Rolling a convertible.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Macomb MI
The 'Another c4 out of commision' thread got me to thinking.
What would happen if I (God forbid) rolled my CE Roadster? In the other thread the A pillar was flat. I know the roadster's A pillar is reinforced, but still...
Has anyone rolled a roadster, or seen one, and what kind of shape was it in?
I'm thinking my next Vette (a C6 someday...) might be a Targa.
What would happen if I (God forbid) rolled my CE Roadster? In the other thread the A pillar was flat. I know the roadster's A pillar is reinforced, but still...
Has anyone rolled a roadster, or seen one, and what kind of shape was it in?
I'm thinking my next Vette (a C6 someday...) might be a Targa.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Here is a C4 coupe getting struck by a truck and flipping over. I believe this was from a commercial or movie so no one got injured in the clip. You can see the halo stays perfectly intact and takes quite a beating but the windshield pillers gave way. The impact side of the vette held up very well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPridgW_ePc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPridgW_ePc
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,543
Likes: 1
From: Levittown NY
Here is a C4 coupe getting struck by a truck and flipping over. I believe this was from a commercial or movie so no one got injured in the clip. You can see the halo stays perfectly intact and takes quite a beating but the windshield pillers gave way. The impact side of the vette held up very well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPridgW_ePc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPridgW_ePc
I feel better now about my vert. I don't know about you guys, but that is definitely not enough headroom for me. I don't think I would fair much better in a coupe roll over.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
From: Kennewick Washington
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
From: Kennewick Washington
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
You'd have to do something pretty crazy to roll a Vette. Stay safe out there.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
From: Kennewick Washington
Rolling a Corvette is not hard to do.
Imagine sliding off a cambered road into a culvert laterally. The wheels catch, and over you go.
Still, I don't mind risk. I fly an airplane, ride a motorcycle, and I even got married.
Imagine sliding off a cambered road into a culvert laterally. The wheels catch, and over you go.
Still, I don't mind risk. I fly an airplane, ride a motorcycle, and I even got married.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,344
Likes: 2,272
From: Central Maryland
With all of this talk of roll bars, one point should be raised:
A roll bar is not a friend to an unhelmeted skull. Depending upon the roll bar and its placement, it can present a serious hazard in and of itself.
Live well,
SJW
A roll bar is not a friend to an unhelmeted skull. Depending upon the roll bar and its placement, it can present a serious hazard in and of itself.
Live well,
SJW
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,200
Likes: 34
From: Kingsville Ontario Canada
I also Ride a Bike and drive a vert. I am not worried about a roll over, I own these vehicles because of the love for that open air feeling.
One of my winter mods is having a custom Two hoop roll bar with a camera mount built.
I am going to attach the roll bar to the mounting points for the hard top.
Hopefully this should accomplish a couple of things. When I install the hard top its like having a different car. The stiffness and the handling improve drastically. I hope this roll bar will do the same. also I like the look of the two chrome 2" hoops and I think there should be a safety benefit.
I will post some pictures when it is finished
One of my winter mods is having a custom Two hoop roll bar with a camera mount built.
I am going to attach the roll bar to the mounting points for the hard top.
Hopefully this should accomplish a couple of things. When I install the hard top its like having a different car. The stiffness and the handling improve drastically. I hope this roll bar will do the same. also I like the look of the two chrome 2" hoops and I think there should be a safety benefit.
I will post some pictures when it is finished
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,344
Likes: 2,272
From: Central Maryland
I also Ride a Bike and drive a vert. I am not worried about a roll over, I own these vehicles because of the love for that open air feeling.
One of my winter mods is having a custom Two hoop roll bar with a camera mount built.
I am going to attach the roll bar to the mounting points for the hard top.
Hopefully this should accomplish a couple of things. When I install the hard top its like having a different car. The stiffness and the handling improve drastically. I hope this roll bar will do the same. also I like the look of the two chrome 2" hoops and I think there should be a safety benefit.
I will post some pictures when it is finished
One of my winter mods is having a custom Two hoop roll bar with a camera mount built.
I am going to attach the roll bar to the mounting points for the hard top.
Hopefully this should accomplish a couple of things. When I install the hard top its like having a different car. The stiffness and the handling improve drastically. I hope this roll bar will do the same. also I like the look of the two chrome 2" hoops and I think there should be a safety benefit.
I will post some pictures when it is finished
If safety were my highest priority, I'd drive a Volvo. 
Regarding gaining chassis rigidity from the addition of a roll bar as you've described: Don't expect much. The majority of the improvement you're seeing with the hardtop installed is achieved by tying the top of the windshield frame to the rest of the structure. This is why a T-Top is structurally superior to a targa or ragtop. A two-hoop roll bar is not going to come close to the structural benefit of a hardtop.
Live well,
SJW
