Ed Stephens

 

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Visitors since 06-09-2002, I hope you enjoy it


  
Detroit News says:
Called "Fino," this Pontiac Fiero is hardly recognizable after extensive customizing by owner Edward Stephens.

Autorama pays tribute to George Barris
Click here for Sunday, February 23, 2003 
Detroit News Article
then click on More Photos
My car is number 21

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George Barris and I talking about my car
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George Barris 
Autographed photo of my car at Detroit Autorama 2003
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Check out the new photos



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2003 Monte Carlo SS Jeff Gordon Signature Edition

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Edward Stephens

    November 27 2001 Starting a new venture is always exciting.  The thought of owning a car that looks very expensive but is much cheaper will be fun.  By putting your own sweat equity into the car not only makes the car cost less but also personalized, this project is called a kit car.  Kit cars are designed around a donor car and the kit that will be installed on the donor car.  The donor car is a used car such as a Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird or Fiero just to name a few. The kit car will be the outer appearance of the vehicle.

    The first part of the project is to buy a donor car, I choose the Fiero.  Price of the car will depend on the year and condition of the car.  I choose to buy a car that was in poor condition and ready for the salvage yard.  The body was in poor shape and that is ok because it will be replaced with the kit.  Components replaced were brakes, suspension, steering, interior and emission control system.  Travers Auto Salvage is where I got most of my used parts because the dealer does not carry very many parts for a car that is sixteen years old.

    The second part is to chose a kit car.  After looking at many kits on the market and sending for information from each I decided to buy the Fino kit out of Chicago, IL. made in USA and designed by Peter Ashdown (Date of birth: October 16, 1934 - Danbury, nr Chelmsford, Essex) who was briefly a Lotus factory sports-car driver until an accident at Rouen in 1958 when he broke his collar bone.

----More when I get time---

Time finally got here 03/03/2007.  

The idea of making a cheap car just does not work out very well.  After doing this car I look back on the cost to make a car that I thought would be cheap, I have receipts for $37,000.00 in just parts not including labor.  The car now has 13,000 miles on it.  You cannot make a show winning car that is featured in eight magazines and takes "best of show" CHEAP.  

Things to think about when building a show car are:
$1500.00            Cost of original car ?
$10,000.00         Cost of the paint job, figure about $8,000.00 to $10,000.00 

$4800.00            Body kit   www.v8archie.com
$2000.00            Hand made body panels  $$$?? go figure.
$1,400.00           Dash  http://pisafierohq.com/interiors/wrap-around_dash/
$700.00              Seats  http://www.mrmikes.com 
$700.00              Doors   http://pisafierohq.com/interiors/euro_door_panel/  
$150.00              Carpet  
$500.00              Hand make all other interior parts.
$1800.00            Suspension Front and Rear http://www.heldmotorsports.com
$23,050.00         Total 
That's not all of the cost by any means.

BUT on the good side .....this car is unbelievable to drive

 

ED

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My Fiero in front of Travers Auto 

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K P AUTOBODY & COLLISION REPAIR
Kevin Personious
4129 South US- 27
St. Johns, MI  48879
989 224-7066

Last update
01/08/2008

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