My car is too nice to drive, but am going to do it any how. Been thinking about a bra. I've only found one manufacturer (Wardlow in CA.). Sure don't want to chew up my nice paint job. Thanks in advance for your usual quality responses.
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Re: Bra for '57
I think you would be better off without it. Everything I have heard about these things is they cause more problems than they solve. -
Re: Bra for '57
Bob,
I've never used a bra on a Corvette I've owned but have used several on various Porsches. The brand I've always use is Colgan. I don't know if they make one for a 57 Corvette but I'm sure you can find out. I personally have not had any bad experiences. The Colgans fit the cars well and do save the car from road damage in the areas protected. The key is to have one that fits well and to keep it clean where it contacts the body and making sure the car is clean and dust free before putting it on. On a dark colored car you may get minor paint scuffing where the taps attach to the car that I've always been able to polish out. I've found that using 3M electrical tape applied to the body so that the tabs don't have a chance to rub the paint has eliminated that problem. If using the bra would let you enjoy driving your car more I certainly would give it a try.Comment
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Re: Bra for '57
I definately wouldn't put one on my car. Damn thing cut three holes in the paint of the front valance of my '85 during a x-country trip in '87. Pissed me off real good! If you want my advice, leave the bras to the women, just keep away from trucks, and wash off the bug juice ASAP.
JoeComment
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Re: Bra for '57
good fitting bras on cars like on women help the appearance and i have used a GM bra on my C-5s since 1997 for road trips with no marks or damage to the paint. the tighter the fit the less problems,that sounds like women also, so i would check with owners who have used a bra on their 57s.Comment
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Re: Bra for '57
Bob,
I drive my 57 topless, or at least bra-less. I drove it to Nashville for the 50th celebration for a total of 1600 miles. I did get a rock chip along with the bugs but that is a danger I will accept.
I wouldn't dream of covering my 57, I like the way it looks.
Drive and enjoy it as is.
VerleComment
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Victoria's Secret ?
Clem,
Are you suggesting Victoria's Secret could make the best bras for our cars ?Comment
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Re: Bra for '57
I've seen some new vehicles with a clear thick film on the hood and mirrors to protect from chips. I wonder if you could somehow get some of that film to contour to the curves of a 57.Comment
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Re: Bra for '57
It's called Urethane clearcoat...kinda hard to take off thought.
Seriously, I have not seen anything like that for a C1. If available I would consider it.
VerleComment
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Re: Bra for '57
3M makes the clear protective coverings. I would get a professional installer to put it on.Comment
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Re: Bra for '57
Bob-----
I do not recommend or use front end "bras" for anything except long road trips where the car will be exposed to a lot of road chip damage. Even then, one has to be careful to follow the recommendsations provided by other responders (i.e. make sure the car is clean, the bra is tight, and that the attaching "straps" don't rub the paint. The tape method described works well to prevent this sort of problem.
NEVER, EVER install a bra on a car that is wet. Also, if it rains while the bra is on, immediately stop and remove it (even if you get wet). Water which gets under the bra and then is subject to heating when the sun comes out will destroy the paint. I've seen several cases where bras caused massive paint damage under these circumstances. NEVER, EVER leave a bra on a car as a matter of routine---just for the long road trip portion of the car's use. Remove it immediately when you get where your going and re-install, if necessary, for the return trip.
This is the policy that I've used for about 25 years and it's served me well.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Bra for '57
Just drive it and don't worry about it; once you get past the trauma of the first stone chip, you'll be fine. That's what touch-up paint is for
Driving and enjoying them seems to be going out of style; we had 128 cars for Flight Judging and 34 Bowtie candidates at Hershey, and there were 113 trailers in the trailer parking area.Comment
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Re: Bra for '57
John-----
Not with me. My cars will never see a trailer. No matter how much I feel like protecting them, as a matter of principle, I won't go that far. Cars are made to drive and Corvettes are, especially, made to drive.
In a sense, though, the trailered, cloistered cars do serve an important purpose. They will likely ensure that some "members of the breed" survive the ages in pristine condition. They are the future pristine museum pieces for future generations.
Someday, I hope that my cars become museum pieces, too. However, if so, they'll be museum pieces exemplary of a DRIVEN Corvette. Well maintained, driven Corvettes achieve a certain very individualized "character" that renders each one quite unique. One often wonders what roads they have travelled and what they have seen? With fully restored and cloistered cars, the history and individual character are usually "erased" as the car is, essentially, "0-timed" and brought back to the day of its birth. As I say, that's not all bad, though; we should be so lucky.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Bra for '57
I have never used a bra on my '57 but I bought one for my '86 when I first purchased the car. They are more trouble than they are worth, I believe, because of the reasons already given (loose fit, moisture). The paint can easily be damaged. I sold mine at a swap meet and never considered getting
another for the other Corvettes. Just drive it and enjoy it.Comment
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Victorias Secret
Yes, but it requires two cars.Comment
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