Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Museum or Custom?
Restore this car, to mess with it would be a crime against history 9 (45%)
Do it up the way you want it, it's just a fancy Metro 11 (55%)
Total Votes: 20
91 Turbo Firefly; restore or customize?
Topic Started: Sep 13 2015, 04:34 AM (1,904 Views)
Woodie
Member Avatar


I've bought a 91 Pontiac Firefly Turbo, and I'm torn over what I should do with it. Looking for opinions on which way I should go with it. It's about 98% stock, but everything is rough as far as condition goes. Pretty much straight, no rust at all (don't know how that happened, but my 2010 Kizashi doesn't look as nice underneath). Lots of little chips and dings in the paint, interior is a mess. Still has the factory decals on it, but they're all cracked and faded. If it were nicer, there wouldn't be any question, it should be kept factory stock and pushed toward museum quality. If it were any rougher I would just trick it up and make it the ultimate Cultus, sort of like what razr769 has done with his, I find this to be almost perfect:

Posted Image

I'd love to put GTi brakes on it, bigger turbo and intercooler, custom paint, etc.

Anyway, what does everybody think?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Woodie
Member Avatar


Just to be clear, that's razr769s car up above, here are some pictures of the car we're talking about, but they must be a few years old, it's not this nice anymore:

Posted Image

Posted Image


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Stubby79
Member Avatar


I look at it this way...if it's in excellent shape, keep it that way. If it's not, it's an excuse to customize. Why bother putting in a lot of effort just to get it back to plain, boring "normal"?

And good luck finding everything to restore it, since they're 20 odd years old and not that common to start with...
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Turbo Dan-O
Member Avatar
Obsessive Car Detailer

Stubby79
Sep 13 2015, 05:26 AM
I look at it this way...if it's in excellent shape, keep it that way. If it's not, it's an excuse to customize. Why bother putting in a lot of effort just to get it back to plain, boring "normal"?
:gp

I would like to see the interior/exterior restored to factory but everything else upgraded to make it a really fun car to drive.

I would keep it the factory color but that is just me.

Hmmm, a slick dark shadow grey paint job would be sexy though!

Your car Woodie. Do it up however you want! :popcorn
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Murf 59
Member Avatar


Yeah if it were a POS, the go for a radical approach, but since its in pretty good shape keeper pretty much stock if you can. The GT I picked up is in poor shape. So not sure what direction I am going. There is even body damage. But a clean one should stay that way.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
CAMI MAN
Member Avatar
CUSTODIAN OF THE MR.SUZUKI CONVERTIBLE

The MK 2 Turbo Firefly and Turbo Sprint are very rare , only sold in Canada . (( not sold any where else in the world market )).
How many got imported to the USA from Canada ?
I would say restore it to original 100 % :thumb
((( How can a tricked out Turbo 3 factory hot rod be boring ? ))) :cheers
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
punkozuna
Member Avatar


I voted to "restore" but what I'd really do with something like this is restomod. Do period correct, reversible modifications. Try to keep the appearance true to stock (new rims are OK, just keep the old ones for later restoration). Use metro/swift parts for brand specific upgrades (brakes, 4 cyl flywheel etc). Avoid radical body/paint mods. etc. Make the car subtly better (frame braces, slight lowering with HR springs if you like, sway bars, mild engine tuning etc). Concentrate on making it look clean and running right.
Just my $.02 -YMMV.

BTW - Congratulations on your purchase. :thumb
Edited by punkozuna, Sep 13 2015, 12:09 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZXTjato
Member Avatar
bass heads

in my opinion on the mods and the other things, when doing an after market mod I like to stick to the time of the car, you can see how the decals are square ish the body is square ish etc etc. shes an old gal that needs to dress her age, don't want shiny chrome rims on that car because that was not the thing when that car was hot. when picking rims I like to look at rims from the era of the car. that way the car looks its part if it were taken back in time, like a window into the modified car world of the 90s. I like to stay era specific. if say I had a year 2000s metro I wanted to mod I would do mods of the 2000s not the 90s. if it were my car I would clean it up and keep those logos factory the TURBO is a classic late 80s style point I would not want to loose. If I got the car painted I would do the same paint it is right now what ever paint code do it the exact same. the flat lights are era special also. I would never do any thing chrome on that car unless it was like a lug nut. engine mods tho I don't see any reason not to do some upgrades. the top mount intercooler is unique tho and I would try and keep that. looks like a sweet car I never seen one in that body style ever.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Woodie
Member Avatar


Don't worry about chrome ZXTjato, I despise it on anything but a 50's or 60's Cadillac. Plus, who can afford it anymore? B-)

As I said, I think the world of how razr's car is done. Here's the last one I built:

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
evmetro


I can see the dilemma.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ONEHARDHEAD
Member Avatar


First off, congrats on scoring a very cool car. I really like the overall look of the car as-is, but voted to do it up. My taste would be a mild resto-mod as well. The exterior is already really cool, but could use some graphite colored modular looking wheels, larger tires, mild drop, etc. Since this is already a turbo car, it could be fairly easy to upgrade the turbo, add an intercooler, and other mods to enhance the performance of your mighty mite. An aftermarket fuel injection unit may not be entirely out of the question either. Add some new carpet, headliner, and maybe some Sparco or Corbeau seats, performance steering wheel, and short-throw shifter and you've got the envy of the local cruise-in.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ONEHARDHEAD
Member Avatar


The spoiler and offset hood scoop remind me of a micro-sized SVO Mustang.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
MetroSport
Member Avatar
Elite Member
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
punkozuna
Sep 13 2015, 12:06 PM
I voted to "restore" but what I'd really do with something like this is restomod. Do period correct, reversible modifications. Try to keep the appearance true to stock (new rims are OK, just keep the old ones for later restoration). Use metro/swift parts for brand specific upgrades (brakes, 4 cyl flywheel etc). Avoid radical body/paint mods. etc. Make the car subtly better (frame braces, slight lowering with HR springs if you like, sway bars, mild engine tuning etc). Concentrate on making it look clean and running right.
Just my $.02 -YMMV.

BTW - Congratulations on your purchase. :thumb
:gp I too would like to see the interior redone to factory, but definitely do subtle things to make it yours.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Metromightymouse
Member Avatar
Powdercoat Wizard

Yep, needs a set of these

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZXTjato
Member Avatar
bass heads

Metromightymouse
Sep 13 2015, 11:29 PM
Yep, needs a set of these

Posted Image
yep a Japanese car with 90s Japanese inspired wheels. :rocker good luck getting some of those rims tho....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · The Geo Metro Lounge · Next Topic »
Add Reply