Another car for MetroMPG: convertible 1991 Pontiac Firefly (Geo Metro)

[MetroMPG]

Well, I did end up getting some thinner welding wire. But I haven't actually done any more restoration work to the car since my last post. It's been parked in the garage - until today...



Nothing says "summer" like a convertible towing a sailboat.

Too bad it's late September and officially fall!

Nevertheless, I spent a bit of time today setting up the car for future light-towing duties by drilling the mounting holes so I could swap over the trailer hitch I put on the ForkenSwift this summer. (The underside of the Blackfly is different than those 2 cars - it'll need a different receiver if I want to tow with it.)

The trailer weighs in around 170-180 lbs / 82 kg as set up for this boat. The boat weighs about the same.

I probably won't be doing any more actual work to the convertible until next spring. Too many projects!

That's OK - it'll keep until then, when it'll be 20 years old.

[wxxyz]

I still don't see an aero hard top on this!

It's encouraging to know I'm not the only one with projects lined up years into the future!

[MetroMPG]

Yes! Life has gotten a bit busier since acquiring this wee gem. So, "sometime in the future" is this project's official ETA. (Also: subject to change without notice.)

One of my neighbours has been bugging me to sell it to him. Apparently, the day I bought it he also had his eye on it, but I scooped it up from under him by mere minutes.

It drives him nuts that it's just been parked in my shack and started up once or twice a year since then. I had it out on the driveway one day last summer and it was raining lightly - he yelled at me across the street, "put that thing in the garage out of the rain, you fool!"

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

"sometime in the future" is this project's official ETA....

Despite not doing much (OK, anything) to this car since I got it, I have proof there are still a few active neurons in my brain mulling over this future project...

Thus....




Yesterday I brought home a transaxle from a Suzuki Swift 1.3 SOHC. For those in the know, that's the one with the tallest available gearing in its final drive:

3.52 vs. 4.389 (stock in the convertible)

So the convertible will one day get a swap, just like the Blackfly got.

[Ultra-Orange]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Submitted for your approval. a Geo Metro Convertible with a boat tail.

Sorry I had to.

So yeah, Im thinking Areo hard top, rear wheel skirts, side skirts. kinda like a home made Insight. Why do I keep finding all my ideas in other peoples hands?

Best of luck!

[Christ]

Darin -

How about a removable hard top that extends out to the end of the trunk?

Nice days, you could remove it and drive topless (LOL)... that would enable you to get rid of the weight of the top and it's carriage, frame, and motor assembly, and the top could be (probably) light enough for one guy and a rope hoist to install (provided you have garage space in your neighborly shop).

I'm actually thinking that you could make a wire frame and "tarp" it with canvas. One trick to a good canvas install is to soak it thoroughly with cold water, and stretch it good and tight over the frame. You can hog ring it to the perimeter of the frame, and add door frame tops to accept the windows for a good seal.

[MetroMPG]

Zombie thread alert! (No, I didn't get yet another car... check how old this thread is.)

About 4 years ago I picked up a dead Swift GT from a friend to use as a parts source for this convertible (mostly for the GT body kit and chassis braces).

I still haven't done anything more to the 'vert since my last post 4 years ago (ie. no further welding) aside from starting it up once in a while.

That is if you don't count that I finally (also 4 years later) got around to stripping the GT and scrapping it this month! Yay, more room at the garage!



We don't need no stinkin' engine hoist!

I sold the 1.3L DOHC engine to a guy who's going to rebuild it for use in an ultralight airplane. Apparently they're a go-to engine for that use.

Then, stripped everything else I wanted and took it to the metal recyclers.

Guess how much money I got for the shell... (answer below!)







27 dollars!

[MetroMPG]

I bought the Firefly vert 12 years ago with every intention of rebuilding the floors and putting it on the road.

In the mean time, I stumbled upon a slightly less rusty 1990 Miata MX-5 and repaired it instead.

The MPGiata is good for 50-55 MPG (US) (4.7 - 4.3 L/100 km), where I might see 60-70 in the Firefly. I'm OK with 50-55.

I pulled the Firefly out of storage this week. (It's been a decade since it last saw the sun!)

Time to cull the herd!





(Yes, that's the shell of the long-gone ForkenSwift EV behind it. I have a hard time letting go!)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Christ

I'd hate to see your next information thread be titled "How to find some other jerk to buy you out of a project" LOL.

Very prescient!



I tidied up the car (more than a few mouse turds, unfortunately) and posted the ad last night, asking: $1600. Honest description with pics of the holes.

The last line in the ad: "If you don't own a welder, don't even bother replying to this ad. Seriously!"

I've already had 6 inquiries.

The best way to save this car would be to find a rust-free shell (probably from the States), cut the bottom out of it & do a floor transplant.

[MetroMPG]

OK, so clearly I have priced it too high.

Because it didn't sell within the first hour of the ad going up like my 2000 Metro sold last year.

---

As of this AM, the ad has been viewed 1500 times, and I've had 11 contacts ...

1) Two people have said they want to come see it but then didn't reply when I tried to set up a time.

2) One person offered to trade me for a little boat/motor/trailer (nope)

3) A couple of low-ballers

4) One guy agonized about driving 3 hours each way to come look at it (I advised him not to -- too far to come look at a basketcase car).

5) A bunch of "Is it still available?" messages.

6) One guy said: "just park it on the lawn and let it finish rusting away." Everyone's a comedian.