Hello and a techy question, GT4 Convertible ? Options

[carlosfandango]

Hi, some of you guys may know me from Celicatech / GT4OC / Celica Club UK / TOC etc etc.

I test drove a ST205 a couple of weeks ago and have a unusual question, perhaps its been discussed here before?

its been on my mind for a while, a St205 and ST202 Convertible modification.

using the st205 as the project car and getting hold of a crash damaged cabby to molest and take bits off.

I cant find any info regarding chassis strengthening on the st202 cabby. I know that my convertible was sent from Japan to germany in coupe form and converted by a german coachbuilder, they did all the gen 4 convertibles for the european market and differ from usa version, our hood is manual and has a targe top.

i'm assuming the st202 vert left japan as a convertible and need to know what was done to the chassis.

any ideas?

This post has been edited by carlosfandango: Mar 31, 2005 - 11:43 AM

[carlosfandango]

yay, ive seen a guy's gen 4 in Ozz with roll bars like that.

ive found by hunting through the many magazine articles;

the gen 4, consider that was in 1986-87

"The car begins as a coupe in japan, a certain amount of strengthening to maintain torsional rigidity is added to an accpetable level to give the strength needed with the roof removed, all done in the factory in japan by toyota.

It is then shipped to The Voll Company of Wurzburg, Northern Bavaria - Germany, who complete the strengthening required."

in essence they attended to;

Screen Pillars, rear bulk head, front scuttle, sills and doors.

I cant find any info on The Voll Company anywhere so i assume the gen 6 was either done by Baur, Webasto or Pininfarina or some other firm on the mainland.

the problem lies in not knowing what they did exactly to the coupe which was to be used for the convertible.

it would definately mean stripping the entire body of the ST205, possibly lifting the engine aswell.

It would be apparent if the st202c was also lightly stripped in order to see where the strengthening is, use the existing rear bulk head and window pillars and transfer them to the ST205 along with any other panels or pillars, including the doors. then weld the chassis with steel plates and brackets to copy the convertible - retaining its awd strength - how would that drive though - would it be safe, thats the main factor.