Bra or not
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: New Castle PA
Bra or not
I have no desire to put a le bra on the nose of the Vette but a friend told me about what he did to protect the paint on his C6. He described it as a clear, custom cut film that is applied in a similar method to window tinting using water to install it. The purpose was to prevent stone chips on the front end and it ran about $600 installed. He said it can be removed without damage to the paint. If you look close, I guess you can see the edge as it only covers the front nose and part of the hood.
Anyone have any experience with this or is there a better way to protect from stone chips ( other than not driving, cause I need to drive the Vette )
Anyone have any experience with this or is there a better way to protect from stone chips ( other than not driving, cause I need to drive the Vette )
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 34
From: Grand Rapids Michigan West Michigan Crew
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
i have seen that installed on tv on a lambo, from what i hear it works real well, i just wonder if it discolors over time.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
we had some on a 91 porsche 911 at work and it looked like it had been on there a while (lots of knicks) but it seemed to have held up all this time....we took it off to have part of the car repainted
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
My son had the stuff put on his new RX8 -- cost about $400 as I remember. I did not like it because you could see the edge line -- very noticeable from some angles. But most people don't really notice it.
ANYWAY........some jerk hit the front of his car pretty hard in a parking lot about 3 months after he got it. Looked terrible, we were sure there was some real damage. A couple weeks later, he stripped off the plastic film and we were surprised to see it really protected the front -- the paint underneath looked fine after a bit of polishing! So, I'm sure it really stands up to road rash........
ANYWAY........some jerk hit the front of his car pretty hard in a parking lot about 3 months after he got it. Looked terrible, we were sure there was some real damage. A couple weeks later, he stripped off the plastic film and we were surprised to see it really protected the front -- the paint underneath looked fine after a bit of polishing! So, I'm sure it really stands up to road rash........
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
It does stand up to road stuff. It's all in the installation, and more than the materials, that's what you're paying for. Mine is on the front, door sills, partial hood, top of mirrors, etc. and altho I haven't driven a lot of miles since getting the car it's doing well. I need to have a couple pieces re-done as they're not stretched correctly but this wil be a free service re-do.
On another brand new car that was known for having "soft paint", it withstood 19K miles of driving twice cross country, behind trucks, over interstates being fixed, sand, gravel, etc. When I sold the car, the prospective owner could only find one nick on the side of the car, very light and it was NOT covered by the "clear bra".
I would highly recommend it. It isn't cheap, but neither is looking at your paint slowly chipping away. And yes, it shows its "lines" where it ends a bit more on darker colors than lighter colors. If you're very careful (and there is a methodology on how to do it) when you wax your car you can reduce/minimize the line to the extent possible. Ask me if you ever get it on your car.
And do the research to find someone who's done the install of this clear bra before, not once, but many times.
On another brand new car that was known for having "soft paint", it withstood 19K miles of driving twice cross country, behind trucks, over interstates being fixed, sand, gravel, etc. When I sold the car, the prospective owner could only find one nick on the side of the car, very light and it was NOT covered by the "clear bra".
I would highly recommend it. It isn't cheap, but neither is looking at your paint slowly chipping away. And yes, it shows its "lines" where it ends a bit more on darker colors than lighter colors. If you're very careful (and there is a methodology on how to do it) when you wax your car you can reduce/minimize the line to the extent possible. Ask me if you ever get it on your car.
And do the research to find someone who's done the install of this clear bra before, not once, but many times.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,198
Likes: 10
From: Homestead Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
I think you should only use a bra if the front end is sagging or if the nose is already chipped up and the bra would be an improvement.
Last edited by Tommy T-Bone; Apr 18, 2006 at 10:07 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Northeastern Mass
Get that hardened pain **** my mom has it on her Lexus IS250 and it works the b4lls. I am getting it put on my vet because I saw it on a vette and it didnt look half bad. Guess it depends on the color of the vette too but yeah I like it
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
I've got one of those spandex bras for Rose. Use for traveling mostly. It's soft and stretches nicely over the bumper to smooth her profile. Doesn't scratch. Washes easily and folds up into a neat little package that fits in the storage compartment.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 0
I've seen that film and I think it would be a good idea also. It is a little pricey but so is a good paint job. I have the number of a guy in the Detroit area that would do it if you are interested. That would be a nice little trip from New Castle
PM me if you want the number.
GARY
PM me if you want the number. GARY
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 1
From: Hyde Park NY
St. Jude Donor '05
You can see mine. I put it on cause with this being my first vette I was concerned I would not know where the 'nose' is and be hitting things. Also, the front bumper had some small defects that I would just as well cover for now. I am perhaps rare in that I actually like the look of the black mini bra on my dark red metallic. I also use a variety of 3M type protective clear tape on panels etc. I do notice that they do yellow with time and use. The kit for the nose would be a good alternative to the vinyl bra.
Last edited by RAGOVET; Apr 18, 2006 at 06:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: New Castle PA
Thanks for all the feedback. I think I will take the vette for a ride, stop at a HOOTER's, have with some wing's, check out some bra's then check out my friends ride to see the quality of the work. I will keep ya posted.
with some wing's, check out some bra's then check out my friends ride to see the quality of the work. I will keep ya posted.
