I actually sent an email about carbon bonnets to Alpha composites yesterday. They would produce one if they had 5 definites to buy with prices as mentioned in the group buy thread. So if anyone is genuinely interested from a top quality manufacturer of carbon fibre then tell me and I will sort it out.

I,m intrested in a carbon bonnet

JohnS - did you see the prices that they gave me? (as above)

They seem up and down cos the said only £550 for a c/f one - same price a a new steel one! They went as low as £275 for a GRP one too

Maybe I should be explicit.

Who wants a carbon fibre or GRP bonnet and is willing to outlay the cost of one? Rough prices I got are probably the same -

presumably the cf ones can also be obtained with the carbon exposed for a bit more.

I reckon that £275 for a GRP would be well worth a go and if we can't do anything with our Polish counterparts which i can't really see logistically, especially if at that price i'd probably just go with Alpha.

What is the build time on these? I'm not desperate and they would take a while to get made but i reckon they would want paying up front or at least something.

So yes i want one if it's cheaper than what we can do via Mariusz.

So is the carbon not exposed on a carbon bonnet?

Grant.. PM sent

I will make fibreglas bonnets.. I need about 3 weeks for first, and if all will be perfect.. I will put pictures here..

And what sort of prices are we looking at mate?

most carbon bonnets are laquered up quite heavily but you can get bare carbon fibre which is the exposed type.or you can get it painted but usually it has to be prepped at the manufactur stage to paint up really well

Well up for one of these one way or another my pref would be, in order:

1.Carbon Fibre - Exposed Weave @ £550
2.GRP ready to paint @ £275
3.Carbon Fibre - ready to paint

Want that one!

Depending on quality, count me in too.

me too.

Dunno which one yet mind, don't know if i'd want carbon if it's painted, cos then no-one will will know its carbon!, GRP for me maybe, dunno if bare carbon would suit a yellow coop, would look lovely on a silver one IMO

Do you know the differance between 1 and 3. both will be in a smooth clear gel

My concern would be that if GRP, the finished article will be slightly smaller than an original bonnet. You may end up with the side doors sticking out further than the bonnet itself! Bad for aesthetics...and wind noise.

well you aint gonna get a group buy together if you all want a different material/finish!!!!!

It will be the same size as the original one if the mould is left to do its thing over a week or so (kept on the original bonnet to pervent shrinkage)

Also i car't see a problem with a group buy. for carbon or grp you will use the same mould so it make no differance how it is made. as long as the mould is top notch

trust me,they will want to make a seperate mould for carbon fibre and grp!

why do you need a different mould for 2 different materials? I thought a mould would be okay for anything. It is shrinkage and stuff?

If there was enough interest and i could get an LPG van or an old transit that i could use on veg oil then i wouldnt mind taking up the trip for 10 people.

Does Mariusz not make them at all or tried yet?

Sorry missed your post Mariusz Let me know if you want the help

Like I say mate, definately interested, just got decide on carbon / grp or whatever becomes available.

There is no need for a seperate mould at all like i said if the mould is upto a high polish its good for both. both are waxed and made the same etc .

Ps im up for one as i can't be botherd makeing a mould lol plus i dont have the time i will have a think??

Like i said if i can get a van or something from someone either LPG or veggie and the fuel and crossing covered i dont mind doing the trip, maybe even pay a bit towards it to cover the mini holiday i would have and take mrs pleb and mini pleb with me lol

Hello mate.. First I want to make bonnet, and if everythink will be OK, I will let you know.. This is not easy product.. I have to make a project of metal fixings for hinges, lock, bonnet dampers, light fixings.. etc. I want to make standard and Maranello bonnets..

I think, you have very good offer in UK.. Fibreglass bonnet in Germany costs about 560 GBP.. so you will check quality before order..

So there are potentially two or more suppliers for this type of bonnet.
I think there is a conflict of interest here. Traders should not be discussing commercial solutions interspursed with us enthusiasts trying to organise a group buy. It puts us in a compromised position over our choice of supplier (and it should be our choice). I appreciate Mariusz' goodwill but it does not leave a level playing field for other suppliers such as Alpha Composites or any other contacts we might collectively have to put in a competitive offer based on interest.
Sorry to get on my high horse but IMHO this forum does not adequately manage the difference between trader-organised purchases or group buys (for profit) and enthusiast organised group buys (for greater good of the forum members and fiat coupe owners).
Please could the moderators advise as to what to do.

John

I will keep a keen eye on your progress Mariusz! How about rally and race style bonnet clamps? (Sorry to many ideas)

Hmm, a tricky one JohnS. Lets see what the mods say.

I see what your saying John but its still you guys 'the forum members' that make the decision on what bonnet to go for.
If Mariusz produces a bonnet then as far as I can see thats just one option that you have, no one is obliged to buy that one, having some competition between several companies only makes for better options and maybe better price for us.

The idea of a carbon or composite bonnet has been knocked around on here for quite some years, its good to see things actually moving forward now

John, are you in contact with Alpha composites ? Are they willing to make a compsite bonnet for the coupe now ?

I don't mind paying a bit more for something that is:

Perfect and very little prep needed for painting.
Matches the shut lines perfectly.
Safe, will not crack and flex so much that at speed, the catch doesn't lift causing the bonnet to fly up.
Rigid, I don't want my headlights shaking all over the place at night.

As for the struts... just use old knackered ones, they should be fine for a lighter bonnet.