Fishtanks

[Markus]

I'm wondering why Ford created the fishtanks for the Gen 2 SHOs. Could it be because they incorrectly designed the front bumper cover (centre part of it not wide enough to meet the Sable lights)? Did they intend to do something with the fishtanks?

Thoughts?

<small>[ June 06, 2002, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: Markus ]</small>

 

[93redATX]

More than likely they just needed something to fill in the space between the bumper cover and headlights. I guess it wouldn't look bad or anything if the bumper cover were a little wider to meet the headlights, so who knows...probably one of those things Ford does that nobody can ever figure out.

 

[JonVH]

Good question. I've often wondered myself.
Actualy if you measure a standard taurus light from the hood corner to the inner-most part of the directional you'll find it's nearly identical to the distance of the SHO/Sable lights with the fish tanks. So it seems they wanted to keep that height to width proportion of the Taurus.

I've talked myself into the opinion that the inital design/concept drawings had a certian length to width factor that made the car look low & sleek. But when they tryed just the Sable lights on the mock-up or drawings the car looked too akward so they needed to some how lengthen the lights with out building whole new unique light housings for such a low production application.
Just my two cents.
Jon

Here's some concepts http://www.geocities.com/jonsuzvh/SHO-airdam.html I did for the SHO front with std lights of course.

 

[Shoman594]

I think they did it to make the car different from a regular SLO. Dont think they just wanted to put sable lights in there and thats it, they prob tried to make it different. I like the look especially since mine light up wink

 

[DeaconBlue]

Your both right. It was a styling decision made to allow the use of existing Sable fenders, headlamp/turn signals and hood skin, but give a unique look without the center grill portion of the front end looking too heavy.