Bras

I know! I know! No jokes. In preparation for the banzai sprint to Knotts in April I thought it would be prudent to get one for my car to help minimize the chips. Does anyone out there use one for their bumperless cars? What brands are available and does it have to be a more custom fit than for those cars with bumpers and overriders? Eddie, I know you have a partial mask on your beautiful black car. How's that work?

try www.colgancustom.com

Mark

Scott,

Beautiful car...or should I say cars!

Check out this site: www.invinca-shield.com/main.htm won't detract from the look of the car.

Best of luck - Mel

Umm, they make clear duct tape now. Seriously, I'd check with Colgan also.

3M- 3 years on my expensive Intermeccannica-no chips, no fading, no problems. By now, my baby would require a front end paint job, but there's nothing to be painted. Get a pro to install, however. See the 356 A pattern at the following link.

www.stongard.com/shop.asp

Scott Sloan, Looking thru my pictures I found this and remember one of my friends saying they bought something like this at the Dunkel Bros. swap meet. I will be down there this year and will keep an eye out if you are interested. Another friend had one made to fit and said something about it being around 200-250 dollars. Cheaper than new paint! I have seen Scott Flemings car and it is nearly invisible. Hope to see both Scotts at Knotts this year.

I have had bad experiences with bras (and not just the snaps!) If your car is painted, moisture that gets under the vinyl material will cause the paint to bubble up. The edges cause chaffing as does any sand or dust that gets under the bra. Leaving it on for prolonged periods causes a difference in paint color - from sun bleaching. So if you do get one, use it only for the long drive and ensure it is tightly fitted to a clean car.

Scott Fleming:

I looked at those a while ago, and $400 from Stongard is a darned good price - I got a couple of quotes in New England for around $600, but they were bot a long distance to travel to get the work done.

Haven't seen it on a 356 yet, but it was pretty popular with the Street Rodders in Rhode Island when I was up there, almost invisible once installed, AND it avoided having to re-paint your car every few years or have the front-end all chipped. Once it's installed, you never take it off.

gn

I have a buddy that just got set up doing the clear bra on cars. It is supposed to be killer. I think I will hit him up to do my car and maybe we can get a SOC rate. He is in the Santa Cruz area.

I thank you one and all. Good points. Our hoods just don't lend themselves to placing a sheet of Stonegard across the middle of them. Unless one did the entire hood it would seem that there would be some kind of line visible. Scott, is that your experience or did you just do the front below the hood and around the headlights and turn signals?

The street rods I've seen it on are mid-1930's style "butterfly" front fenders, and the front of a 47 Ford coupe. Both styles had only a partial area on the front covered, and you have to look really hard to see the "line" where the shield ends.

gn

With the "invisible bra" it's much easier to see the edge
on light-colored cars than it is on dark. So, Scott, your
Stone Gray might be right in the middle? Even on the light
cars, I think the "invisible bra" is better-looking than
the black-vinyl alternative. But, then again, I think a few
stone-chips on the nose give a car some character.

Well my car has alot of small chips but mostly from hard headed bugs. most of which seem to be in th clear coat. I don't really mind them , it just shows I drive my car. I thought about getting a bra,but, I have had bad luck with the ones I've had they tend to colect fine dust and dirt that really mess up a paint job. I got my speedster to drive and have fun in. car shows are fun but to keep one in car show quality means a trailor or have it hauled to any event. To me that defeats any joy and adventure on the open road with the top down,wind and sun in face. So the bug splatered windshield,front end is something I live with while enjoying the drive. I can understand Scott that you want to keep it as clean as posible, it being one of the coolest speedsters i have seen. My vote would be for one of the clear milar shield. I beleave you can have this done at some of tint shops around town. See you down at Knotts. I reserved a room at the Radison at Knotts so I will have an excuse to drive to Marriiots.

Why do all bras have to be black?

Michael,

Sexier that way, ala victoria Secrets

Bruce

Scott:
Woudl you post which direction you decide to go? I wouldl like to do Knotts but have the same consderations. I I am tempted to just cut up some fabric and tuck it into under the hood. I do not plan to have it on except for the long haul drives.
WHen is Knotss and would we be doing the same thing as with SO tour, pickin gup cars along the route. That would sure be fun.

I should apologize for posting a risque picture of a bra on a Volkswagen. Inappropriate for the site.

However, if you want to see something different in a bra for your car, eMail me off-line.

Humbly yours - Michael

I did the hood, which means that the bra crosses about an inch above to the top of the hood handle. There's a line on my cream colored
roadster where the 3M crosses, but you (1) have to be looking for it and (2) even if you are, you need to be close (w/in 2-3 feet of the car). I had a black VS before-you could see the chips from as far as 10 feet. I had the front end shot (painted) to get rid of them.
The chips, as well as putting a bra on and off, bothered me so much that when I received my Roadster from Henry I didn't drive it until I got the Stongard on board. If I had a darker color, that would be even more reason to get the permanent transparent bra. In addition to the fact that chips are more visible, any lines that you might object to will be virtually invisible on a darker car. My car has 28 km on it now, and looks like new.

Scott, sorry it took so long to reply. I just got back from a thousand mile round trip to Monterey for a few days. The car ran perfect by the way. Except for the new battery I installed because one night upon returning to the hotel I forgot to unplug my wife's electric blanket from the power plug.

Any way, I use one of Kirk's Demi-Bras. You know the kind were the top half is exposed. I put it on everytime I drive on the highway, and it really helps keep the road chips to a minimum. One of the nice things about a black car is that the bras match good and don't stick out so much. I hope this helps. If you need more info call me.

Eddie