Let me be the first

[ProTourGSX]

to install Lamborghini hinges for a '70-'72 Monte Carlo, to see if they will also fit on '70-'72 Chevelle/GS/GTO/442! I should receive the kit next week, and begin progress pics & test fitting/adjustment on my '70 GS Stage 1, to know for sure, and hopefully introduce a new application for the other GM A-bodies!

[Nessumsar]

Sorry, but I have to:

[SRD art]

Good luck to you, that's a big undertaking. I've only heard that they're a bugger to make work and don't work very well, particularly long term. Not based on personal experience tho'.

No offense but they'd seem more at home on a custom car or donk mobile than a p-t car. Just curious, what's your thinking for installing them?

[ProTourGSX]

Good luck to you, that's a big undertaking. I've only heard that they're a bugger to make work and don't work very well, particularly long term. Not based on personal experience tho'.

No offense but they'd seem more at home on a custom car or donk mobile than a p-t car. Just curious, what's your thinking for installing them?

Thanks, Ben! The kit that I ordered is a direct bolt on for '70-'72 Monte Carlo, which should also fit Chevelle/GS/GTO/442, as they are all GM A-bodies, that are somewhat similar or interchangeable. If they don't fit or function properly, they can be easily undone to reuse the factory original hinges, and then relist them on Ebay to the next lucky owner.

My '70 GS Stage 1 is being restored as a "custom car" (sorry, purists, no Triple Brown in this numbers matching GS's future!).

I've collected Lamborghini ('70s/'80s Countach!) items for almost 20 years, not interested after Chrysler-owned Lambos ('90s-present), but have always been fascinated with the distinctive identifiable door systems of Lamborghini!

This just gives me an opportunity to combine 2 of my favorite cars of all time; the Buick GS & the Lamborghini Countach, not for "wow factor", just for my own personal preference, something that I've just always wanted to try.

If I had a little extra $$, I'd love to see how you could render my concept GSX project, after seeing what you did with the Apollo GSX!
(Think of my GS as a Stealth fighter without wings, when it's done with aircraft styled interior & body mods).

[rallystyle]

please dont do it.

[ProTourGSX]

please dont do it.

Yeah, I know, I'd rather do a Chevelle with the modiifications I have planned, but I don't have 20 years worth of Chevelle parts to choose from, as I do for the Skylark/GS cars!

[Black93GT]

this is all I can picture...

[Black93GT]

Personally i just don't understand the donk/lambo door trend.


Everytime i see a classic car with this... I feel sad for the car. I think it even makes Chuck Norris shed a tear. But I just don't get it. I'm sure someone else will look at the low stance and wide tires of my camaro with the same puzzlement and disgust.

[dontlifttoshift]

With any luck you will be the last.

[ProTourGSX]

Personally i just don't understand the donk/lambo door trend.


Everytime i see a classic car with this... I feel sad for the car. I think it even makes Chuck Norris shed a tear. But I just don't get it. I'm sure someone else will look at the low stance and wide tires of my camaro with the same puzzlement and disgust.

I wasn't aware of any other '70-'72 Cutlass/Skylark/etc. with Lambo doors, so I guess I won't be the first, after all.
Not discouraging, but I'd have to agree with you, that the "donk"/whatever appearance also disgusts me! I expect mine to turn out more like the Chevelle "Widowmaker" build (in the Project Updates threads here), as a Pro-Touring/LOWERED (tastefully, not drastically, and definitely not this 4x4 look, as pictured above)/Handling & Performance vehicle.

I'm not getting into debates to try to justify or reason why I want to do this to MY CAR, but I can understand & respect all of YOUR OPINIONS, and I'll just leave it at that.

The car hobby, in general, is a way to express INDIVIDUAL artistic skills & creativity, as well as sometimes preserving part of automotive history, or combining it with modern technological design & performance improvements! Without that, cars are just a metal & plastic vehicle used for transportation; in which case, a bicycle should be just as interesting or comparable, right?! Show me your custom metalflake 10speed Schwinns & Huffys!

Thanks for the moral support, and enjoy YOUR cars!

[INTMD8]

but have always been fascinated with the distinctive identifiable door systems of Lamborghini!

That's kind of the problem, no aftermarket "lambo" door kit actually makes the door function anywhere close to a real Lamborghini door, which rotates straight up.

With the aftermarket kits you have to open the door conventionally and then, lift it up?

[ProTourGSX]

That's kind of the problem, no aftermarket "lambo" door kit actually makes the door function anywhere close to a real Lamborghini door, which rotates straight up.

With the aftermarket kits you have to open the door conventionally and then, lift it up?

Not a problem, and I understand.
If I just had to have a "Lambo" door, then I'd start building a Lambo "kit" car, to be as close to authentic as possible!

I'm not trying to make my car INTO a Lamborghini, no different than Mustang/Camaro/etc. guys who put LS engines into their cars are trying to turn them into CORVETTES!

To answer your question, you must open the door just enough to release the latch, then the doors should have enough clearance to lift straight up.
Now you have me rethinking to relocate the door striker to the lower door jamb, for it to release from the bottom, so the door could be opened STRAIGHT UP! I'll have to do some measuring, and research, once I have the hinges to look at!

If it was any easier, I'd really rather have Gullwing doors (as on DeLorean), but I don't have the fabrication skills or experience to even attempt it, myself, or I WOULD!

I just want something more than "every other similar car you've ever seen", with the factory hinges having to be replaced/rebuilt from the weight of the doors causing them to eventually sag/misalignment/etc., and I hope these Lambo hinges work out to my satisfaction.

If not, then I put the old creaky factory hinges back on, send the Lambo hinges to be relisted on Ebay, and let them go to a Monte Carlo owner who wants them more than I do. Simple solution to complicated suggestive problem.

[arue333]

I say hell ya, and go for it!!! I'm not a Lambo guy but it think it's all the individual's ideas and innovation that have spurred a ton of our "modern" PT production parts. It's the strange ideas of "some" that make the one-off cars so cool. I look forward to seeing how this turns out. I can respect all custom cars even if I wouldn't necessarily do it to mine, I know Numbers matching purists would cry at what I've already done to my car. LOL Go For It! and keep up the good work. PS we need pictures lol

[INTMD8]

I'm not trying to make my car INTO a Lamborghini

Well yes I'm clear on that, my response was to your intro statement "Let me be the first to install Lamborghini hinges..."

I have worked on a few cars that had these installed, I wasn't questioning the way they functioned, just the purpose.

Maybe you will have better luck but the cars that I've seen with these hinges are very difficult to get in and out of, bad panel alignment and very hard to close the doors (it's easy to pull the door up a bit as you're closing it, putting the striker out of alignment).

If it's what you want by all means go for it, just thought I would mention what I've observed if you don't have any firsthand experience with these hinges.

If it interests you to see their operation the last few episodes of an HBO show called "Eastbound and Down" have a truck in it with these hinges and everyone getting pissed off as they try to get in and out of the thing, which I found funny as I had the same thoughts when entering/exiting vehicles such equipped.

[ProTourGSX]

INTMD8, I have seen these hinges up close on a mid-'70s Caprice, done by a local shop, for a local customer (poor choice of car for this modification, in MY opinion), but to look at the car, you'd never suspect the doors to open any other way than the normal factory function. The owner told me to open the door, as I did by his instruction. Then he asked if I noticed anything different or unusual about the doors, which I did NOT. Then he instructed me to LIFT the back part of the door, and it swung up just smooth & gentle, with very little effort from me.

I appreciate & understand everyone's opinions & concerns here, as I explained this is only an ATTEMPT to try something different on my car, that MAY or MAY NOT work, but I won't know for sure, until I TRY!

I also agree with those who are AGAINST the idea, and I understand that I may NOT like how the doors work, after I install them. If not, I'll put the factory hinges back on, and at least say that I TRIED.

I may yet order a pair of Fiberglass doors to use for testing, instead of the heavy steel doors, for now!

Regardless of how this project turns out, Lambo hinges or not, at least the car will turn heads, as well as becoming an even BETTER version of one of the FASTEST Musclecars Ever Built, after all factory parts have been upgraded & improved with stronger materials & designs of modern aftermarket performance parts!

I'd just like to THANK everyone here for your input/experience/knowledge, as I just try to apply what I can, where & how I can, to enjoy my own vehicles, and share with others who have the same in common.

My payment for the hinges has been processed, and I'm at a standstill until the parts are shipped/received, before I can begin installation.
I will take pics of progress, and keep you informed, good or bad, either way!

[Blevinator]

I agree that you will turn ALOT of heads!!!!

[SS PUNISHER]

I say you're waisting your time but it's your ride so good luck with it!

[ProTourGSX]

'68 GTO with Lambo doors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpM20Voo790

[parsonsj]

Odd.. the driver didn't seem interested in opening the Lambo door up when he got out of the car. Wonder why?

[ProTourGSX]

Odd.. the driver didn't seem interested in opening the Lambo door up when he got out of the car. Wonder why?

Maybe to pacify the purists, so they don't have an anxiety attack from seeing that the doors open a different way than how they came from the classic musclecar factory that built the vehicle!