I got to thinking today about how cool it would be to have a wood floor similar to this:


in the cargo area/hatch of a first gen. It would be sort of like the Morgan Aeromax in this regard and would be I think a really interesting and classy detail not to mention provide a more stable surface for heavier cargo. Obviously I'm not talking about making my RX7 into a utility vehicle, but I'm an architect student and I tend to carry a good bit of stuff. I would have to raise the floor a bit from where the carpet is because of the spare wheel in order to keep a flat surface, but I think it would fit rather well. Anyone ever thought about this? I think I could do it for $100 or less as I have access to a full woodshop and I have pretty good craft (being an architect student )

Aeromax cargo area for comparison:



Just imagine the strips between the metal as wood instead of leather and you get the idea. Probably use teak or something similar.

edit: Teak is ungodly expensive. Probably pine

 

In order to pull it off you'd have to make wood accents throughout the rest of the interior. Just my 2 cents.

 

That had occurred to me. I'm not sure what else I would do out of wood. I don't like dashboards with blond wood. Perhaps just a wood nardi steering wheel would be enough.



I'd love to recreate the center panel in the console out of aluminum but I think that is well beyond my ability (hand formed) or finances (machined)

 

67-69 alfa spider?

um i actually like the wood idea, ive never seen that before.

it wood (ha!) help i think to have a little wood elsewhere, but the steering wheel is probably enough, its a car not a tree

 

can't say that i like the idea. it would be very unique to see.

 

bit off topic. Saw a mint alfa montreal at a car show yesterday. My god is that car beautiful!

 

That photo is of an 80's spider. Which I think is way cooler than the earlier ones, being obseesed as I am with cars from that era.

Maybe if the wood was dark stained it would not look too bad. But I actually prefer synthetic materials in my cars. No leather either, except the steering wheel.

 

Teak is also ungodly heavy. But I like the general idea.

I've been thinking about trying my hand at a sculpted wood stereo/shift surround. Nice, glossy, dark-stained walnut would look nice IMO. & stronger than plastic.

Or maybe, given the car's origin, laminated bamboo would be the better bet?

Get everything I need to attempt it, except time.

 

i'm doing rice paper windows!

 

OK, then I'm going to Tile my roof

 

Your idea could work once you address what to do with spare tire bump and the bins. You could square off the bins and add access door/s. Face the vertical side of the bins to match the hatch floor and add an access panel for the spare. Only downside I see if the floor will be very slippery and cargo will slide. Add a chrome bar to stop things sliding just behind the seat and it can also double as a handle to open the bins storage.

 

I was thinking just a small angled riser (made out of MDF or plywood covered in a similar vinyl as the doors (black in my case) just behind the bins would get the appropriate height. Then the center section would be hinged at the seat side for access to the spare, and finally a pair of black leather straps (with some gratuitous polished/brushed buckles) would hold stuff down. I've thought of all this As for the chrome bar, I had a similar thought. But I think I could actually make it structural taking the form of a strut tower brace. I'm not sure how easily I could machine something with a complex geometry like that however. Maybe waterjet.

Hopefully this paint schematic makes sense (strut tower location and basic design)

The bottom is the rear of the vehicle.
I've looked and I can get some stainless steel bed slides/rails for around $80 (way more than i need, but I can't find generic kits) and I will buy and finish the wood separately. To keep noise down I'm going to carpet the bare metal underneath the "floor" or put that dynomat stuff. Probably the latter. I may also put a nice amp in there depending on room.