ROLLBARS

I think the Miata bar looks the best

I don't like them, or should I be politically correct and say they are not my favourite....so I don't have one.

Politically Correct def:n Tyranny with manners

I had Henry put one in my new IM.  It fits fine with the top up.

I like the looks, and the way it is anchored, should be functional. 

But, I don't want to find out...

Sigh........

That car is so pretty......

I just did a Miata bar and cut 4" from the  middle to center the hoops on the seats , look great, strictly a show bar as it is securely mounted to the fiberglass tub wall.

Bob, your IM frame is made to anchor it and to actually make it work... which you hope to never be a test pilot for proof of concept...  

Alan I think I saw your Miata bar cut on one of your builds ... nicely done. 

have lots of pics will post up when I get back to home base.

Alan Merklin posted:

I just did a Miata bar and cut 4" from the  middle to center the hoops on the seats , look great, strictly a show bar as it is securely mounted to the fiberglass tub wall.

On the Miata forum we call those style bars 'mouse traps'

I have the same bar as Bob and I think it looks fine on a speedster.

Ron ....Thats gettn close! My mock up has a four point mount as well. But the shape that's visible is not quite congruous with the windshield. This is really tough to get something that "flows' with the lines of the car. From one angle it's OK and from another it's not. Currently I have a two hoop mock up and that looks a little better. Maybe I'll try to angle it back a little to match the windshield a little more....Hmmmmm

Bruce

If I was to install a rollbar I would make it in the shape of the windscreen I put in Penny:

So I just had a whole self-righteous rant on how "show bars" are not a good idea and why not do a real roll bar even though it's ugly because roll bars save your life and show bars take them. I erased it after finding this.

Hmmm.

I wish you left your rant up

If I do a bar it's going to be a full cage like the street buggies have. Safety first!

Yeah, Ed....Remember when GM announced that they would no longer be producing convertibles because it was too difficult to make the windshield frame strong enough to support the weight of the car and pass a "roll-over" test?

There you go.

If anyone rolls one of these Speedsters, Cabs or even a replica coupe, they're toast.  It's a 4-wheel motorcycle, after all.

edsnova posted:

So I just had a whole self-righteous rant on how "show bars" are not a good idea and why not do a real roll bar even though it's ugly because roll bars save your life and show bars take them. I erased it after finding this.

 

Hmmm.

But show/style bars are just for that - show/style.  A real, functional roll bar does provide protection, as that site shows.  Any Miata there with a useful roll bar decreased the chance of injury or a fatality.

aircooled posted:

Ron ....Thats gettn close! My mock up has a four point mount as well. But the shape that's visible is not quite congruous with the windshield. This is really tough to get something that "flows' with the lines of the car. From one angle it's OK and from another it's not. Currently I have a two hoop mock up and that looks a little better. Maybe I'll try to angle it back a little to match the windshield a little more....Hmmmmm

Bruce

Bruce - for some visual reference, here are a few pics of AZ SOCer Doug Kingston's car with roll bar installed by Kevin Zagar of CoolRydes (Mendeola suspension) in San Diego. Kevin is also an SOCer.

You don't a bar that's anywhere near that close to your coconut...

The argument about the importance of a roll bar in a convertible has been debated on the Miata forum I still frequent for years.

Bill's comment about having the roll bar too close to the driver/passenger's head is a very important one. In a rear-ender, which happens far more often than a roll-over a driver's head will be snapped backwards and if the roll bar is too close it will make contact with the roll bar.  Padding the bar will help but it's more important to have the bar located as far rearward as possible.

Ron:  I agree.  Padding and spacing is important, but a well braced bar is still paramount.  I had Henry make a pad for my roll bar.