Luggage Rack /Bra questions

I need advice on a luggage rack for my yet-to be delivered car. Does the rack fasten to the engine grill or to the glass of the rear deck lid? It would be neat to have the rack tie on to the grill, but wouldn't this damage the grill? I would plan to attach only a small suitcase (light as possible), so the super-wide variety would not be a consideration. What is the consensus about brand and construction, and which companies offer them (price discounts are always welcome).

Also, I have seen pictures of bras to protect the front-end paint. Some extend farther up onto the car, but one I may be more interested in extends not much farther up than an imaginery line between the headlights. Which type would work best? Does a bra cause paint damage? Where can I find one? These are really dumb newbie questions, but I am a dumb newbie.

In my opinion, the bra will create more problems than it will fix.

So, Goofy-Cat, what car is "yet to be delivered"? You've bounced through several very nice used cars that I know of, and have talked of visiting many of the builders. So, the question begs to be asked. What is your "yet to be delivered car"?

My IM had a bra with it and you could see where it made abrasion lines on the top of the fender. It was hard to see, but it was there. Skip the bra, in my opinion, touch it up and drive it all the time.

If you do get one, by far most rock chips occur below the headlights. In fact after 10 years of driving my car had only one rock chip above the headlights and it was in a place that would have been chipped with any bra.

Jim, I inquired about only two other used cars that were for sale, at a time when I knew nothing about replicas. I visited JPS in LA first, then was lucky enough to get a ride in Bill George's eye-catching red Thunder Ranch Speedster for about an hour, after leaving JPS. The car was impressive, and I liked the way it was built. I then drove to TR in El Cajon, just east of San Diego that same day and checked out the TR facility, talked to Tom McBurnie and Chuck Hirsch and made the decision to go with TR. So far things have gone smoothly and I expect to pick up the car sometime in September.

I have since seen Dale Bates' fine IM car at the Bug show in Sacramento about 3 weeks ago and talked to Ray Armstrong and Mike Beaucage. All three owners gave me some good insight and information. I am happy to have chosen the Speedster. Those people who have responded to my constant questions on the SOC site are reflective of the sharp, savvy, considerate people who are Speedster owners.

Barry, congratulations on your purchase. Details!

Barry:

I just recently had a 3M, clear, front protective film installed and am really happy with it. I have been unable to get pictures uploaded to the site, so if you're interested, email me and I'll send them along to you, along with a short write-up about it that I've sent to other members on here.

Clear films offer similar protection as the opaque, vinyl bras, but don't come with the disadvantages like paint abrasion, flapping in the wind and so forth. They are, however, somewhat more expensive, while saving your car's nose from chips that would require a new paint job every 4 - 5 years or so (and no, I don't believe a nose covered with stone chips has "character")

gn

BTW: On a "real" Speedster, there are mounting tabs welded to the engine cover, just below the grill, to accept the Leitz luggage rack. Fiberglass Speedsters don't have those mounting tabs, so something similar must be fabricated, making sure that the stress is spread out sufficiently with a larger mounting area to prevent fatiguing of the 'Glass at the mounting points. Not impossible, but something that must be done with care to insure a long-lasting installation that will hold something more weighty than a briefcase.

The VS luggage rack passes thru the grille's slats and fastens to the fiberglass deck lid lining. It should be reinforced with washers to spread the pressure. If used all the time a bra will quickly abrade the paint plus cause it to fade. Bras are ok for a long trip on a very clean (dirt free car) provided they fit tight and don't flap.

Hi Barry: so,,, you went and bought a thunder ranch speedster huh... sometime in sept. huh,,, welll hell we have to plan on some runs the coast is great that time of the year. Up or Down coast one. What do you say start planning to drive it and you can always head over in my direction. You can hook up with Dale and Micheal, Terry, Brian and me we can tear up some really nice twisty roads up in the foothills. Sooo,, what color did you decide on I know we would all like to hear about your new build. Come on lets have the details.

Gordon: Thanks for the info; I will e-mail you off-site for the details on the 3M stuff.

Ray: I ordered the car two weeks ago from Thunder Ranch. Should be completed in September sometime...hopefully in time for the James Dean fest on the 30th. My wife and I will fly down to San Diego, pick up the car, then see some of the sights in SD before ambling up the coast via Hwy 1. I am not very familiar with L.A., having been born and raised in Sebastopol, CA, so visiting the SoCal places I have only heard and read about will be fun. Maybe I will call Bill George....he was the one who lit my fire re the TR car, after having been gracious enough to give me a long ride in his car.

I chose a 1915cc power plant (Scat-built) with a Type 3 cooler/doghouse, remote oil filter, 3:88 final drive, Mahle pistons, deep sump, and all the goodies to make the engine run cool and stay well-oiled. The engine list is a mile long. The body will carry the usual Porsche script and chrome strips. Seats: original Speedster. Halon extinguisher and brake lever on the hump. Hella dual air horns, engine grill stop light, sealed battery. Maybe a nice 356 Registry badge on the grill, plus an SOC badge if available. Low bow top, zippered tonneau, boot....uh......haven't pinned down the exact color yet, but it will be very red. The hardest part was choosing the colors. I like 'em all. An even harder part is the waiting.

I'll call you when the car arrives. I look forward to seeing you and the other "locals" for a ride....maybe we can buzz over to one of the shows coming up...Five or six Speedsters travelling in tandem should blow a few minds.

Almost forgot: I am having the Bursche exhaust system ceramic coated by Jet-Hot in Tempe. They coat the inside of all the pipes, but not the muffler. The outside of pipes and muffler is coated. Guiness can on the tip of the exhaust pipe is not included. My wife asked if it would be noisy. I simply told her there might be a slight whisper, like a soft breeze through the redwoods, and that she would enjoy it. If not, I have a goodly supply of Mack's silicone earplugs.