csmstudly

Well, she is essentially done. Just not sure if I should put the rubber side molding back on. Any thoughts?

detonation

wicked lookin 7.. i rekn it'll look good either way...

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

Looks pretty good. I personally don't like the rub strips, but to each their own. I left mine off after repainting.

-xlr8planet-

iTrader: (3)

I left mine off too

Kentetsu

Looks good man!

Would you consider putting a more detailed location in your profile? I'm sure I've probably asked before where you are from, but can't keep everyone straight in my head.

csmstudly

Profile Updated.
I've lived here in Bay City all my life, except for a 9month stint in Florida back in 1990-91. Turned 21 while I was down there (lots of partying).

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Nope, leave them off. With the kit and fresh paint, the rub strips would draw too much attention away from the paint and body mods. Car has too clean of lines to break it up with black strips running down the middle of the body.

Kerebrus

iTrader: (30)

Leave it off, and for the moldings on the front bumper that can't be removed, paint those over with your same color.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

If you decide not to put them back on PM me, I could use a set of rubber moldings

Jon

blackdeath647

iTrader: (2)

i'm a big fan of the slick no rubber look, but it's really up to you

foothill

Looks great. Leave 'em off. You have any more pics?

Jeezus

iTrader: (4)

Yes - If you left stock colored molding on the bumpers.

No - If you painted the black molding on the bumper.

Mickster

iTrader: (2)

Keep 'em off and paint the bumper strips to match.

Post more pics please. That's a gem!

eprx799

iTrader: (8)

leave them off.
I put fb bumpers on my sa to lighten the car up and had them painted to match the car.

chris_g

iTrader: (29)

I love the strips. They divide the car and give it a lower and longer look.

I had mine off after I painted my car. I put them on ASAP and man does it look 100 times better.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

I'm partial to the side trim, I think it makes the car, especially in the lighter colors. The way the Mazda designers intended. Here's a recent photo of my 84 GSL, the White One, going 'round the track. Wouldn't look right without the trim:

FirebirdSlayer666

iTrader: (3)

Yeah I agree to put them back on if you leave the front and rear moldings black. If you paint them to match the color then you can leave them off

NCross

iTrader: (18)

I like the SA moldings because they're an inch tall, but the fb and s4 moldings look iffy.

csmstudly

Thanks for the input!
I'll probably drive it without for a little while.
I'll be putting it away for the winter soon anyway.

I will post a few more pictures ASAP.

dbragg

iTrader: (7)

for looks, definitely not. theres nothing stylish about the side moldings, esspecially the FB. if you want it for practicality and function, get some SA molding. its small, functional, and actually doesnt look too bad.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

SA side trim looks good on an SA, FB side trim looks good on an FB. It's a bumper thing, the trim is designed to work with the bumpers on these two different models.

While the design was a little awkward on the SA because the bumper and side trim didn't match well, the Mazda designers fixed this with the nice continuous lines of the FB.

Leaving the trim off either model all together leaves the bumper trim hanging out like a sore thumb. You can paint the bumper too, but that makes the car look like so many other "modern" cars and destroys the uniqueness of the original design.

In my opinion. But Donny's SA does look pretty mean without the trim.

FirebirdSlayer666

iTrader: (3)

I think the SA's can pull off the trimless look just because the bumper trim doesn't physically tie into the side trim like the FB molding does. I'm still waiting on trimless bumper covers for the FB

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

If you paint the entire bumper, the rub strip on the bumpers disapears.............

And they look so much cleaner with all the emblems gone too

challer2000

Just remember csmstudly that the moldings will save you from door dings. Especially taking that much time on the body, and living in Bay City where it seems most drivers don’t know how to park .

csmstudly

I know what you mean. I am afraid to leave her in a public parking space.