Quote:
Originally Posted by talonts
I'm sure you'll have a quick reply on this one - why not a tube frame for the floorpan and rear seat area? I would think you could make it even stiffer than the stock Prius floorpan, and if in an accident, repairs would probably be much easier.
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That would have been an option, but it would come with a whole host of other issues. The Firebird body is weak just aft of the door hinges and a supporting structure would have been needed between the Prius cowl and said tubular frame. Then there is the issue of where and how to mount the Prius fuel tank, emission control and exhaust components and... the traction battery. The original 1967 Pontiac gas tank is so old that it didn't even have a vapor recovery line, making it unusable with the Prius power train. The real estate problems would still exist for all of the Prius components, so why not use a perfectly rigid Prius v chassis (which in itself is more rigid than a convertible Firebird unibody ever was!) The remaining rocker panels from the Firebird when welded to the tops of the Prius v rocker panels make a box section adding even more rigidity.
As for repairs, it won't be that different than the donor Prius v was. Compared to the original Firebird, safety will be greatly enhanced. The front crush zone will be covered in thicker Firebird sheet metal and that big chrome bumper will be out front. Remember, the car is now and will remain regestered as a 1967 Firebird, only with 49% Prius parts.
Bill the Engineer