My baby needs a bra!

Just laid out $3000 for a fantastic paint job to get rid of some serious road rash and scratches. Now I need a bra to fit a flared Cabriolet. Any suggestions other than that clear film? Would like it in Navy blue but will settle for black.

You don't want to her this but go the clear route. The old style bras have been replaced for two reasons. Looks for one and they often cause damage to your paint which they were designed to protect.


Tim

Giday, Nolan. I'm getting close to new paint. Could you please say what type you chose or had done ?

Nolan. Let's see that new paint. My only regret with the clear bra was that I did not do it sooner. What are the objections?

If I had it to do over I would do the clear bra on the Speedster.

David: I stayed with the Silver exterior, but the interior will be a lighter more medium blue. I wanted perforated center pieces in the seats and when the seats were finished they were lighter than the Navy Blue that the rest of the interior, so opted to have complete interior redone to match the seats. I believe the paint is PPG and was done at a professional Muscle car restoration shop. My baby looked so small parked next to a flaming red chopped and channeled 50 Mercury.

Marty and etal: Sorry guys but you Northerners don't truly understand the power of the sun in South Florida. The clear bras I've seen down here have yellowed and have damaged paint when it was removed. The sun also dulls headlight lens's, fades out car interiors, causes clear coat paint to peel away from base coats, dries out windshield wipers in 4 months, and generally deteriorates anything over a short period. Even most of the birds down here are faded to white.

Only intending to use the bra while driving long distances.

I had a feeling you might say that about the sun. So there is one advantage to living in the North. And of course teeth:-) look forward to the pics. Nolan, you have so many marine shops by you, correct? Why don't you get a custom bra made in a color that matches your top?

Try Wardlow Custom Masks. They did GERD's flaired Speedster as a custom job. They also worked with me on mine as a custom. They sent me a first draft and I marked (and took pictures) needed changes. The second try was great. tell them that yours should be based on GERD's pattern. It's nice because it covers the bumper and quite a bit of the hood as separate pieces, allowing easy access for fill-ups.

In CA, Gerd uses his as a daily driver, and, I'm sure sees lots of sun. When I was at his house in August, I gave the coupe a good look and the bra looked fantastic. One caveat, stones may no longer affect the paint, but can leave opaque points in the bra.

Don't put the clear film over fresh paint.

Use VERY high quality, e.g. 3M or other with proven local track record (e.g. works good in Florida). Quality products installed by a good craftsman do come with a warranty.

replace it every couple of years.

Just about everybody in our PCA club has this on their car. They look great, work great.

I would seriously cover the front of my car with electrical tape before I put a bra on it. The only thing I've ever used a car bra for was to cover up front end damage on a cheap car that we were dumping.

angela

Good idea about using electrical tape Angela. I'll do that plus maybe rub a little corn starch on the backing, it's super slippery.

Maybe she meant she would rather use electrical tape instead of a bra.

Well...my husband is an electrician - LOL!

Yes, the electrical tape in lieu of a flap-n-beat-the paint to death bra.

angela

Doh! I thought Angela meant to put the electrical tape at the pressure points.

3/M is good , but i prefer Venture Ultra, clearer and never had a problem with yellowing.

New film from Avery looks even better, but no track record ?

Allow paint cure time (30 days ?) paint needs to be hard or will have problems when installer repositions film.

Cabanaboy - Happy New Year

Here's Desi applying the clear bra to Vinny's wide-body Speedster. Takes several hours of skillful application of heat and squeegee.

Any idea as to the cost? I had a 3M applied to my Spyder two years ago; the installer didn't do a very good job, IMO. It puckered at the edges in a few spots. It still works to protect the front end, but isn't the greatest in the esthetics dept.

Does Desi do the job for the rest of the members, or only Jim?

I'm Jims B*%$H

Cabanaboy

Desi, Your coming to Carlisle this spring,and bringing your wares with you,right? I believe there are interested folks in having you do the "clear bra fitment thingy". Would you consider? Who would be interested if Desi was willing to make the trip? It has to be worth his while to travel 3000 miles to accommodate us. How many installs would you need to make the trip,Desi? Group rate! What say you,Desi? Free "egg sammiches", as an incentive!

Thanks to you all for the invite,I have some business suppliers that can get some referrals who use the same material and install level .
Need a central location to help i'll repost with info.

Desi