Targa top fox body Mustang?

Loco5.0 · Sep 17, 2005

Has anyone ever taken a hardtop fox body Mustang and turned it into a targa top car?

A big reason I am selling my '93 is because I need a convertible or, at the very least, t-tops again. A friend of mine suggested just converting my car to a targa top car.

Is this a bad idea? I understand that the car will not be as sturdy as it was, but would a cage negate the loss after the targa conversion?

v8only · Sep 18, 2005

Loco5.0 said:
Has anyone ever taken a hardtop fox body Mustang and turned it into a targa top car?

A big reason I am selling my '93 is because I need a convertible or, at the very least, t-tops again. A friend of mine suggested just converting my car to a targa top car.

Is this a bad idea? I understand that the car will not be as sturdy as it was, but would a cage negate the loss after the targa conversion?

that's a ton of experimental work just for an open air car. Imo, verts are a dime a dozen, just invest in one of those. You may put a ton of money and time into something that could turn out a mess in the end. By the very fact of you posting this thread means you're not attached enough to your car where you "must" keep it for sentimental reasons. Sell it, and move on, unless of course you've got the extra money, which some do. If that's the case, why the hell not?

poneypower89 · Sep 18, 2005

Im gonna go ahead and say sorry if this doesn't prove to be real helpful.

Anyways, if by targa you mean... like a t-top without the center metal piece.. or like a Corvetts removable top.. or like a supras... get what Im imagining?

If that was the case, I really do believe that would prove to be an interesting look on a hatchback mustang. It's something very different that people would appreciate to see. Although it would be far easier and probably cheaper to buy a vert. A targa top stang would be worth the "Wow" effect IMO. Either way, if you do decide to go targa top please post up and let me see how it turns out.

85_SS_302_Coupe · Sep 18, 2005

It's been done, but the problem is that you're cutting away half of the shell, which also acts as half of the chassis since these cars are unibody chassis cars. Now, if you have a nice rollcage inside, that wouldnt be as much of an issue. I've seen both Fox and SN95 'stangs with targa tops...most recently an '03 Cobra at a local car show with (vomit) gull wing doors and a targa top.

87TTopGT · Sep 18, 2005

As a T-Top owner, I would say don"t even THINK about the targa unless you are putting in a cage. With the (lack of) torsional and longitudinal stiffness in a Fox body my guess is it would snap in half lengthwise.

Seriously, before I installed subframes going across railroad tracks at an angle would make mine look like a wet dog shaking off water. I can't even imagine taking out the roof t-bar and trying it!

Loco5.0 · Sep 18, 2005

Henceforward · Sep 18, 2005

If your Car is clean I wouldn't mind trading you.

Mavrick · Sep 18, 2005

Targa would be cool.. with a roll cage, i think you'd be good to go.

Lyncher · Sep 18, 2005

poneypower89 said:
Im gonna go ahead and say sorry if this doesn't prove to be real helpful.

Anyways, if by targa you mean... like a t-top without the center metal piece.. or like a Corvetts removable top.. or like a supras... get what Im imagining?

If that was the case, I really do believe that would prove to be an interesting look on a hatchback mustang. It's something very different that people would appreciate to see. Although it would be far easier and probably cheaper to buy a vert. A targa top stang would be worth the "Wow" effect IMO. Either way, if you do decide to go targa top please post up and let me see how it turns out.

you definatly need a cage though...no doubt about it. Good luc though

Loco5.0 · Sep 18, 2005

Henceforward said:
If your Car is clean I wouldn't mind trading you.

https://webspace.utexas.edu/mwill15/360-2.jpg

If my car is clean? Looks like you never checked out my ad in the FS section.

I don't want a white car + you're not local, sorry.

blackstangt · Sep 19, 2005

you have a nice car, don't screw it up, sell it if you need to, but don't destroy a fox. If you really need open air like that, get a t-top car and LEAVE the middle bar. otherwise you will need a cage and have more bars to contend with anyway. reguardless, install sub-frame connectors.

Mavrick · Sep 19, 2005

blackstangt said:
you have a nice car, don't screw it up, sell it if you need to, but don't destroy a fox. If you really need open air like that, get a t-top car and LEAVE the middle bar. otherwise you will need a cage and have more bars to contend with anyway. reguardless, install sub-frame connectors.

This guy has a neat idea.. and if done cleanly, it would look awesome and would not be "destroying a fox" at all.. I'd like to see it.

Bob Hill · Sep 19, 2005

While I agree this targa might look cool, the first thing to do is carefully check out a Fox convertible and see how much extra stiffening, braces and even riveted in plates they add to keep it semi straight.
This also makes it weigh so much more that they even have different motor mounts for the converts.

Take the top off a shoe box and twist it--that's the structural problem you'll have to overcome...subframe connectors alone aren't enough....a cool look but a severe lack of torsional stiffness that's not worth it IMHO.

joelliott · Sep 20, 2005

Theres a place selling targa tops in 5.0mag. I think the idea is cool. But I know the torsional stresses would be alot different. You might be able to get a 8 pt cage with the alignment of the uppers bars alttle different. Instead of being on the sides of the car near the tops of the doors, you could do a dual bar in the center of the car kinda looking like a t top brace. Or even get crazy with it and bend tubing to curve twords eachother on that sma e top location just to be different. If done right, it could be a really neat project. There are a good number of 93 stangs out there. As long as its not a cobra or anything special edition. Good luck. And make sure you really think moves through. One mistake could really kill the structural intregrity of the car.
Joe E.

bsedwebt70-5.0 · Sep 21, 2005

I did this to a 1970 fastback years ago - before anything was cut I had the convertible inner rockers welded in, sub-frame connectors welded in, cross braces under the car welded in, convertible lower seat pans welded in, etc.... I fashioned the targa top like a supra - with no center bar - kept the whole steel top in one piece and welded in drip channels with locating pegs in the front and rear and two black plastic thumb screws to secure the targa in front. It all worked fine and the car was about as stiff as it was before with all the convertible stuff and the added lower cross bracing and subframe connectors. I had this all professionally done while the car was completely stripped out and it cost thousands of dollars 15 years ago. You need to find a shop that is creative and willing to do something like that - I used a nationally known hotrod builder that was local.

TT91 · Sep 21, 2005

I saw a 05 gt with Targa this weekend, no cage, just in floor sub frame connectors. JMS performance made the kit, they also make it for sn-95s and 99 models.

blackstangt · Oct 3, 2005

the 05 is much stiffer from the factory, and if you are going to do this, do it to a car that needs a paint job and other things, not a car that is nice. Also, if you put a cage in with bars going across the top, even the sides doesn't that defeat the purpose?

JaysGreenLX · Oct 3, 2005

Loco5.0 said:
Has anyone ever taken a hardtop fox body Mustang and turned it into a targa top car?

A big reason I am selling my '93 is because I need a convertible or, at the very least, t-tops again. A friend of mine suggested just converting my car to a targa top car.

Is this a bad idea? I understand that the car will not be as sturdy as it was, but would a cage negate the loss after the targa conversion?

I would not wreck the car. As I recall your ride is pretty clean. Just get a vert.

Targa top fox body Mustang?

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