You cannot just lower the rear, or just part of the doorline.. The entire doorline must be lowered..Otherwise, you end up with an un-even/crooked line..

And If I'm also not mistaken..the front fender lines, also need lowered in order to line up properly, with the lowered doorline..

 

Why not??

Who says the doorline has to remain parrallel. Most doorlines in fact don't remaing parrallel. They go up as they go back. So basically you are saying that all doorlines are wrong because they are uneven???

There is nothing structural about the top doorline, so that does not pose a problem.

Question isn't a hip, by definition an uneven line? Corvettes have had downward sloping doors since the 50's, the shelby cobra had downward sloping doors.

Don't get me wrong, tho. I am all for a lowered beltline. The current stang is way to tall. I was just pointing out that hips could be created without a major overhaul to the unibody frame of the vehicle.

 

I like this one alot..

 

Actually, Corvette doors slope upward as they go back, and not downward..In which they also remain parrallel with the front fender, before sloping upward..

Where as with the Mustang ! the slope would be just the complete opposite, going downward from both the front fender, and rear hip..

In which you now have, both front fender and rear hip lines, higher than the door's..IMO ! this would only exaggerate the car's high waistline, even further than it already is..

However I do see your point, and definitely agree.. the current Stang sits way too tall..

Let's just hope, that Ford takes lowering the beltline into consideration for the 2010 re-style..Otherwise, I don't believe that hips alone..will be enough to pull the trigger..

 

I like the new one the most.

 

Agree the beltline on the current car is too high...nice chop jarradasay, one of the best.

 

If the beltline isn't lowered ! All a lowered front/door will accomplish, is exaggerate how tall the rear is..even that much more..

That being said, If Ford doesn't lower the beltline ! hips aren't going to look very well at all..

 

the car does have a really tall *** end

 

I disagree. dropping the rear of the doorline will break up the upward angle of the car. from the front tip of the front fender to the rear tip of the rear quarter the mustang increases in size, much like a gigantic wedge. Dropping the rear of the door line breaks that line, lowers the visual body line. I don't see how this could possibly exaggerate the rear.

Open this attachment, side by side with the chop and you still really think the door line drop makes it look bigger??

Sorry, for my lack of description on the vettes. You are correct about the current vette, but vettes from the 50's- the 70's all angled down before bumping up at the very end for the hip.

 

The curved top door line was one of GM's favorite styling tricks... notice on this '70 TA, how the top door line (the bottom line that defines the side window) slopes down then swoops up over the door handle to give the car a "hipped" look:

 

If your dropping just the rear of the doorline ! then yes, it does break that line by lowering the visual body line itself..In the meantime, you could also lower both front fender, and doorline..then gradually slope it upwards into the rear hip as well..

However, if both front fender and doorline, are lowered in a parrallel line ! this would definitely exaggerate the car's high rear, even further than it already is..

That being said, I'd still rather have a lowered beltline..as the car just sits way too tall..Meanwhile, you can't even rest your elbow on the door sill anymore, because of the d@mn height

 

i agree with you there!!

 

Compare to this.................looks like 1971 all over again.
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/attach...1&d=1197321299

 

Yeah, I think every car should be submitted to the cruiz'n, "elbow on the window sill" test. I mean, what good's any car if you can't cruise on a sunny Sunday afternoon with your elbow hanging out, just ain't right.

 

I added a little more elbow room, some "hips", tapered down the front, added a more sculptured side, got rid of the wheel arches..and nearly a full fastback. And a few other things.

 

Not bad but -karma for using Mustang II scoop

 

I suppose, but the Mustang has been "retro-ed" at least 4 times (74, 94, 99, 05) things are bound to repeat themselves....and I like the 74 II!

 

rhumb: Great posting! Too bad there can't be both--the current classic G.T. 350 roofline AND the splendid '67 fastback roofline (better still, the ultra-slick fastback roofline from '68-'69 Merc Cyclones and Torinos). The Giugiaro concept roofline is terrific, too! Never even consider the hardtop roofline--it looked sharp in 1964, but was instantly outdated when the '65 fastbacks hit the showrooms.

Hatchbacks. They sound good on paper, but they add weight, reduce stiffness, and can douse the passengers in a storm with strong winds. 'Probably would lead to early squeaks and rattles on a Mustang driven hard, too...

I have wondered how desirable swing-out C-pillar windows would be--a la some late-'Sixties/early-'Seventies coupes...and minivans!

Greg "Eights" Ates

 

Yeah, both the 1st and 2nd gen Stang fastbacks had great rooflines, as did the 3rd ('69-'70) for that matter. But again, I think well get a '99 level refresh that will essentially retain the current greenhouse.

As for hatchbacks, well designed ones can be light and stiff, and not douse the rare rear seat passengers in the rare windy squall (first time I've heard that as an issue!). My '94 Probe GT hatchback is very light, very stiff and very tight with nary a peep from the hatch area, and has never put a drop on anyone's pate to my recollection. In comparison to it's betrunked platform mate, the Mazda MX-6, I found the Probe to be, if anything, a touch stiffer and tighter body wise, just as quiet and of about identical weights. Cost less than an MX-6 too, though that starts getting a bit apples and oranges.

Basically, as with any feature, its just good engineering that makes or breaks it.

My M3 coupe does have pop open windows, though, to be honest, I can't really tell any advantage (from the driver's seat at least) in terms of ventilation or anything. Perhaps back in the day when AC was less common.

 

If the latest spy photo's, are any indication as to what we can expect for the 2010 re-style.

We already know, the current greenhouse will remain un-changed, and carry over..It also appears, the high waisted beltline isn't going away anytime soon either..

Therefore, were not going to see a return of the full fastback, until at least the 2012-13 platform change..