interchangeability of 2000 coupe and Flavia coupe body/interior parts?

[rch427]

Can anyone speak from experience as to how easily parts (particularly body panels and interior parts) can be swapped between the 2000 and Flavia coupes? I'm particularly interested in whether or not the front quarter-panels, hood, rear quarter-panels and rear decklid from a 2000 coupe could be mounted on a Flavia coupe. As I understand it, the 2000 is a direct continuation of the Flavia in many ways, but even so, can panels be transplanted without major surgery? How 'bout dashboards or interior door panels? Seats?

Thanks --

Robert

[Michael Findlay]

Hi Robert.

I assume you mean the earlier Flavia Coupe with the long nose and fins. I have been restoring one of these while following a friend's blog in Australia who is working on a 2000 Coupe. Unfortunately his site has gone off the web but it showed that the two models differed considerably with only the doors being common to both. Consequently newer door panels will fit the old frames with new mount points for the armrest. While the key structural dimensions are the same for both cars, the restyle for the 2000 was quite extensive and involved changes to front cross members, screen aperture and parts of the substructure. The change to a front hinged bonnet involved new strengthening panels that the earlier coupe lacked. I think it could be done but you would need to cut away a lot of steel and make new intermediate panels to join everything up. Are you doing this to repair a rusty shell?

Regards,

Michael Findlay

[The Heretic]

Could your friend perhaps be so kind as to start a new website (even a blog on wordpress.com would do) so that the information he had available will live on? If you can talk him into it, we'll all benefit greatly.

[rossocorsa]

Some time ago I had a 2000hf and also a flavia 2000 whilst these cars look very similar I was very struck by the amazing level of differences between the two I doubt that there is very much interchangeability between the two versions although seats and doors would probably fit