R66

I need input on what you do to protect your car.
I'll start:
I built a bug shield (some call it a cow catcher) for the front of my daily driver (68 RS) out of Lexan and scrap aluminum more than 20 years ago. It bolts on with two of the original bumper bolts. Easy to remove when you get to the show. It saved the front of the 68 when I was passing a semi on the Interstate and he threw a recap. Black mark on the Lexan, but no damage to the grille or front end. It is also nice not to have to clean the bugs out of the egg crate grille and repaint it annually. A bra just didn't fit the 128,000 mile plan. I am designing a less ugly one for the front of the 66.
What ideas do you use to protect, clean, etc. your car?

ricks327

I would think you would have major engine cooling issues.
Just my .02

R66

On each side and at the top of the license plate, it is open and directs flow to the radiator. I also closed off the top of the radiator between the support and the front valance to help control the air. No problems, 180 deg unless we get 95 deg. F and high humidity.

Brian VH McHale

I'd walk before I put something like that on my car. JMHO

Jackfit

I have a screen that fits in front of rad, behind grill. rod at top and bottom keeps it in place. Prevents bugs from entering rad. I just take it out once in a while and hose it off.

Came in handy as I crossed the US and the south...lots of bugs .....at 80 mph.


Jack

DansYellow66

Basically, I stay off Interstates. Here in central Arkansas at the junction of Interstate 30 & 40 it's bumper to bumper semis anyway. I take state roads and highways with less traffic.

I don't follow closely - I stay way back from other traffic the best that I can. That greatly lessens damage to the front end and windshield.

I take my old cars out at times when traffic is not so heavy to avoid all
idiots who think they can read, text, and email at the same time they are driving.

My wife's car, I just bit the bullet and had a 3M film full frontal coverage unit put on it.

Works for me but probably doesn't fit everyone's driving habits.

jkuzzy

I have to say that I have never seen anyone do that to a car.

ACCURATE

:

ChattanoogaJSB

I want to respect that ALL our forum members should enjoy their cars as they please...but it would be impossible for me to enjoy a car that I had to cover with that device. Don't take that the wrong way. I'd much rather clean and paint as needed.

bradc6

That looks ridiculous.

1955 copper

I think EVERY C2 owner only should install one and call it a GM accessory

GTOguy

That is......original. Nothing I would consider doing. I use nothing on any of my cars. My '67 GTO has a few rock chips these days, after me driving it 130,000 miles on public roads, but that's how it goes. No big deal. Driven cars will get a few blemishes. It's a sign of a real car. The worst devices are the black 'car bra' that people clip onto the front of their cars. Not as ugly as the plexiglass plate posted here, but certainly damaging to the vehicle. They remove paint very, very well. Lately, a clear soft plastic coating has been introduced that is almost invisible, and can be peeled off. Something like that would probably work pretty well.

ChattanoogaJSB

Yes GTO, the bra is right up there in ugly terms. If it didn't harm the paint whatsoever I would still find it hard to be happy knowing my car looked so revolting in public...

Reminds me of the clear plastic seat covers you see on many cars of the 50's...no chance I'm "saving" my seats by sliding around on those awful things just so the next owner gets a fresh set.

Mike Terry

second amendment, I carry 2 guns

GTOguy

HAH! Benton, a good friend's grandpa had a mint '57 Olds 88 back in the '70's with those thick, clear plastic seat covers. They were slightly yellowed, but had been installed when the car was new. The car was always garaged, and was two tone 'desert glow'(pink) and white. The car went to the next owner with perfect seats that old grandpa Al had never gotten to enjoy. Another one was a '59 Buick station wagon I saw in a wrecking yard around 1992....totally used up, but it was black with a red interior, and all three rows of seats had the thick clear plastic covers on them, and all three seats were mint as the car was getting ready for the crusher. Ironic. Different strokes for different folks....

davekp78

Wasn't there an episode of The Sopranos where Tony's mother had them on the sofa?

Jackfit

My mother also....... And on our 1956 Buick Century!

biggd

That's right up there with curb feelers! I'm sure many members on here remember them, LOL!

Bluestripe67

With about 125K miles of all kinds of highway driving since my '67 was last painted, it has 4-5 stone chips. Nothing on my front end but paint and a few bug splatters.

I guess you see we are up front about things. Dennis

GTOguy

I got it: a 4'x8" sheet of plywood, with a frontal mural of the car painted on it. You could cut the windshield out and install plexiglass in its place.....and, if you used thick enough plywood, you could plow snow in the winter and make some extra coin! And the car would have NO rock chips up front!