Carbon fibre interior door panels

[chris]

I am considering having a pair of interior door panels made up in carbon fibre for my 97 Cerb.

By my admittedly inaccurate bathroom scales, the standard panels weigh in at around 7kg each, including leather/cloth trim.

Very early expectations suggest that the same panel in Carbon fibre, excluding leather/cloth trim would be only 500g.

Currently, I don't know how much the leather/cloth trim weighs.

The finish of the panel could be in high gloss or satin, and would be to a sufficiently high standard such that, if desired, the panel would not require painting (the panel could be made from a single piece of carbon fibre cloth). Consequently, in addition to the weight saving, it should also look pretty special!

Having a one off set of panels made is very expensive, given the cost of the mould. Does anybody think there would be much interest in buying panels at a cost of around £800 (plus VAT equivalent) for the pair?

If so, I may commission the mould. If anybody is interested, they can drop me an e-mail on [e-mail].

I hope this isn't regarded as a business or advertising post - I'm not in the business of making car parts (or CF components) and am just looking to spread the cost of the mould.

Cheers.

Chris

[johnmckenzie]

Frankly, whats the point. Unless you are going to spend many thousands across the whole car paring off serious weight - like 150 to 200Kg you'll never know the difference in performance. Go on a diet for a month to lose the weight instead. A lot cheaper and the money you save will pay for the next major breakdown you'll have .Or only ever fill the tank half full (7 galls = approx 26Kg saved). Don't carry passengers (worth on average 70Kg or so). As for the look - well, carbon fibre might be OK for the Corsa/Nova/Gti brigade but IMHO, the Cerb (or any TVR) doesn't need any cosmetic rubbish.

Sorry if that all sounds a bit acid but I think you've lost the plot on a TVR

Regards

John

[raceboy]

Agree with John on the weight issue, unless your Cerbera is currently minus rear seats with 2 carbon race buckets up front, no stereo, and no carpets it's a bit of a waste of time.
If you are just after a Carbon look, how about taking the door cards to pieces and replacing the carpet/leather flat bit with flat carbon which will be alot cheeper

[tweety]

I think it sounds like a great idea and would like some for my Chim, purely for the looks, and excuse me if I'm wrong but didn't the early Cerbs come with CF round the rear screen anyway, so only continuing the theme. why not get a CF steering wheel aswell.
cheers Al.

[r2plo]

A few years ago there was a chap in the states who made lots of carbon fibre interior parts for cerbies. Hey Faisal if your listening can you send us a contact address if not over to you Jules.

Phil O

[BCA]

r2plo said: A few years ago there was a chap in the states who made lots of carbon fibre interior parts for cerbies. Hey Faisal if your listening can you send us a contact address if not over to you Jules.

Phil O

I believe he was in England actually?! and the specialist is a friend of Joolz's who made an interior panel for Faisal to help cover up the famous cerbera "lazy arm groove."

[joospeed]

BCA said:

r2plo said: A few years ago there was a chap in the states who made lots of carbon fibre interior parts for cerbies. Hey Faisal if your listening can you send us a contact address if not over to you Jules.

Phil O

I believe he was in England actually?! and the specialist is a friend of Joolz's who made an interior panel for Faisal to help cover up the famous cerbera "lazy arm groove."

It was a painter friend of mine that made the fibreglass panels .. only made two in the end, not a big seller although i thought they looked great
Carbon interior trimming? .. I say go for it .. forget what the john mcenzies of the world tell you, it's your car and if you want to fit CF panels then go for it, you earn your money (I assume) so you've earnt the right to spend it on whatever you so desire.

[chris]

Thanks for your comments. I agree that the weight saving won't make any real world difference in isolation- I just feel the part is unnecessarily overweight and could be done better.

On a similar them, I think that there are a number of components on the Cerbera that could be improved, and if they need replacing anyway, then why not do it. My door panels are pretty scruffy, and have small cracks in them at the top - yes, they could be repaired, but I thought if the price was right I would change them for something better.

I don't see how liking the look of carbon fibre means I have "lost the plot on a TVR". Look at the interior of TVR's new flagship car. I also think that styling is at the core of recent TVR's, interior and exterior, and is what attracts many people to the marque - if it wasn't, we'd all be driving modified Nissan Skylines, or EVO VII's,

John, I'm glad you were sorry that your comments seem acidic, because they did. You should learn to relax more.