of those use the bumper holes? I want to use those holes for the Abarth bumperettes.

[So Cal Mark]

my kit uses the bumper shock holes but the lights could be mounted anywhere in the front valance. You would just have to cut holes

[So Cal Mark]

here are a couple more pics