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Side skirt for a PIU #1660935
04/10/2022 18:20
04/10/2022 18:20
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline OP
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline OP
Forum is my life

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
This months 'photo competition' winner on the FB page reminded me of an an old discussion on this forum: What side skirt goes with a PIU front bumper?

In this thread, arguments for both went back and forth - the original LE skirt that followed the lines of the slashes, or the Zender that mirrored the chunky lines of the rear haunches and bonnet. Personally, I don't think either works. The LE's sharp angles are at odds with the PIU bumper, as the bumper's curves aren't continued after the wheel, and the Zender just makes the Coupé look a bit... fat... at the rear. That said, I think the added bulk the LE skirt gives the Coupé at the front gives it a real brawny chest look, and the Zender shows that the chunky haunch look works better with the side profile of the car.

Let me introduce you to my best of both proposal - the 'LE Zender'.

It continues the 'bubbly' lip of the PIU front bumper past the wheel and along the side of the car, keeps the brawny chest, continues the muscular haunches theme, and also keeps the slashes. It's basically a 'flipped' Zender, with the little kick at the back like the LE but 'smoothened'.

It's bugged me for ages that there isn't a single aftermarket body kit for the Coupé that really 'works' and I'd love to see something so simple put into production.

Does anyone know if AutoDS are still going? I haven't seen any activity on here for years after their issues with the IP address IIRC... Failing that, does anyone know anyone else that produces anything similar that could be tweaked?

Attached Files
Comp winner LE.jpg (164 downloads)
Zender.jpg (169 downloads)
ZendLE.jpg (164 downloads)

F****** b****** thing...
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Trappy] #1660943
04/10/2022 22:05
04/10/2022 22:05
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Is the first pic a resprayed LE Ryan? That's the kit I prefer, more than the other two pics.

I take it the blue one has lowered suspension....



You have your design name: Lender laugh


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Edinburgh] #1660944
05/10/2022 05:56
05/10/2022 05:56
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,831
Haslemere, Surrey
M
Mark_S Offline
Forum is my job
Mark_S  Offline
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M

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,831
Haslemere, Surrey
I think you nailed it Ryan. Can we call it a "Zander" as in the hybrid fighting fish?


997 C4S
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Trappy] #1660950
05/10/2022 08:34
05/10/2022 08:34
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,596
Malaysia..Glasgow at heart
Kelv27 Offline
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Kelv27  Offline
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Posts: 4,596
Malaysia..Glasgow at heart
I agree with what your are saying about the mismatch Ryan...however, for me i would keep the LE skirt as it is as it already flows well with the slashes of the bodywork. I would instead work on the lips of the PIU bumper..in other words, have the edges of the bumper to follow the angular lines of the LE skirt rather than the original bulbous form of the PIU. The gaping parrot fish mouth can remain. laugh

Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Edinburgh] #1660952
05/10/2022 09:00
05/10/2022 09:00
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline OP
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline OP
Forum is my life

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Originally Posted by Edinburgh
Is the first pic a resprayed LE Ryan? That's the kit I prefer, more than the other two pics.

I take it the blue one has lowered suspension....

You have your design name: Lender laugh


I have no idea if it has been resprayed or lowered - I just found it on the FB page. It's definitely a PIU with an LE side skirt though.


F****** b****** thing...
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Mark_S] #1660953
05/10/2022 09:03
05/10/2022 09:03
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline OP
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline OP
Forum is my life

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Originally Posted by Mark_S
I think you nailed it Ryan. Can we call it a "Zander" as in the hybrid fighting fish?


We can call it the Ethel if someone would make the damn thing for me! biglaugh


F****** b****** thing...
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Kelv27] #1660954
05/10/2022 09:46
05/10/2022 09:46
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline OP
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline OP
Forum is my life

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Originally Posted by Kelv27
I agree with what your are saying about the mismatch Ryan...however, for me i would keep the LE skirt as it is as it already flows well with the slashes of the bodywork.


I've seen a few references to the 'key design cues' of the Coupé in some of these recent articles that have sprung up, but none of them have pointed out the smooth curve above each of the slashes, along the bonnet and haunches. I think these details are easily as important to the overall design as the slashes themselves, they're just more subtle. Carrying that theme onto the side skirt really appeals to me. My proposal pays homage to both details - so I'm right laugh

Originally Posted by Kelv27

The gaping parrot fish mouth can remain. laugh


You've already told me off for looking at Subi's offering! I've got to do something to remove the filter feeder mouth of the original bumper tongue


F****** b****** thing...
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Trappy] #1660975
05/10/2022 17:11
05/10/2022 17:11
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 939
born in Italy I live in German...
carmine Online content
club member 1915
carmine  Online Content
club member 1915
Enjoying the ride

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 939
born in Italy I live in German...
Today i came across this site, many models here.
I don't know if it can be useful...

https://www.magnatuning.com/en/products/53-39/Fiat-Coupe-Side-skirts?sort=priceasc

Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Trappy] #1660977
05/10/2022 17:22
05/10/2022 17:22
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Definitely not keen on the rear kit and spoiler, it makes it too chunky for me


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Trappy] #1660981
05/10/2022 18:48
05/10/2022 18:48
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,090
highlands
jimboy Offline
Club Member 857
jimboy  Offline
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Forum is my life

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,090
highlands
I used to like side skirts on a car but over the years I feel the likes of the Coupe anyway just adds more to hamper jacking the car plus easily cracked and broken especially if lowered. I do get it if you like this look.


I'm an old git & happy with it,most of the time
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Edinburgh] #1660982
05/10/2022 19:09
05/10/2022 19:09
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
paulw Offline
Club Member 1326
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Enjoying the ride

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
I can answer both questions - Yes AutoDS are still going and you can find their online shop here - Coupe AutoDS Poland

Here's a side image of my Coupe - As far as I know the front is PIU but the side skirts would seem to be AutoDBS, but not sure if these are still available!

click to enlarge

Last edited by paulw; 05/10/2022 19:10. Reason: mistake!

Paul W.

[Linked Image]


Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: paulw] #1660983
05/10/2022 20:43
05/10/2022 20:43
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline OP
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline OP
Forum is my life

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Originally Posted by paulw
I can answer both questions - Yes AutoDS are still going and you can find their online shop here - Coupe AutoDS Poland


Thanks for the link. I couldn't find it earlier

Originally Posted by paulw

Here's a side image of my Coupe - As far as I know the front is PIU but the side skirts would seem to be AutoDBS, but not sure if these are still available!

click to enlarge


The front bumper looks like a Cada and the side skirts are LE skirts. I'm pretty the AutoDBS is only a rear bumper.

Last edited by Trappy; 05/10/2022 21:53.

F****** b****** thing...
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: carmine] #1660987
05/10/2022 22:10
05/10/2022 22:10
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline OP
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline OP
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Essex
Originally Posted by carmine
Today i came across this site, many models here.
I don't know if it can be useful...

https://www.magnatuning.com/en/products/53-39/Fiat-Coupe-Side-skirts?sort=priceasc


I actually found this website after doing a LOT of digging for where this front bumper came from. They don't sell it anymore (which is a shame because it works a little better with the LE side skirts despite being a little Max Power...), so that was a dead end. It was called the JDL bumper - apparently their kits weren't as well made as the AutoDS ones however.


F****** b****** thing...
Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: Trappy] #1660988
05/10/2022 22:53
05/10/2022 22:53
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
paulw Offline
Club Member 1326
paulw  Offline
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 611
France, Charente
Originally Posted by Trappy
Originally Posted by paulw
I can answer both questions - Yes AutoDS are still going and you can find their online shop here - Coupe AutoDS Poland


Thanks for the link. I couldn't find it earlier

Originally Posted by paulw

Here's a side image of my Coupe - As far as I know the front is PIU but the side skirts would seem to be AutoDBS, but not sure if these are still available!

click to enlarge


The front bumper looks like a Cada and the side skirts are LE skirts. I'm pretty the AutoDBS is only a rear bumper.


Ah, you could be right with the origins of the body kit parts, but Cada it is for the front and now you mention it I can see that the sides are LE. Strangely the rear valance was AutoDBS, but that lost a battle with some rainwater in 2012 (acted like a water scoop) and was replaced with the standard version fitted with a 'lip'.

Apart from the replacement they were all fitted when I bought the car, so couldn't be sure of the type.

I would have been happy with a standard fitted car, but it was too good a vehicle to pass on at the time and I have grown to like it over the years!


Paul W.

[Linked Image]


Re: Side skirt for a PIU [Re: jimboy] #1660989
06/10/2022 07:44
06/10/2022 07:44
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline OP
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline OP
Forum is my life

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Originally Posted by jimboy
I used to like side skirts on a car but over the years I feel the likes of the Coupe anyway just adds more to hamper jacking the car plus easily cracked and broken especially if lowered. I do get it if you like this look.


I've never really been a fan of them. My new interest is largely down to my desire to do a little work on the aero of the car. It would be good to limit the cushion of air underneath it if nothing else. I believe, that's what side skirts were origianlly for.

Originally Posted by paulw

Strangely the rear valance was AutoDBS, but that lost a battle with some rainwater in 2012 (acted like a water scoop) and was replaced with the standard version fitted with a 'lip'.


This is interesting and certainly suggests that it wouldn't be helping to maximise air flow. With no opportunity to do any R&D in terms of aerodynamics, we only have the standard route of low front bumper / splitter, flat bottom with low side skirts and a high rear bumper to get the air out. You don't really want a scoop at the back... A rear bumper like this is what I'd be looking for. You could probably fashion a diffuser around it.


F****** b****** thing...

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