T- Bird Bra

[camadsen_1]

Can any members that have experience (own) a front end bra please share comments good / bad or otherwise as to fitment etc? I'm going to try to get one custom made without the license bracket & running light provisions. 'Wondering which brand might be a good starting point, & the down side to any of them. Thanks in advance! - Craig

[BirdsAndBugs]

I would never buy one again. Years ago I had a 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle for my daily driver. My wife ordered a bra for the car. I put it on and left it there. Over time, the exposed paint became lighter than the paint under the bra so it was like you had a "tan line" on your car.

If you buy one, use it for highway road trips only is my advice.

[wcoates]

If you buy one, use it for highway road trips only is my advice.

Craig, I couldn't agree with Greg more. Years ago I put a leather type bra on an '85 Corvette that developed the "tan " lines that Greg described. The recently purchased Volvo convertible had the clear film on it's nose. It also had tan lines worse than the Vette. (Taking for a buff job, hoping for the best.) The plastic was a horrible pain taking it off.

For long trips I'm sure it saves the paint but after the trip it would have to come off IMHO. Good luck.

Wonder if BacktothefuturePete who is doing tonneaus and visor and headrest covers could be convinced to take this on.

[007Cruiser]

I agree with Greg. No bra is the best option. Do you drive on many unpaved or gravel roads? Things can get between the car and bra and do damage as well.

[007161947]

Go to CARID.COM at the top of the page enter your year, make and model, when the next page comes up click on exterior and then car bra.When you get to that page scroll down to the third listing for the Colgan vinyl original bra. Colgan makes a very nice product and it will be made to your exact specs, make sure you let them know about no fog lamps and no front license plate. While you are on that page scroll down to the last item, the matching custom outside mirror covers. Hope that helps and happy shopping. Earl

[BLACK BEAUTY]

sold mine for $75 and threw in a car cover

[Gobird]

I can't agree with anything said above. Ours isn't an every driver any longer but when it does come out of the garage it's for a 10,000 to 15,000 mile road trip and I wouldn't leave home with out the bra on the car. Yes, I hate the looks of it but it has saved many a stone chip on the front end. When the trip is over the bra comes off the car.

I have the stock Ford Bra.

[Frank Dreano]

You can't have them flapping around or ill-fitting, you can't leave them on after they're wet and long term use is prob not a good idea...
And the car finish has to be scrupulously cleaned before installing the bra. The bra backing must also be surgically clean.

If you follow this advice you'll have no issues...

I ran one off and on regularly for a decade on this car without a single issue... DSC01128.jpg

[camadsen_1]

Wow! - All helpful information. I'm just wanting to protect the nose on those long highway trips. Hadn't intended to leave it on for any length of time. I just re-did the nose & I'm not wanting to get it screwed up right away from all the highway debris. I had noticed one on ebay -carcover.com/ guy out of Oklahoma, company says they may do a custom. (they elude to that anyway, I haven't heard back). Also noticed Lebra makes one that looks like it might be easily modified, but I'd rather have one built to fit. Perhaps I can bend Spence's ear as far as fitment of his Ford bra. Pretty sure that's unavailable at this point though. I'll check out the Colgan one on Carid. Keep those cards & letters comin' in folks!

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Craig my man...one critical area is how it attaches around the wheel wells. Mine had velcro and bendable metal...also had the mirror covers

[Frank Dreano]

Here is the one I bought, full disclosure - I haven't installed it yet but the instructions indicate to me that it is a quality piece and will serve its purpose nicely:

Capture.PNG

[2K2BIRD]

Colgan is the only aftermarket one I'd consider. It's definitely a case of "you get what you pay for".

[camadsen_1]

Well that's two votes for the "Colgan". I went to the carid site yesterday & checked them out. It seems to be a very well put together piece. They had a "chat" feature but no one was available so I may try during the week when people are working. I'm also going to search & see if I can go direct - (Colgan.com?) because I'm not sure if I can get what I need through carid. The description said with or without fog lights - well I know what that means, it's the same piece. I may be reduced to buying one and having someone modify it for me (not my preference). Mike has offered to email me the install info on his Ford one, so looking forward to that information too. I'd be interested in seeing a picture of Frank's if he gets it installed soon. Thank you everyone for the input! the more the merrier!

[camadsen_1]

I did get a reply back from the ebay "covercraft" people in Oklahoma. The reply was "it only comes as pictured" (more or less) 'Not sure if it was a Colgan I was looking at but I'm pretty certain they didn't bother to contact the company direct, as it's the weekend. I replied & asked them if they would. It appears my definition of "custom" & theirs, differ. On a different note, the Lebra unit has No provision for the front plate (+) and it looks to be the easiest to modify where the aux lights are. One would only have to cover up the bottom half of the openings, or could be used as is. I'd be interested to hear from someone that actually has run the Lebra brand on their car. Are these the only two players in the bra field? Colgan & Lebra? (besides Ford - which was probably made by Colgan)

[007Cruiser]

There’s always Playtex.