Creating a bubble top for a kit car, legal? and my aero car design.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Arashi

I know Plexiglass can be used for track cars, but not for the road.

It can be used in over-the-road vehicles too. It's used in armored vehicles such as cash-transit vans, and widely used by the aerospacial industry. Nearly every aircraft has plexiglass all-around.

[War_Wagon]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

It can be used in over-the-road vehicles too. It's used in armored vehicles such as cash-transit vans, and widely used by the aerospacial industry. Nearly every aircraft has plexiglass all-around.

I think the problem is if you use it for the windshield. Safety glass is made so it shatters into small pieces, so if you go through it it doesn't cut your head off on a giant shard. For motorcycles it gets a pass as the idea is you either go over it, or it snaps off the bike. Some of the fast street cars around here used to run it for the windshield to save weight, but that was reeeeally illegal. Like I said, I don't know about the legality of side or rear windows on passenger cars, I think it probably depends on where you are.

[aerohead]

I'm pretty sure that tooling for glass must be metal with a class-1 finish. Windshield tooling alone for the Lola GTP car was $29,000.
You can imagine an entire roof.
You'd want to do a gold vapor deposition surface to control solar insolation,like NASA space helmets.
A company in California can do it for you.Metal Crafters is the company I believe.They do all-metal concept cars and have their own ovens for producing compound-curve laminated safety glass.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by War_Wagon

I think the problem is if you use it for the windshield. Safety glass is made so it shatters into small pieces, so if you go through it it doesn't cut your head off on a giant shard. For motorcycles it gets a pass as the idea is you either go over it, or it snaps off the bike. Some of the fast street cars around here used to run it for the windshield to save weight, but that was reeeeally illegal. Like I said, I don't know about the legality of side or rear windows on passenger cars, I think it probably depends on where you are.

The pressure to break a plexiglass windshield is far greater than for a regular laminated windscreen. Also, the same plastic film used to retain shatters can also be applied to them.

[Sven7]

Just find a DOT windshield and build around that. It'll be cheaper and easier in the long run.

Also, don't take this personally, but you might want to think about giving that roof more crown. I know you're trying to make it fit the template but it'll look pretty flat in real life. (I'm a sculptor for GM)

[kurt]

A polycarbonate roof would be much cheaper and easier, but first you have to deal with the windshield issue. I had and have a similar dilemma for my kit car. It's a Blackjack Zero. The original windshield was a snap on polycarbinate piece. It worked quite well even though it sounds cheesy. Unfortunately there is no way to attach a roof to it. I wanted more wind protection and a roof to save me from the strong sun in Southern California. I solved the windshield issue by finding the closest match that can be easily obtained then cut down the glass and frame to fit my car. It was pretty involved fitting it and making additional parts to mount it. My total cost was $1,300. I do my own work. I researched for 2 years then made it happen in 2 months. I'm very happy with the results, but it was rather labor intensive. I next need to make a "T" top and polycarbonate roof panels. My guess is that it will be another 2 years to do that. I'm very picky. You can see my work on Facebook. I maintain a site for Blackjack Zero. There is a short article and over 100 pictures of the windshield project.

[thewindkeeper]

I would say don't give up on it if its only a dream. why compromise on that? I too wish to build a bubble top compound shape top. I would challenge someone to post actual regulations wasnt able to find more than "It must retain at least 2 of its mounting points during a crash." found this on the nhtsa dot gov website. I cant post until my post count goes up. I just had to since your project has such similar elements to mine.


Please post again if you find any news about it. personally, I was just going to do lamination with a few special tricks baked in and have the exterior coated and the interior coated. also what modeling software are you using to draw your meshes?

[freebeard]

I see you visited the OP's Profile page. Did you notice this?

Arashi
EcoModding Lurker
Last Activity: 06-27-2013 05:07 PM

What do you want a bubble top for? The spirit of Ed Roth lives on?

The most practical bubble top I can think of is the...

...whatever thing that is. Tineye says it's the MV Agusta.

Think about a jet aircraft. Plexi bubble with a bullet-proof section at the front.

Oh, and this:


Paris France 1941!


It stll exists

[ecomodded]

With heat and vacuum you can make the bubble of your dreams.

If the bubble was placed over a convertible I bet it would not need to be inspected.
( although , I have lost bets before)

[Xist]