Buying a Bra - One Piece or Two??

I've had enough of the stone chips on Kermit. I counted 13 last weekend. I don't regret driving him, but it seems ridiculous to keep driving on road trips without something to protect that paint.

So, I have heard different things about 1 and 2 piece bras. Colgan supposedly only makes 1 piece bras now, but I have a 2 piece from Pelican that they just found for me. Should I keep that, or should I get a one piece?

I have heard that either way, they both can damage a car if not installed properly or on a dirty car. That the one piece may flap more and cause more damage than the 2 piece. That the 2 piece can cause the trunk to not close properly or to get bent from the extra fabric between. That the 1 piece is a pain because you can't open the trunk without taking it off.

Does anyone have one or both? Can you give me some down to earth recommendations on one versus the other?

larry

I want one of these invisible 3M film bras:

http://www.invinca-shield.com/main.htm

They look great. I talked to them and they agreed that with enough interest, they'd start producing them for early 911s.

I know a couple of companies in Chicago that install them on newer Porsches. The issue for me is that they are semi-permanently installed on the car. Don't know how I feel about having a piece of plastic laminate permanently applied.

larry

I've got a one-piece bra that will not flap. NLA and may be overkill for some.

Anyone interested? $40 + shipping

Sherwood

Dayyyym, looks like something from War of the Worlds has attacked and is eating your car. QUICK, CALL TOM CRUISE. :eek: :D

larry

What cup size is that?

Larry,
A good alternative to the standard Bra set-up is the Mag-Bra
http://www.magbra.com/

I have one for my SC...works great, easy to take on/off, stores in a flat case in the trunk. No hassles with install, rubbing etc...

Hello: I have used both types of bras on early 911"s. I like the two piece ones because you can just leave the center section on if you want. I have found on the track cars that most of the stone chips are between the headlights. I would also clean the bra often to stop dirt scratchs. One last note on long trips it sure is nice to be able to open the trunk to get your spare shoes. Thanks Eric

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Originally Posted by Type911

Larry,
A good alternative to the standard Bra set-up is the Mag-Bra

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Thanks for the suggestion. I talked to them once. They said that they won't work on the early cars, since the hood is not flat. They say that it won't lay on the hood correctly, and can't be designed to cover the front edge where the hood turns vertical. But it's a great idea for those later cars.

larry

I was not aware they dont have a Bra for the early cars. Bummer.

Iam in the process of purchasing a 1970 E....bought it from a member.
When I get it home, I'll try the mag bra from my SC. Obviously it won't be a perfect fit, but its got to help somewhat.

Please, who ever comes up with a good bra, let us know, i am also wanting to put a bra on mine, since i have no chips, so i can drive it.

The problem with a bra is that it protects the paint, but could damage the paint while providing that protection. And, the car looks uglier with the bra on than with it off (typical of bras of other kinds).

I always laugh at the cars that drive around with their bras on all of the time. The paint underneath it is now so damaged that they need to leave the bra on.

You can catch a stone just as easily leaving a stoplight as you can on a highway. It is just that I think that it is more likely on a highway. So, I am going to reserve the use of my bra for those instances. We'll see how it goes.

But I don't regret driving Kermit for the past 8 months (subtract wintertime please) even with the stone chips. I just need to learn how to fill and buff them down. These aren't the last, it's just another thing to deal with.

larry

Guys and dolls, the 3M film can be applied to the early cars. I know a number of people with it. Virtually invisible. If you spent a bunch of money having the car restored and repainted it really makes sense to protect it. The nightmares of the canvas bras etching the paint underneath them have convinced me to steer clear. Although if Sherwood says his version works, then I'd take him on his word. I just don't want to drive around with one on the car. ;)

We once were asked to prep our friend Mike Pierra's green silhouette RS race car for the sunday concours at the Vintage Fall Festival at Lime Rock. This car had been campaigned hard all season (maybe two) at the Glen, Mont Tremblant, Lime Rock, VIR, etc. Once we got all the rubber and oil snot off the car, there was maybe one or two tiny dings where a larger missile had actually made a mark on the paint. He had run it that day and won...he also won his class at the concours the next. Very cool. :cool:

I'd recommend the stuff. If you really wanted it off again for some reason, it comes right off with a hair dryer I'm told.

I just wish I had used it on my white car. :(

Gee guys, thanks for the compliments.

I've had this in storage for years. I don't use nor need it anymore. I would recommend this to prevent stray hits on a car towed on an open trailer.... or to cover up a really large dent, hole or rust spot on the hood.

I currently use a two-piece bra and had a upholstery shop modify it to fit the RS-type front bumper (oil cooler opening and all).

I've said this before. Bras of any type may be unsightly, but it looks that way only until you take it off, then ouila, new look. Rock chips, on the other hand, are ugly and permanent and stay that way until you apply new paint.

Sherwood

I have mixed feelings about bras....

My car came with one that the PO used and now I have two tone paint on my hood. I used the bra for a lwhile (1-2 years) and then decided that a few chips did not matter to me and I liked the nude appearance better so I leave it in t he garage most ofthe time now.

I guess some gals need them and some don't......

Mine is a two piece and I cannot see how I would ever find a 1 piece tolerable.

When I do use it, I have to adjust the hood catch to account for the extra space the bra material takes up.

Larry, if I was you and had nice paint, i would look long and hard at the "clear bra" type products to find one that meets your needs in terms of duability and ease of removal, etc. That seems the best of both worlds.

I had a 3M bra on a BMW that had worked well in Colorado with all the rock issues there.I was going to sell the car ,so with a hair dryer on high heat, as recommended by the installer,I removed a small piece from the side to see if there had been any color fade around the edges.There was none.Ergo,no long term issues and well worth the trashed front end without it.Much less down side than the old style bras.

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Originally Posted by 911pcars

I've said this before. Bras of any type may be unsightly, but it looks that way only until you take it off, then ouila, new look. Rock chips, on the other hand, are ugly and permanent and stay that way until you apply new paint.

Sherwood

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You're absolutely right Sherwood. For that drive or open transport to an event or show, this would be just the ticket. And for $40, it's clearly a bargain.

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Originally Posted by 911pcars

Gee guys, thanks for the compliments.


I've said this before. Bras of any type may be unsightly, but it looks that way only until you take it off, then ouila, new look. Rock chips, on the other hand, are ugly and permanent and stay that way until you apply new paint.

Sherwood

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I couldn't agree more. I run a bra on the road, remove it when parked at an event. Harry, I suspect that your "two tone" comes from having the bra on the car, sitting in the sun, when the bra is wet. Like I said, I don't leave mine on permanently. I don't like the idea of placing a plastic film over my original paint. I also don't like the idea of drilling holes in my front spoiler for a license plate. In Oregon, a front plate is the law. I now have an exemption because I have "special interest" stickers, but I still run a front plate in the one piece Colgan, custom ordered to be without the bumperette and front plate holes. Running a bra may look dorky to strangers I see while on the road. I guess I really don't care what they think. Here's a pic a friend sent me of Cindy & I arriving at PIR a couple of years ago. You can see the front pocket I had sewn into the bra to comply with the front plate law here.
Larry, trust me on this...running a bra has NOT damaged my paint to the point that I leave a bra on to cover up the damage...;)

Hmmmmm....I found this one rather exciting Larry. Can't ya just picture waking up to her beside you in the sac?

You are very obviously a "boob man" Paul; LOL!!!

Cheers,

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Originally Posted by Paul Schooley

Hmmmmm....I found this one rather exciting Larry. Can't ya just picture waking up to her beside you in the sac?

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...are those headlights H-1s or H-5s? I'm guessing H-5s. :p ;)

I've got 3M on the SO's car and my (UAV- Urban Assault Vehicle) Suburban. I will put it on Shorty in a few months once I'm completely satisfied that the paint is totally cured on his nose job. :rolleyes:

The new car dealers are installing it like it's going out of style. I see it on new Porsche deliveries all the time. It's a great idea.

Tom

Bras are so bloody ugly... but when I'm out there I use it

... and I'm an "ass man" :D

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Originally Posted by Chuck Miller

Bras are so bloody ugly... but when I'm out there I use it

... and I'm an "ass man" :D

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Well that's good to hear! Cos seeing my "ass" is gonna be sitting in your passenger seat at some stage soon I'm pleased it will be appreciated....and there's more of that to be appreciated than cup size :p !

Now Chuck, you'll have to change your shopping habits....only "some" bras are ugly...but you should know that ;) !

Cheers (on my 3rd glass of fine red and aiming for at least a couple more!),

Guys,

I ran a 2 piece Colgan bra on a 944S2 I used to own. it never really flapped at speed but if any grit got down the front of it whilst driving, then you got a problem.

Also, i drove it in the rain one time on a trip and then (mistakenly) left it on the car overnight cause there was nowhere else to put it (it was all wet). it ended up leaving a dark mark across the paint along the top edge of the material. I am sure it saved a lot of chips but you really need to be thinking all the time about where you are driving and if you are geting grit etc thrown up onto it.



Some of the designs for early 911's (like Chucks) only seem to have firm contact across the top of the fender and then around the bumpers so the critical areas arent really in direct contact with the material all the time.


Our 901 group had a demo of the clear 3M stuff recently and this looks like the way to go, but your paint needs to be good before you apply it.

Ok I'll be serious too...

I like the Colgan 2 piece bras, but they do have limitations. I have never run one on a long hood car, but I always used one on a trip on any of my later 911s. As Phil rightly points out there are some serious limitations. I always knew to take the bra off (the car) when it was wet so as not to leave an unsightly and permanent mark as Phil described. Problem was that if I was halfway to no-where I couldn't put the bra back on (the car) in the morning if it was still wet and it was a pain to try and hang up in a motel room...mind you I don't like wearing wet bras either :p !

Now I'll put my alter-ego hat of signwriter on. I have used the 3M product and similar clear vinyl stone-guard products too. Ring a 3m supplier and ask who fits the invisible bra material in your area. I know there are precut templates for the later models out there, thus making it much easier to fit...but if your fitter has patience and a good amount of skill with the product he/she should be able to get by without a template. It will cost $$$ sure, but it does not mark and can be removed as the guys have noted. I just hate fitting the stuff but it is a great product. No, Aussie board members, I won't do it for you - I am trying to retire from my alter-life!

Cheers (5th glass of fine red and no side-effects yet - damn)

Paul: Love the photo-chop. One of my daughters was angry with me because she thought I had made up the name "bra" for the cover on the front of cars. She thought that I was a chauvinist pig. I have taught them too well!! ;)

I was at a PCA meet and there was a guy installing the 3M product on new cars. He was very good, and it looked very invisible. I was still waiting for Kermit, so there was no rush to dive in.

Now I've got some stone chips to fix, and I still wonder about the "period correctness" of the stuff. If you didn't repaint your car with a 2 stage paint, because you thought it was inappropriate for an early car, doesn't the same hold true for Plastic Laminate? Of course, there is that eternal question of Period Correct vs Protection.

The jury is still out in my mind. I like the feeling of polishing and waxing that green paint. Maybe that makes up my mind on the 3M product. And the 1 piece bra, even though clunky looking, doesn't seem hard to put on and off. That might be the way to go for me.

larry

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Originally Posted by larry47us

I was at a PCA meet and there was a guy installing the 3M product on new cars. He was very good, and it looked very invisible. I was still waiting for Kermit, so there was no rush to dive in.
Now I've got some stone chips to fix, and I still wonder about the "period correctness" of the stuff. larry

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"Time marches on."

The 3M will do less (read; NO) damage to your paint than an ill fitting bra. They do rub and buffet at speed. You're in for trouble if there's any grit in the backing material or on your paint when you install it.

On the other hand they do a great job if used properly and taken care of. It's going to be a personal decision and I could see you going either way.

From back in the "old" days I have seen a wet bra (rain) cloud paint. This was due to the fact it was left on the car and the sun got to it before the owner removed it. It was sort of like rings on your furniture.

The companies that install these things typically use a plotter/cutter. They feed the program your cars information and it then cuts the kit. It's not a one size fits all. The one on my wife's car has about 10 pieces or better. I had them do the headlights as well since it's got Bi-Xenons on it.

She's happy, I'm happy and the dog is humping my leg so I guess he's happy too. :eek:

Tom

Uh Tom.....does the dog wear a bra? :eek:

Larry, try www.elephantracing.com . They offer a magnetic bra for our early cars. They will also let you pick how far up the hood you want the material to come. I used one of these for road trips on occasion. You must have a clean waxed surface to apply to and NEVER let water sit underneath, especially in the sun. The result will be a "hazing" of the paint, ask me how I know :( . I was able to get the "hazing" out w/o any permanent damage and everything turned out just fine. I now utilize the 3M clear film. It is virtually invisible, always there to protect, and can be removed if necessary down the road. It is very important to use 3M brand Because of its built in ultra violet inhibitors to maintain film clarity and prevent yellowing of the material. One more thing , make sure that it is a highly trained installer that does the job. Ever since my application of the film I am now more at ease when driving the 69. Hope this info helps! ;)