Roll Bar for MX5

[wedge girl]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a roll bar for a Mk1 MX5?

Any ideas if this is likely to put my insurance premiums up?

Cheers

G

[Benjc]

Now the real question is, do you want a style bar or a roll bar.....

A roll bar will involve cutting sheet metal and will cost anywhere from 350-600 quid fitted, and may effect your premium, where as a style bar can cost as little as 150 quid and you can fit it yourself.

It really is a grey area as to whether style bars offer any form of protection, and at what point does a style bar become a proper roll bar......but anyway....thats a different topic.

Try: www.performance5.com for harddog roll bars. My personal fave. Safty devices also do one, and I think Moss are the supliers.

Do a google search on "crashed miata + harddog" for some eye-opening pictures

Here is mine:



Have a rummage on the mx5oc forum for more ideas

HTH

Benny

[FrenchTVR]

Speedster twin hoop

is £443 from
Safety Devices 01353 724202.

Available in Powder coated finish (Black), Painted Silver or bare finish for chroming.
They also do a full race cage with door bars etc which breaks down as
£180 Front Cage
£300 Rear Cage inc Diagonal
££51 each Door bars.


Hope this helps

[mxdi]

Got my MX5parts.co.uk catalogue today.

V Shape Style Bar £169.95
M Shape Style bar £149
U Shape Roll Bar £349
V Shape Roll bar £349

Not sure how the roll bars measure up with regards to safety etc.
Hope it helps

[benjc]

Here are two MX-5' having rolled with "proper" roll bars:





Here is one without:



Now, personally I have a roll bar because I take my car on track, and all it takes is for me to get it a bit wrong and the car to dig in and I'm over.....but on the public highways.....is there a need for a full roll bar? You decide....

I would also add that all the drivers of those cars above escaped unharmed from their incidents.

Bars on a 5 do look cool though

[wedge girl]

Thanks everyone, I like the look of the style bars but not sure they offer much protection.

Bought the car inorder to do a few track days so I guess it should be a full roll bar that I fit, any idea how much is involved in this?

[Benjc]

The Harddog bars bolts into the chassis at 6 points. Seatbelt tower, chassis behind the seats, and through the rear deck and into the chassis at the wheel arch.

I am not sure about the Safety Devices bar, but I think that bolts into the rear deck and the seatbelt towers.

It should take a mechanic who knows what they are doing about 4 hours. There are lots of specialist "5 tweekers" in the South though.

An advantage is the fact that a bar will stiffen the chassis, a downside is the extra weight.

Another route is to get one custom made. A bit of research on the net should turn up a couple of companies that would be happy to chat with you.


>> Edited by Benjc on Thursday 18th November 09:37

[cptsideways]

Mail me I know a chap selling a rare Mazda spec roll bar off of an import from the rare M2 model, bolts straight in & does not effect the seat positioning. It'd be cheapish too about £100

[wedge girl]

cptsideways said:

Mail me I know a chap selling a rare Mazda spec roll bar off of an import from the rare M2 model, bolts straight in & does not effect the seat positioning. It'd be cheapish too about £100

YHM

[GregE240]

Talking of '5s, I went an visited one of my best friends today. He has had a MK1 for ages and has spent a load of money on it over the years.

Currently it is a 1.6 1991 vintage with 136K on the clock. However, it has an AVO turbocharger installed and is currently pushing out nigh on 240hp.

The only thing I can compare it to in terms of sheer visceral experience is Deretrictors 911 Turbo.

This thing flew. The power from 4000rpm was incredible.

An amazing car.

[tuttle]

Good one!from a 1.6 engine! that turbo/boost must be screwed down pretty tight IMO mx5 is one of those cars that should have been built with more power from the start.

[Benjc]

240 from an Avo is pretty good....what ecu was it running?

[flat_steve]

If you're only after a cosmetic one and aren't planning to roll your '5 (who does!?) SFT (Shing Fung Trading) sell a nice one for just £110 + £19.25 vat.



www.sftmx5parts.co.uk/accessories.htm