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Re: Le Mans-style fiberglass bonnets; was ADU4B Pictures

To: Marcus Schaper <schaper@pop.wam.umd.edu>
Subject: Re: Le Mans-style fiberglass bonnets; was ADU4B Pictures
From: Susan Hensley <susan@bearcom.com>
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 10:01:45 -0600
I have a fiberglass bonnet and deck lid for Tristan (my race Spit) and
they fit well and don't budge while driving.  The bonnet has two pins in
the front (instead of the hinges) and two dzus fasteners where the
bonnet latches would be, so it's held down even less than the original
metal one.  It looks good, fits well, and I can take it off and move it
around easily by myself.

It is made in NJ -- if anyone is interested I will get the company info
off of it and post it.  I have no idea if they are still in business, or
how much these pieces had cost (they came with the car).

Keep Triumphing,
Susan Hensley   :)

Marcus Schaper wrote:
> 
> > > I have heard that fiberglass bonnets are available but only in Europe.
> > > This would mean that shipping them to the US would likely be quite dear.
> >
> > Over the years, there have been any number of "Le Mans style" bonnets
> > available in fiberglass from both the US and the UK. Some of those in
> > years past (and current?) were either rather poorly made or only vaguely
> > similar in shape to the "original"!
> 
> >From my own experience with fiberglass bonnets I would discourage
> anyone from switching to one. I bought a MKIV in Britain that had
> fiberglass rear side panels and a fiberglass bonnet (original
> shape not a Les Mans styled one) . At about 80 mph the bonnet would
> start shake and even one of the latches got unlocked by itself on a
> French interstate.
> Adjustment of the bonnet latches helped a little but did not solve
> the problem. It seems to me that the fiberglass ones are just too
> light to stay in place. They might be fine for racing if you use
> extra bonnet latches but I certainly would not recommend them for
> daily use.
> If anyone wants my fiberglass bonnet and can arrange shipping from
> Germany I am glad to trade it for decent metal bonnet (Spit MKIV or
> GT6 MKIII)
> 
> Marcus

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