Cut the windshield in a griffith 500

[panic]

I'm projecting to make a custom lightweight roadster out of my '96 griffith 500...part of the project is to get rid of the whole glass windshield and swap in instead a short lexan one...something like this one here




question: is the stock windshield a strengthening factor in the griffith set up or could i cut it without weaking the car structure?

Thanks/Giu

[Ballistic Banana]

your mad but no theres no added strengthening in the window that I know off. Newer TVRs did

BB

[GreenV8S]

As standard the only rollover protection you have is from the rear fibreglass hoop that supports the roof, and the windscreen. Neither of them are very strong, but the windscreen provides a significant proportion of the little protection there is. If you're going to add proper rollover protection in the form of a rollover bar or cage then the original structures become irrelevant.

[Zumbruk]

You can't cut toughened glass, if that's what you mean. Or laminated, for that matter.

[530dTPhil]

Zumbruk said:

You can't cut toughened glass,if that's what you mean.

Absolutely correct, you will end up with a pile of glass fragments

Zumbruk said:

Or laminated, for that matter.

Not correct; laminated glass can be cut, polished and drilled. Something that we do regularly on both flat and curved glasses.

Edited by 530dTPhil on Saturday 26th April 18:34

[V8 Animal]

He's right you know i cut glass for a living aswell.
V8 Animal

[panic]

Zumbruk said:

You can't cut toughened glass, if that's what you mean. Or laminated, for that matter.

Well, i dont want to cut it...i want to swap the stock windshield with a perspex one and then customize it (cut it shorter...).

[panic]

[quote=Ballistic Banana]your mad

Why? The griffith is a very good base for a customized roadster...i think it would look owesome...also, i had this 500 model for 12 years now (one owner: me), it's not my daily driver (not even my second car) so why not make a slightly different toy out of it?

[lockhart flawse]

Sounds great. I think it will look brilliant.

L.F.

[Johno]

I think your Griffith looks fantastic now, I really think you've done a nice job on it.

Not fo rme, but I really like the look. Not convinced the shortened windshield will suit though. Could someone photoshop a version ?

[panic]

Johno said:

Not fo rme, but I really like the look. Not convinced the shortened windshield will suit though. Could someone photoshop a version ?

I'd love to see a photoshop with only a bit of windshield...

[panic]

Here are another couple of pics, maybe from a better perspective to make a photoshop...







Thanks.

Edited by panic on Saturday 26th April 20:43

[griffter]

It's a California club racer look basically - most 50's 60's sports cars get away with it and look great. I think a Griff would pull it off.

[GJR]

panic said:

I'd love to see a photoshop with only a bit of windshield...

Giuseppe...

OK.. here's my effort along with the wheels you mentioned in another thread.

Not quite sure what to make of it myself as I see the original windscreen as part of the overall design/style that makes the Griffith look so good... but... at the same time I don't think it looks terrible as a 50's/60's style roadster either !?!?

Guess you have the weather your way to get away with it Real "bugs in teeth" motoring.

G

[panic]

Good work, GJ!

[Ballistic Banana]

panic said:

Ballistic Banana said:

your mad

Why? The griffith is a very good base for a customized roadster...i think it would look owesome...also, i had this 500 model for 12 years now (one owner: me), it's not my daily driver (not even my second car) so why not make a slightly different toy out of it?

Hi Panic, it was meant in a nice way Good luck if you go ahead with it.
Looks ok to me in the photoshop I guess to me it would be gettingused to seeing it like that after seeing so many griffiths and pictures etc.

BB

[GJR]

I suppose whether or not it's worth doing would really depend on whether it's a style you like or a weight saving exercise ?!?! It guess it would be far more straight forward to replace the glass with perspex to save weight, but beyond the switch from glass to plastic I doubt that you'd get any further performance gains between a full plastic screen or a little stubby one !?!?! So, then it comes down to which style you prefer ??

[panic]

[quote=GJR]I suppose whether or not it's worth doing would really depend on whether it's a style you like or a weight saving exercise ?!?!

Both things.
It's going to be a sure saving on weight and i like the stile.
Only i'd make the two upper side corners of the windshield slightly round instead then cut streight with a sharp angle...