"The ME Edition widebody kit is actually available for Sols to purchase, but be sure you have a wad of cash to blow. I was in touch with the American distributer a while ago and this is the story
The kit is made from a company over in Europe, so it has to be shipped over. The kit alone is $8,200 and the wing is an extra $700. You are already at $8,900 without shipping. Figuring that it costs about $100 to ship a regular body kit from coast to coast in the US, international shipping has got to be much more than that. After you've paid for the kit and shipping, consider these factors
1: You will need a body shop that can install and paint this kit properly. It seems that many places have limited resources as far as good body shops go. I was told that this kit is not a bolt-on kit. There's some body modification needed, so this is not a job to trust to your local Earl Sheib shop. You'll want a good shop that does custom stuff. I'd guestimate that you're looking at around $1500 minimum to install the kit properly and around another $2000 or more to paint it.
2: Okay, you've got your widebody kit on, but now your aftermarket wheels and tires are inside the wheel well about five or six inches. Now you've got to go out and buy a set of extra wide wheels and tires. Most aftermarket companies don't even make the extra wide sizes and those that do charge a lot. Figure around $3000 minimum for a basic looking set of wide wheels and tires. If you were considering using spacers, you can only drive on one inch spacers, which will still leave your wheels way inside your wheel wells and it won't look very good. For shows, you could get a set of two inch spacers, but again, you're still not close to the width you need to have the wheels look right.
3: Alright, you've got your kit on and you got your extra wide tires and wheels. Remember that you've just added a lot of extra weight, so don't head straight for the racetrack. All that extra weight is gonna slow you down. The wheels alone would make a huge difference, but add all that extra kit weight and you've lost major HP.
If you've been keeping track, you are looking at around $15,400 just for your widebody kit, wheels and tires (without shipping from Europe). Figure on around $16,500 with shipping depending on where you live.
In the end, you'll have a one-of-a-kind Sol, but there's probably a reason for that. As far as I know, nobody in the US has purchased this kit and the only two that I am aware of are the black and red ones that are posted all over from Japan. If you have the pocketbook and nerve to attempt this modification, PLEASE be sure to email me and let me know what your total ended up being and send a couple pictures.
If you are considering this, you can contact Sam Chang at
sam_c@sceptre.com PLEASE do not email him if you are not serious about buying this. I'm sure he doesn't want a hundred people just asking prices again. This was current pricing as of January 18, 2000.
Todd Huff
Pres. Team Sol"
www.teamdelsol.com