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I think this might be a simple question. I bought my project disassembled and all the trim was removed, amazingly, its still in decent shape. Im building a custom car with shaved door handles, possibly no bumpers etc..for a sleek, minimalist look. If I went glue-in windshield, it would be gone there anyway. If I go side scoops at the quarter windows, it could be gone there as well. that leaves only the inside and outside door frames. I want to double check something before I commit. Ive seen cars with the drip rails removed also. So here in lies the questions:

Are there any functional reasons for the stainless trim on the door frames of the car? Does it take up room in any place that would leak if it was removed? does it play any role in holding the weather-stripping in place or would the soft rubber function the same without it?

Not looking particularly for aesthetic opinions. But if the weatherstripping attaches to the trim, and the trim is gone, then the weatherstripping must attach by other means...etc. Id like to think that through.

Also, if anyone has a picture of a Pantera with its brightwork deleted I would appreciate it!

Thank you!!
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The piece that runs the door at the bottom of the window hides the joint where the inner and outer panels come together and it hides the screws and clips for the fuzzy strips. The weather stripping goes inside the window frame and the door weather stripping glues to the body. The glue in windshield looks very sleek.
Richard
Dear Cullen,


Now you've done it. You've ventured into dangerous territory *and* asked for information separated from *opinion*.


That is an interesting style you're contemplating. I don't know if I have ever seen a Pantera with the trim completely removed, so it is hard for me to get a mental picture of no drip rails, window trim, etc.


Perhaps, another way to look at this is: if you execute the project as you now propose and discover that it is now what you envisioned, then how easy would it be to add the drip rails, window trim, etc, *back* onto the car after the fact? I don't know the answer to that question. I would assume that it could done without much being lost.


Stop thinking outside of the box! :-)


Chuck Engles
haha...Chuck your spying on me. Well, deleting chrome trim from custom cars is not a new idea...people have been doing it forever. Typically it tends to "modernize" the look...but that's why I asked the question, what are the functional drawbacks, and Richard helped there too. Concealing seams and fasteners is exactly the kind of thing I wasn't thinking about yet. There are several cars ive seen that have deleted the drip rails, that seems pretty common on the custom body stuff.

As far as thinking outside of the box, you know me better than that!! ;-)
Michael, I've seen the car in a few simple photos, but not this article with tech and detail. Thank you!!! Yes, I immediately notice his drip rails are gone. Styling preferences aside, this car is a fantastic display of craftsmanship. Thank you sir!!
On one of my trips to Quella's shop in Castle Rock they had a Pantera they were making into a Group IV car.

They had done a ton of work on the car and were welding on steel flares, welding seams at the rear rockers, and welding in reinforcement plates near the "C" pillar (area behind the grills - fuel filler door area).

They also had removed the drip rails on the car and stitch welded that area. The car was a long ways from done but looked great already. I really like the deleted drip rails in person. Just my two cents.

Devin
I agree. I think there is no question at this point that I will eliminate the drip rails. Obviously modern cars don't have them. Their functionality is an antiquated design. People modernize Panteras more than many other classics. Quad headlight conversions, suspension and brake upgrades, flush mount windshields... All the same concept.

The other trim on the door is more complicated because it serves has some other purposes. I'm still working through that.

Thank you Devin for your thoughts.

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