Hey guys & gals, just a follow up from a recent thread, I made some inquiries into getting fibreglass GX bonnets made. It can be done. Theres a guy that will make copies of my spare bonnet with out damaging it.

He reckons the cost will be about $550.00ea.

If your keen for one of these, post up here and I'll get some numbers together and see what he can do for us.

Cheers. Adam.

Would engine heat damge the fibreglass over time? It would have to be top quality for 550 when you can get an orignal for that but that said i am ever so slightly interested

I'm assuming that the heat wouldn't be a factor as racing cars etc use fibreglass all the time, as for price.... I suppose if theres 10 people that want bonnets and only 3 originals on the market i suppose that fibreglass is an option.

Cheers. Adam.

I'd certainly be interested. As long as someone's willing to post it over to me, I'm willing to pay the price. Keep us informed. :)

Fiberglass should be fine. remeber that street production Corvettes have a fiberglass body.

Reinforced fiberglass is very strong.

The only downfall I know of with fibreglass, is that it can blister once it is painted if it is humid of damp when it is getting painted. I say this because the corvette that my dad and I have, had the nose cone repaired and the panel shop resprayed both guards, bonnet and the nose cone, and after about two months it had blistered dramatically (about 40-50mm in diameter) on only those panels. And it was painted in humid conditions and aparently the moisture stays in the body and once it is sealed with paint, it cant escape.

my ute came from japan with a fibreglass gx bonnet, had no problems with painting it if done properly.

ps. they are not much lighter than original

not to mention in an accident they don't crumple like steel bonnets... they shatter...

so if I could build an old car like a '41 willys (US bodied) coupe I'd be tracking down a STEEL body... oringinal or repro I don't care.. just NOT fibreglass...

Quote:

depends if you want/need bonnet hinges...

Anybody else interested?

It is a great way to make it happen. Numbers brings the cost down and makes for better production, less flaws.
I think it is a great idea, and plenty of 1200 cars in Aussie lands.