Reply to "Wing or no Wing/87 GTS Narrow Body"

Maximus:

I went through the same anst with my GT5. For me, the wing is too boy-racer and detracts from the lines of the car. I've heard it referred to as "that gruesome appendage" and, if I recall correctly, Tom Tjaarda is not big on the wings - or any fibreglass add-ons, for that matter (which hurts when you're driving a GT5). I've taken an informal poll of members of a group of car enthusiasts I go on organized drives with, and most of them prefer it without. In terms of performance, the wing is extra weight and aerodynamic drag without any benefit in either down force or directional stability (it sits too low for that).

That said, if you leave the wing on you will be guaranteed to attract every boy on a bicyle within a five block radius every time you stop for gas. And they will all be convinced the car must go 300 mph.

In the end, I decided to put my wing back on because it is original equipment and I wanted to preserve as much of the stock flavour of the car as possible. Like Mark says, it's a matter of personal choice and the great thing about the Pantera community is that no one will judge you no matter which way you go.

If you are undecided, run for a while with the wing and then for a while without. I installed rubber grommets covered in felt on my wing struts so they don't gouge my deck lid paint, and so I can remove the wing when I feel like it. I plug the bolt holes with cheap plastic plugs I buy at NAPA for a few cents, and it looks great.