Side skirt for a PIU

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?

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

I think you nailed it Ryan. Can we call it a "Zander" as in the hybrid fighting fish?

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.

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.

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

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



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

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

Definitely not keen on the rear kit and spoiler, it makes it too chunky for me

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 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!

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



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

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.

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!

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.



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.