ADAPTOR FOR A FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR

1 . A product comprising:

an adaptor component;

wherein the adaptor component is constructed and arranged to attach to a front body hinge pillar; and

wherein the adaptor component is constructed and arranged to accommodate a windshield and an A-pillar.

2 . The product of claim 1 wherein the adaptor component includes a body; and

wherein the body includes a rearward portion, a forward portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer surface.

3 . The product of claim 2 wherein the outer surface is approximately perpendicular to the bottom surface.

4 . The product of claim 1 wherein the adaptor component includes at least one hole.

5 . The product of claim 4 wherein the at least one hole is located on the outer surface of the adaptor component.

6 . The product of claim 1 wherein the adaptor component is attached to the front body hinge pillar.

7 . The product of claim 6 wherein the adaptor component comprises steel and wherein the front body hinge pillar comprises aluminum.

8 . The product of claim 7 wherein the adaptor component is attached to the front body hinge pillar using at least one self-piercing rivet.

9 . The product of claim 6 wherein the adaptor component comprises aluminum and wherein the front body hinge pillar comprises aluminum.

10 . The product of claim 9 wherein the adaptor component is attached to the front body hinge pillar using spot welding.

11 . The product of claim 1 wherein the adaptor component is stamped.

12 . The product of claim 1 wherein the front body hinge pillar is high pressure die cast.

13 . A method comprising:

using a first design or a first reusable casting die for a front body hinge pillar to produce a first front body hinge pillar and a second front body hinge pillar, wherein the first front body hinge pillar and the second front body hinge pillar are identical;

attaching a first adaptor component to the first front body hinge pillar, wherein the first adaptor component is constructed and arranged to accommodate a first windshield and a first A-pillar;

attaching a second adaptor component to the second front body hinge pillar, wherein the second adaptor component is constructed and arranged to accommodate a second windshield and a second A-pillar;

wherein at least one of the first A-pillar has a different configuration than the second A-pillar or the first windshield has a different configuration than the second windshield.

14 . A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein both the first A-pillar has a different configuration than the second A-pillar and the first windshield has a different configuration than the second windshield.

15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the adaptor component includes a body; and

wherein the body includes a rearward portion, a forward portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer surface.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the outer surface is approximately perpendicular to the bottom surface.

17 . The method of claim 13 wherein the first adaptor component includes at least one hole.

18 . The method of claim 13 wherein attaching the first adaptor component to the first front body hinge pillar comprises spot welding the first adaptor component to the first front body hinge pillar.

19 . The method of claim 13 wherein attaching the first adaptor component to the first front body hinge pillar comprises using at least one self-piercing rivet to attach the first adaptor component to the front body hinge pillar.

20 . The method of claim 13 wherein the first adaptor component is stamped and the first front body hinge pillar is high pressure die cast.