Bonnet Bras

[hoshy]

I don't understand them.. I've never seen one for real - are they plastic?

what's the point? I mean,, even if they're just a styling aid what is the rationality behind them?

Side skirts, big spoilers, lowering etc I can see - they're all styling based around race/rally designs. But I can't figure this bonnet bra thing out...

[oakey]

I would like one put purely for stonechip protection. But I would need one to cover the whole front including the skirt. The mtech1 front skirts dont stay looking good for long as they get severely battered with stones. This is why I'd like one.

[hoshy]

So is stone chip protection the main reason??

One I saw in a pic recently looked to be made from some kind of cloth like material...

[oakey]

Styling wise I suppose its like a roofrack with a surfboard on an old Bug. A "retro thing". You see bras on alot of the old veedubs at shows

[MarkF]

I believe they are made of leather? They were originally used on mint condition show cars to top stone chips but i have seen 2 recently... One on a badly modified Honda Prelude and one on a new shape VW Beetle with nothing less than steel wheels and Halfrauds add ons??? IMO they look terrible, so much so that the ones ive seen i wanted to rip off!!! They are extremely gay and must be avoided at all costs!

[oakey]

So is stone chip protection the main reason??

One I saw in a pic recently looked to be made from some kind of cloth like material...

Yes that is their reason for being. But they have also for some reason become a styling accessory.

I think it looks like youve driven into a bin liner

They are usually made from leather or vinyl

[AlexBaur325]

Sound like rust traps to me...get some nice salty water behind there.....yum yum

[GrindCulture]

I wanna get one to cover the rust on the front of my bonnet...






















Nah I don't they're gay as hell.

[hoshy]

Cheers guys...

Just to make clear I most certainly don't want, or like, them. I was just interested in what the fuss is about

[Morat]

I think they're most popular in desert countries/states where they stop the front of your car getting sandblasted on a windy day.

[j3nks79]

Are gay!

[hennabm]

I have one for use on my 323 when going to shows etc. They are primarily designed to protect against stones and bugs. They can chafe the paint if not fitted correctly and if left on a damp car can cause fading of the paint.

I put mine on for the shortest possible time and use masking tape to cover the paint where the edges of the bra fit. I've had mine some 14 yars now.

They are made of vinyl on the outside and velour type material on the inside.

[bilun777]

I have one for use on my 323 when going to shows etc. They are primarily designed to protect against stones and bugs. They can chafe the paint if not fitted correctly and if left on a damp car can cause fading of the paint.

I put mine on for the shortest possible time and use masking tape to cover the paint where the edges of the bra fit. I've had mine some 14 yars now.

They are made of vinyl on the outside and velour type material on the inside.





You see a lot in the USA.I think the two small aero spoilers on the trailing edge either side of the bonnet centreline are to help keep bugs from splatting all over the windscreen

[Dipesh]

I love that 323! Do you have any more pics??

[hennabm]

Loads more pics - I've had the car 21 years!
here's one from Harewood House last year.



The triangular parts on the trailing edges are to keep the edge from flapping too much. A mate in Canada with one inserted a cuple of wooden dowels to stop the flap. I haven't needed to. And yes the bra does stay on above 55mph. I've had my bra doing over 100mph (with it on the car)

[Dipesh]

Looks lovley. I'm a big chrome bumper fan!

[MarkF]

The 323 looks superb and i can fully understand using a 'car bra' for this purpose! But as for a modification or enhancement... A definate no no!!!

[mrLEE30]

henna bm thats a stunner - get it in car of the month ASAP!!

and yes car bras are used quite a lot out here, driving through a windy desert kill the front of a car in a few hours, when i used to do long distance in Saudi (Jeep Cherokee) my headlights were useless, and my suspension was polished silver aluminium. the bumper i would have repainted black once a week or so!!

Now days there are garages that spray a load of gunk on the front of your car, its water based so comes off easily but protects for the jounrney

but to leave them on as a style statement

mrlee

[march109]

henna bm thats a stunner - get it in car of the month ASAP!!

and yes car bras are used quite a lot out here, driving through a windy desert kill the front of a car in a few hours, when i used to do long distance in Saudi (Jeep Cherokee) my headlights were useless, and my suspension was polished silver aluminium. the bumper i would have repainted black once a week or so!!

Now days there are garages that spray a load of gunk on the front of your car, its water based so comes off easily but protects for the jounrney

but to leave them on as a style statement

mrlee

The only style statement a bonnet bra could make is surely that you have none!

[toby]

yuk - they look like vinyl condoms

you can get clear self adhesive film to protect against stone chips - wonder if it's any good

[jokipea]

toby,
I think the clear plastic film you are talking about is called Armorfend. I've seen it on a few cars to protect them from stone damage.

[hennabm]

yuk - they look like vinyl condoms

you can get clear self adhesive film to protect against stone chips - wonder if it's any good

There is also the 3M version of paintguard. It is not as invisible as they claim and is permanent. At least a bra can be taken off. (the only one I get to do nowadays!)