Taking stock: condition of the permanent aeromods on the Metro/Firefly, years later

[backpacker3]

That stinks about the kammback it looked really nice. If you did want to redo it though maybe you could build a frame out of metal strips that would be thick enough to support the full weight of the kammback even at highway speeds. Maybe 1/4 steel strips? That way the fiberglass wouldn't deform over time as much.

The wheels covers don't look half bad though only loosing one part in 7 years is pretty good.

[MetroMPG]

The Kammback is no more.

It looks like an animal climbed on and busted it -- all the side attachment points ripped off. Granted, it was already structurally compromised.

In a way, its demise puts me in esteemed company. When I saw it, I immediately thought about Phil's story of the goat busting the beautiful sailboat hull aero shell on his pickup!

So there's our data point for expected lifespan of a cardboard-core fiberglass Kammback (including additional reinforcements/repairs): about 9 years.

It did not die in vain though: I ripped the outer fiberglass skin off the carcass to use as a template for the Firefly's winter stunt-double.

[Daox]

Nooo...

On the other hand was it REALLY 9 years ago?!? Holy cow...

[BamZipPow]

[MetroMPG]

I should calculate how much fuel it saved before it expired.

I would if I weren't so lazy. Anyway, it's probably not that much in reality since I've only driven the Flea about 4k km/yr in the past decade. (~2.5k mi/yr)