Since I've gotten the car lookin' pretty good, would like to help keep it that way on extended drives, so, looking to get a bra for it and was wondering if ya'll might lend some insight to who makes the best fitting ones, keeping in mind I have a '73, so, dealing with the rubber front bumper, if it makes a difference. Thanks.....Randy

 

Just my 2 cents worth but I would never put a bra on any of my cars. I've seen to many where the paint gets damaged due to movement at highway speeds. Good luck with your search.

 

The nose masks or bras are the worst thing you can do to your car. It will buffet and scratch the paint in short time. I would highly recomend NOT putting one on the car.

 

Most forum members will tell you not to use a bra. I will tell you to use a bra but you must use the right one. My car is a black 81 with a fiberglass front bumper and I did not use a bra when I got it back from the paint shop and I am not happy with my decision. I have 10,000 miles on the car and a lot of very fine nicks from stones and 1 chip in the drivers side headlamp. I ordered a bra from Corvette Centrel which is a covercraft bra. The bra is very well made and it has white felt on the inside of the bra so it will not scratch the paint. Most bra's like Lebra does not have the felt on the inside and this will scratch the paint. The instructions for my bra were for a BMW so I called Covercraft and they emailed me the right instructions and it works great. It fits tight and does not jump around in high winds, I wish I would of had it on for those longer trips.

Here are the don'ts

Do not use in the rain - if it starts to rain pull it off. Once the white felt gets dirty or road grime in it from water it will scracth your paint. Throw it out it's garbage!

Here are the do's

Before you install the bra place a coat of wax on the area that the bra touches or wax the whole car, what the hell

again the key to a good bra is to have a very soft material on the inside of the bra and only a few manufactures do this.

Here comes the flames

 

I use mine on long runs and in the spring when there's still some gravel on the roads, never hurt mine. I always pull it off between drives to make sure there's no debris under it to be safe. Mine is a Covercraft with the emblem;



Flame me too..............

 

Bra's are for women, or large old men(the man-zeer!).
Don't do it! The lines of the C3 are to beautiful.

 

our cars look horrid with those things things on there. If you are really concerned about stone chips get the 3M clear film.

 

Mine had one when I bought it. I took it off 1st thing. I might put in on during lovebug season.(never drive with the t-tops off during lovebug season)

 

I just put a mini mask on my 76. PO boogered up the point of the nose. I am not in any hurry to repaint since it is the original paint and looks good. I do not have any pictures yet with the mini mask on. Will work on that.... But I do get a TON of compliments on the car with the mini mask.

I don't care for the FULL mask/bra that covers the headlights. Wouldn't put one on my car because of that. The Mini I can live with. You can get them from Mid-America. Fitment is great and seems to be very well made. As suggested by others be careful when cleaning/washing the car. Definitely put a coat of wax or two on the nose before installing. Check for debris under the mask. Take off brush it, wash it, or whatever you gotta do to keep it from scratching.

You asked for advice on fitment/types of bras or masks and what you're getting is alot of OPINIONS as to whether they like or dislike them. That usually happens with this topic just like the whining about the luggage racks, the metal bumper car superiority cult, etc. etc. In the end its up to you, opinions are like @ssh**es, everybody has at least one and they all stink....

Its your car do what you want....

 

Are they really needed? My Vette has all original paint & 72K on the odo. After 33 years I still don't have any big paint chips on my nose.....

 

I just had one of these installed on my Monte Carlo SS. I also bought some extra film and I'm doing the back bumper myself.

 

I had 2 C5s and put it on each of them. Good for about 5 years then peel and replace.

The problem with vinyl nose bras is that you can't avoid sand, dirt and gravel flying through the air and getting under the edge of the bra.

That is what destroys the paint under the bra. And the felt back helps keep the sand in place.

If you don't get much wind where you live or you stay off the highway it won't be as much problem but if you do I can almost guaranty you will end up with a scratch line etched into your paint along the edge of the bra.

I will never use one again.

cc

 

The sole purpose is more for the bugs in my neck of the woods mostly traveling to shows. Would not necessarily be on all the time, just the more distant ones.
Bric; if they made a mini for the '73, I'd get one.