Carbon Fibre bonnets

[maser_spyder]

Hi All,

Just a quick one.

Has anybody ever thought about a full carbon fibre bonnet for your car? If so, what would you pay for one?

Just something abstract that's come up from another venture I'm involved in.

Any other CF parts you would buy at the right price? Spoilers, etc.

Cheers!

[mk1salami]

The standard 5's bonnet is extremely lightweight to start with, so any weight savings would be negligable. When I had the turbo'd 5 I would have went for a vented one to extract heat from the radiator (at the right price)

[maz8062]

CF bonnets would sell as would boot lids and a complete hardtop. As mentioned, the stock bonnet is lightweight so not much to save in weight terms even though a FRP bonnet is much lighter than stock.

Trying to make it financially viable will be the challenge.

[maser_spyder]

Cheers chaps.

Carbon Fibre hard tops I hadn't thought of, but that's worth checking out, yes?

What would you pay for a CF bonnet?

[mk1salami]

<£300

Flyin' Miata make this and would be a good base to replicate:

Edited by mk1salami on Thursday 18th March 16:04

[mk1salami]

For more info on that bonnet:

http://www.flyinmiata.com/projects/CF_hood.asp

[maser_spyder]

mk1salami said:

For more info on that bonnet:

http://www.flyinmiata.com/projects/CF_hood.asp

Cheers for that.

I notice their price is around £400 (and the USA is pretty cheap for stuff like this), is that a feasible price?

Or looking for much lower?

[maz8062]

The last vented CF bonnet sold for about £350.

FM ones would be £500+

Garage Vary - £££'s

You'd have to get the science right with a vented bonnet as low and high pressure air is invloved and it can be complicated. If you can crack it you'll make good money especially for those running FI.

I think if you can source Mk1 boot lids for under £200 there would be strng interest.

Hardtops wouldn't be viable IMO as you wouldn't get much change out of £1k and I'm not sure there's the interest.

[maser_spyder]

maz8062 said:

The last vented CF bonnet sold for about £350.

FM ones would be £500+

Garage Vary - £££'s

You'd have to get the science right with a vented bonnet as low and high pressure air is invloved and it can be complicated. If you can crack it you'll make good money especially for those running FI.

I think if you can source Mk1 boot lids for under £200 there would be strng interest.

Hardtops wouldn't be viable IMO as you wouldn't get much change out of £1k and I'm not sure there's the interest.

No interest in carbon fibre hard tops? I thought that would be quite a good seller?

[Gad-Westy]

I'd be tempted if only because the standard bonnet dents so bloody easily. £300-£400 sounds like the right sort of ballpark for my pocket but sounds quite cheap compared to some c/f stuff.

[maz8062]

maser_spyder said:

maz8062 said:

The last vented CF bonnet sold for about £350.

FM ones would be £500+

Garage Vary - £££'s

You'd have to get the science right with a vented bonnet as low and high pressure air is invloved and it can be complicated. If you can crack it you'll make good money especially for those running FI.

I think if you can source Mk1 boot lids for under £200 there would be strng interest.

Hardtops wouldn't be viable IMO as you wouldn't get much change out of £1k and I'm not sure there's the interest.

No interest in carbon fibre hard tops? I thought that would be quite a good seller?

I had one on my last 5 and loved it, but the guy I bought it off was trying to sell them on the cheap. I bought mine, damaged, for about £400. The guy started off selling them for £800 and sold some I believe, In the end he was selling them for £500 or so.

In the US they retail at well of $1k, I'm just not sure UK punters would spend the money - most love the top down experience so view a pricey top as extravagant. I didn't, I loved it.

The weave itself was good but the fittings left a lot to be desired. You can source the interior clips no problem, but the rear catches will be very difficult to replicate.

If you can do one for circa £500 you'll sell lots - therein lies the challenge.

[mk1salami]

Also if you're going to do a bootlid, please do one with a ducktail spoiler similar to Axis racing one.

[Herman Toothrot]

No point in a CF bonnet as the stock lid is aluminium. The boot lid is steel so lightweight ones would sell.

[maser_spyder]

Thanks for the input so far guys.

I already have two MX-5s, so I know how light the stock bonnet is. My query was more to see if there was a potential market for a Carbon version.

I'll take a look at bootlids to see if it's feasible.

Thanks!

[Combover]

I'd take a bootlid at the right price.