Carbon Targa Top
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 143
From: Bellevue Ky.
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Carbon Targa Top
Does anyone make a REAL carbon fiber targa top for the C5. I am not interested in a carbon 3M wrap. The CF roof sure looks good on the new ZR1, and I have seen them available for the C6.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles California
check out my old thread, i just uploaded new pictures.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...post1581207758
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...post1581207758
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Hey Charger21, funny you should post this. I'm going to wrap my OLD damaged acrylic top with 3M carbon wrap. I purchased a new acrylic top and was about to sell the old one but saw a wrapped C6 that changed my mind. I watched how they wrap vehicles in YouTube and I'm going to order for about $89 for a 4'X5' 3M Carbon skin and wrap it myself. I'll post the photos when I'm done. I've never seen one for a C5 targa top here in California, so I may be the first... The real ones will cost a bit I'm thinking, what could be more close to the real thing than an acrylic base carbon wrap? Right...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles California
Hey Charger21, funny you should post this. I'm going to wrap my OLD damaged acrylic top with 3M carbon wrap. I purchased a new acrylic top and was about to sell the old one but saw a wrapped C6 that changed my mind. I watched how they wrap vehicles in YouTube and I'm going to order for about $89 for a 4'X5' 3M Carbon skin and wrap it myself. I'll post the photos when I'm done. I've never seen one for a C5 targa top here in California, so I may be the first... The real ones will cost a bit I'm thinking, what could be more close to the real thing than an acrylic base carbon wrap? Right...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Few months ago a C6 pulled in that had a funny paint job from a distant here at a Concord meet. The complete vehicle was wrapped in a black semi-carbon skin, bumper to bumper. I did not take a picture, but up close it was very well done. The owner told me, in a year if he doesn't like ti, just peel it off.. It's amazing these times we live in... He also said, it cost about $3k to do just like painting.. I'll just do the targa top for now... I'll post the pic's when I'm done...
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,479
Likes: 417
From: Devil's Island CA
It's funny you ask about a targa, I just asked yesterday about this. A company I work with out of FL (G3 Composites) told me they could take your OEM top and wrap it in REAL carbon, clear coat it etc for about $800. It's not cheap, but it would look really good and be real carbon. Here's a few pictures of interior pieces they have wrapped.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,296
Likes: 1,531
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Hi SoCaliVette I was at a car show last month and your name
came up. I won Best Paint but the truth was the judge went
crazy over the CF top you made for me.
Hope things are going well for you and I can tell all members
of CF that you do great work.
came up. I won Best Paint but the truth was the judge went
crazy over the CF top you made for me.
Hope things are going well for you and I can tell all members
of CF that you do great work.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
It's funny you ask about a targa, I just asked yesterday about this. A company I work with out of FL (G3 Composites) told me they could take your OEM top and wrap it in REAL carbon, clear coat it etc for about $800. It's not cheap, but it would look really good and be real carbon. Here's a few pictures of interior pieces they have wrapped.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Wow, as stated it is a Carbon vinyl wrap, I did not say it was real Carbon fiber... Is it me or is some members just want to start a text war... Sorry for just stating what I planned to do.. Is this the Ferrari forum or what...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles California
Thank you for your comments about my work.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1
From: Plymouth Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '11-'12
Its just people (im not saying you) way too often call something carbon fiber when its not. Thats like calling plastic, titanium. or a car a truck. etc etc.
Also, I was at a car show today. This guy wrapped his whole 300 (i think it was) and quite poorly, in 3m Dinoc. He had a windshield banner that said "CARBONBOT" with transformer decepticon badges all over it. It should have been named "STICKERBOT"
Also, I was at a car show today. This guy wrapped his whole 300 (i think it was) and quite poorly, in 3m Dinoc. He had a windshield banner that said "CARBONBOT" with transformer decepticon badges all over it. It should have been named "STICKERBOT"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,296
Likes: 1,531
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Its just people (im not saying you) way too often call something carbon fiber when its not. Thats like calling plastic, titanium. or a car a truck. etc etc.
Also, I was at a car show today. This guy wrapped his whole 300 (i think it was) and quite poorly, in 3m Dinoc. He had a windshield banner that said "CARBONBOT" with transformer decepticon badges all over it. It should have been named "STICKERBOT"
Also, I was at a car show today. This guy wrapped his whole 300 (i think it was) and quite poorly, in 3m Dinoc. He had a windshield banner that said "CARBONBOT" with transformer decepticon badges all over it. It should have been named "STICKERBOT"
at least they did a good job on the application. Folks that know
something about real CF could tell the difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 769
Likes: 2
From: Zahnd Indiana
looks to me that if you wrapped a console in 3m vinyl wrap, and clear coated it...the above average person would never tell the dif unless you told them. Cf is used to shed weight....the look of cf is appealing to people due to the price..but when it comes to wrapping cheap plastic pieces to look like cf, or buying 900 dollars worth of real CF pieces that save less weight than if you skipped that one cheese burger isn't worth it to me.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1
From: Plymouth Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '11-'12
Then you don't know what your looking for in carbon fiber. there's a huge difference.
and I'm sure your or significant other wouldn't be happy with fake gold or fake jewels even if you can't tell the difference. there's more to it than just what's at the surface for some. but hey, if your happy with being a fake, more power to ya
and I'm sure your or significant other wouldn't be happy with fake gold or fake jewels even if you can't tell the difference. there's more to it than just what's at the surface for some. but hey, if your happy with being a fake, more power to ya
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Wow, looks like a hard crowd here, but with that logic than the corvette should be bashed because it's just a cheap version of a real race sportscar like a Ferrari... All of us should sell your C5 and get a loan for a 430 Scuderia now, stop being fake!...
The weight saving using CF only really benefits one when using the vehicle for real racing when saving weight can mean a victory when all things are equal. For street uses it really doesn't matter. So what if some vette owner just wants that look, nothing wrong with that when they are balancing their budget to enjoy what they want and feed their family... Wrap on I say...
What is interesting is the C5 has the performance reaching the very expensive vehicles that cost 3 to 4 times more and thanks to GM the average person can almost afford one (That's another topic, what is average these days)... Enjoy the ride with or without the real CF...
The weight saving using CF only really benefits one when using the vehicle for real racing when saving weight can mean a victory when all things are equal. For street uses it really doesn't matter. So what if some vette owner just wants that look, nothing wrong with that when they are balancing their budget to enjoy what they want and feed their family... Wrap on I say...
What is interesting is the C5 has the performance reaching the very expensive vehicles that cost 3 to 4 times more and thanks to GM the average person can almost afford one (That's another topic, what is average these days)... Enjoy the ride with or without the real CF...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 769
Likes: 2
From: Zahnd Indiana
exactly. I'll have a fake 20 dollar sticker on that crappy fake metal looking plastic console instead of a 1000 dollar CF piece that isn't going to save any weight at all.
The fact of the matter is I know my 20 dollar sticker isn't cf, but it is going to look 100x better than the crappy silverish plastic they put in the c6. The interior is cheap..but that's why we love it.. its the bang for your buck!
The way I look at it, a 20 dollar sticker gives me a better look, and with the money i'm saying, I bought a used corsa sport exhaust, mgw shifter, and real carbon fiber ball shifter. And I still have 300 dollars left over that I put into this used vortech supercharger kit that is just waiting for me to have a few days off to install.
it's all relative... The corvette is an icon not because it's the best sports car...it's the best bang for your buck by far though! and when it comes to a vinyl carbon fiber sticker compared to real CF...it's a bang for your buck reality check.
The fact of the matter is I know my 20 dollar sticker isn't cf, but it is going to look 100x better than the crappy silverish plastic they put in the c6. The interior is cheap..but that's why we love it.. its the bang for your buck!
The way I look at it, a 20 dollar sticker gives me a better look, and with the money i'm saying, I bought a used corsa sport exhaust, mgw shifter, and real carbon fiber ball shifter. And I still have 300 dollars left over that I put into this used vortech supercharger kit that is just waiting for me to have a few days off to install.
it's all relative... The corvette is an icon not because it's the best sports car...it's the best bang for your buck by far though! and when it comes to a vinyl carbon fiber sticker compared to real CF...it's a bang for your buck reality check.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 769
Likes: 2
From: Zahnd Indiana
Then you don't know what your looking for in carbon fiber. there's a huge difference.
and I'm sure your or significant other wouldn't be happy with fake gold or fake jewels even if you can't tell the difference. there's more to it than just what's at the surface for some. but hey, if your happy with being a fake, more power to ya
and I'm sure your or significant other wouldn't be happy with fake gold or fake jewels even if you can't tell the difference. there's more to it than just what's at the surface for some. but hey, if your happy with being a fake, more power to ya
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Clinton Utah
Hey Charger21, funny you should post this. I'm going to wrap my OLD damaged acrylic top with 3M carbon wrap. I purchased a new acrylic top and was about to sell the old one but saw a wrapped C6 that changed my mind. I watched how they wrap vehicles in YouTube and I'm going to order for about $89 for a 4'X5' 3M Carbon skin and wrap it myself. I'll post the photos when I'm done. I've never seen one for a C5 targa top here in California, so I may be the first... The real ones will cost a bit I'm thinking, what could be more close to the real thing than an acrylic base carbon wrap? Right...