Experimental

[growler_south]

The Piazza/Impulse is a nice shape with some incredible attention to detail- Isuzu didnt cut many corners bringing Guiguaro's design to production.
They did, however, stuff up a few things. The doorhandles are particularly irritating, puncturing the otherwise smooth wedge-shaped panel below the keyline. And the door lock cylinder! slapped on below the door handle. Originally the Piazza was to have concealed doorlatches like the early Fiat Uno, but I guess Isuzu had a whole box of I-Mark handles to use up.



So I'm moving them. Keeping the original handles, but shifting them up so they interrupt the keyline rather than the panel below. I'll be deleting the door lock. (I'll use the remote, and should the battery go flat I can use the tailgate lock.)



I think the result is far more in keeping with the car's '80s futuristic look, and since Ive got a couple of spare doors to practise on, I figure why not?

Comments

[smellykaka.livejournal.com]

I think they're fairly nice looking cars as it is, with the exception of the wheels.

[pa747sp.livejournal.com]

2 things.

Firstly, I agree. The Piazza was probably one of Guigaros best 80s designs.

Secondly, you amaze me. I don't know anyone else who would attempt such a thing. I'm impressed.

Now send me some photos of you doing the work. Naked.

shaved or frenched, I can't remeber.

[whiskerfish.livejournal.com]

I am not sure what will be tougher - the panel work - or all the fidgety bits that actually lock/unlock/latch/unlatch the door.
Cutting the panel and creating that little indentation to scooch yr hand under the handle is gonna be tricky work. How good are you at TIG or MIG wielding? Those patches are gonna have to be smooth, like butter and controlling the heat on that sheet metal is gonna work you last nerve. How about this: French them in!!! You know, like they do in chop and drop cars.
Remove the handle and latch assy., cover over the indentation with some fibreglass and epoxy, then replace the old unit with a new power one that uses a transponder/proximity sensor. The transponder goes in your pocket or wallet, the proximity sensor on the electric door lock actuator unlocks and pops the door open a crack as you approach.
The flanks of your car would then be totally clean and the WOW factor would be way up there.
Good luck.
see here for basic idea: http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/howto/32199/

[sinnabor.livejournal.com]

Aren't there some cars around that use a flush module where the top half is handle, and the bottom half is a little spring-loaded flap that you push in to reach under the handle?

Could you get one of those and mount it?

Trying to build in the little stamped-sheet-metal cup sounds painful and fussy.

I like Fish's idea. Simple to do, even better looking.

[beastbriskett.livejournal.com]

I too was wondering about the internals, and how the move would munge up the mechanism. This is a nice mod! Willya show us as you go along?

[gregorbehr.livejournal.com]

Cool!
I'm impressed that you know how to move door handles to begin with.
I sure as hell wouldn't have a clue!

Second... a flash back to my youth! My girlfriend in high school... had an 84 Gold Impluse. Of course she had custome plates, 24K IMP.
Always did think it was a very cool car! :)

[bleepkeeper.livejournal.com]

I'm with whiskerfish: I think they'd look best gone. But since that's illegal, and since they're never going to really blend in well (and since welding across the keyline would be a big PITA), what about using something like the handles off a 350z?

[dozerbull.livejournal.com]

I remember test driving one of those in near Nags Head. The Sales man kept touting the "Suspension by Lotus".