Roll Bars........For or Against ?

I was going to install a roll bar in my build, but and managed to talk myself out of it.

Was wondering... "is the general consensus for or against em "

Regards Bill

I think that the motto on the original "corpse badge" kinda covers the forum's take on safety equipment of any sort . . .

Yeah, let's face reality, here....

You're riding around in a glorified egg shell with next to zero side impact protection, no crumple zones and the roll bar will, most likely, attach at some point to a fiberglass bulkhead with about as much strength as particle board.

The look nice, but, for the most part, they are decorative, that's all.

Some cars look great with them (like the "Outlaws"), and others (the more traditional "Classic" versions) may not. In the end, it's up to YOUR individual taste - you'll be the one driving it!

gn

The roll bar that came with the CMC kits was actually labelled "just for show" --- so afectionately called a show bar or a headache bar! You could make a real functioning roll bar which would stregthen the chassis and give a good mounting place for shoulder harnes. It will cut down on interior room, limit vision to rear, often limits moving seat all the way back, and could interfer with top assembly.

I personally like the looks on a wide body but not on classic. Much like a luggage rack looks out of place on a wide body but not the classic.

There is a great 356 registry link on roll bars in street cars. Been posted several times, but here it is again:
http://www.356registry.org/Tech/roll-bars-in-street-cars.html

Scary stuff, I would definitely steer away from them (no pun intended).

I was thinking the same thing and had asked Steve Lawing at SAW about them. He sent me the same link. That convinced me it's a bigger risk to havce one than to not. Way more likely that these cars will be in rear end collisions that in roll overs.

Like Bucky, I talked to Steve at SAS about a rollbar. My inquiry was based on a desire to take the car to a track or to Open Road Racing in Nevada (very cool events). Rollbars are required at such events if you own an open car.

If you're never taking the car to a location or event that'll require a rollbar, the 356 Registery article is right on-- No rollbars in street-only cars.

So, short answer-- NOT with stock speedster (non-headrest style) seats.

But if you might ever consider a little amateur fun at the track someday :
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/520841535QLqWDg

you'll need one to enter.
Ditto for auto-x, and Rally-USA , road rally events etc.

Thanks guys, That clinches it for me

this has been a very interesting thread, for me,, since I was just preparing to design my roll bar. I knew that it would not be easy,, as I have a hard tonneau cover, that I do not want to put holes in. So I was going to try and mount it further forward (against the door jambs), and then brace it back into the rear storage area. I knew it could not be much more than a "show bar",, but that it would also provide a mounting point for a retractable shoulder belt. In order to design the shape of the bar and check for clearances, I purchased some black abs tubing and planned to do a mock-up. After reading the thread,, and the article from the registry,,, I think I will adjust my priorities accordingly !!
thanks,
Alan Maguire

First of all let me say i love the look of "roll bars" only because i have an emotional connection to them. I used to watch speedsters race in SCCA in the 50s and 60s. SCCA required a fully "functional roll bar" before you could put the car on a track. Spectating at SCCA races is what got me to love cars for the last 50 years.

That's got nothing to do with our typically "visual only" bars today. Except the emotion is still there.

I remember in 1964 when my good friend put a SCCA approved roll bar in his street driven car. His car insurance went UP because it was obvious that he "intended to drive the vehicle beyond the accepted limits for a street driven vehicle".

Miata show bar.

forgettaboutit

Uh ... As long as the whole car is built to a standard, I think they're a GREAT idea in the SUV-dominated world we drive in.

Hey , What ever had to "Live Fast , Die Young , and Leave a Beautiful Corpse!"

I sure liked the setup Jim had...