Discussion
So is there a safety issue here with the Tamora? The windscreen roll bar does not seem to be sufficient and Donald's pic above does seem to show that had the car been a Tamora, things would have been much worse. If this is the case, then surely TVR or someone else needs to look at this and find a way of fitting rear roll bars on a Tamora.
SGirl said: Hm. Last week I looked into getting a full rollcage fitted to my Griff, and this pic has simply underlined the fact that I've made the right decision to go ahead. Might do it now though rather than waiting until next winter
This subject was discussed (can't remember exactly in what context) last year, and although I have the TVR (non tested) rear cage, I concluded that particularly for sprints/hillclimbs, the full cage option was worthy of consideration.
The rear cage certainly stiffens the chassis up, but there's still the unresolved issue of side impact and the fact that above and in front (i.e. windscreen header rail height) there's nothing of any usbstance to protect you.
I did get some prices (not too bad) from Rollcentre, but like you (S Girl), have been procrastinating on the subject.
Out of interest, do you mean full cage, and where have you managed to source it? FYI, I think Rollcentre we're looking around th 800 quid mark fitted.
alt said: Thanks Steve.
So why don't TVR fit a rear roll bar?
I guess that TVR would recommend one for motorsport (just like the MSA) but feel they are not necessary for normal road driving?
Noticed that the Griff on the front page didn't have a roll bar though!
Cheers..... Andrew
I had Tower View/Rollcentre build the Wedge roll bar for my 390 because it was going sprinting. Had several side impacts in it (70MPH + into tyre walls that sort of thing) and was surprised how strong it made the car. That convinced me that I needed one for my other car. Around this time, my Griff (as pictured on the front) was going to get one but I traded it for a Cerbera with integral roll cage. When the current Griff runabout appeared, the first thing I did was talk to Dave/Shorty about doing one for a Griff and that is how the Griff one appeared about 16 months ago. The blue Griff on their site is the runabout.
The wedge now has a full roll cage and I have to climb in over the side impact bar etc so this level is impractical for most people.
As for TVR not fitting them originally, I couldn't comment. The way I look at it is that cars can flip so it makes sense to stack the odds in my favour. The fact I can then wear full harnesses and it stiffens the chassis further to improve the handling are bonuses.
Steve
One further thing... a full roll cage (not just the roll hoop) is a real swine to fit and usually means that the whole interior comes out and unless the car is dedicated to motorsport, it makes it virtually unsellable. There is no elegant way you can get in it for a start...
On the Wedge, there is a bar behind the dash (took two days to fit!) and one across the top of the windscreen. The side impact bar required the door card and arm rest to be removed and is at thigh level. The front extends down into the footwell to protect the driver's feet but it meant that the pedal box had to be moved sideways to give me access. As I said, fine for a motorsport car but the cannibalism would give most owners heart attacks considering doing this for their pride and joy.
Steve
>> Edited by shpub on Tuesday 28th January 14:00
On the Wedge, there is a bar behind the dash (took two days to fit!) and one across the top of the windscreen. The side impact bar required the door card and arm rest to be removed and is at thigh level. The front extends down into the footwell to protect the driver's feet but it meant that the pedal box had to be moved sideways to give me access. As I said, fine for a motorsport car but the cannibalism would give most owners heart attacks considering doing this for their pride and joy.
Steve
>> Edited by shpub on Tuesday 28th January 14:00
DIGGA said: The rear cage certainly stiffens the chassis up, but there's still the unresolved issue of side impact and the fact that above and in front (i.e. windscreen header rail height) there's nothing of any usbstance to protect you.
My thinking too. The issue of side impact bars getting in the way did worry me a bit, but having clambered in and out of rally cars I think I can live with it. Not very elegant, maybe, but I'd prefer to be safer and a little less ladylike...
Ultimately not a problem if it means I get to walk away from an accident. I've never yet been involved in an accident bad enough to cause injury (touch wood!). It seems to me, though, that it's all very well looking pretty and being x kg lighter, but it should go without saying that cars with this kind of performance should offer the occupants some kind of protection...
Out of interest, do you mean full cage, and where have you managed to source it? FYI, I think Rollcentre we're looking around th 800 quid mark fitted.
I do mean full cage, yes. Haven't managed to source one yet, but I'm looking into several options. I'll mail you offline if/when I find a good one!
Steve - some good points you raise re. the resale value (or lack of) for a car with a full cage. This was one of my concerns, and this is why I'm also looking at the option of buying a Cerbera. (Haven't made my mind up yet which way to go!) But at the end of the day, cars can be replaced - your life can't...
>> Edited by SGirl on Tuesday 28th January 14:21
this is why I'm also looking at the option of buying a Cerbera. (Haven't made my mind up yet which way to go!) But at the end of the day, cars can be replaced - your life can't...
That would make a good deal more sense unless you really don't want to part with the Griff, then it would be worth thinking about the cage....
I hate to say this as I loved my old Griff to bits, but I wouldn't have one now (or a Chim for that matter) as I don't regard them as safe. I don't want to upset anyone here (obviously) as this is a tender subject, but I know of two accidents in the last few months where a full rollcage (like the Cerb and T350 have) could have resulted in the occupants surviving.
It may be easy for me to say this, as I have a T350 on order but if I wasn't getting it, I would be looking for a nice Cerb instead, I don't want a convertible again..
flasher said: That would make a good deal more sense unless you really don't want to part with the Griff, then it would be worth thinking about the cage....
And to think my second choice of car was an SL500... Oh well, hindsight is always 20-20, as they say. If I could go back, though, I'd choose the Griff again. For many reasons, not just the fact that it was a nicer car.
I hate to say this as I loved my old Griff to bits, but I wouldn't have one now (or a Chim for that matter) as I don't regard them as safe.
What is it with these cars? I'd get rid of the Rover or Volvo tomorrow if either of them involved the same kind of safety issues... But I love my Griff and simply can't imagine selling it.
It may be easy for me to say this, as I have a T350 on order but if I wasn't getting it, I would be looking for a nice Cerb instead, I don't want a convertible again..
Mm. A Cerbera is the easy option... I've tried one Cerbera so far and liked it a lot (still keeping my options open on that one), but there's a little bit of me saying "if you have passengers, take the Volvo...".
I suppose it all comes down to horses for courses.
That would make a good deal more sense unless you really don't want to part with the Griff, then it would be worth thinking about the cage
Quite so.
I love my Griff, can't really afford to replace/upgrade it to a newer and more fortified TVR, and am very attached to it. I've no intention of retiring it from track use (not that a full cage's advantages are valid on the road too) and driving it carefully, so eventually I think I'll get a full cage fitted.
DIGGA said:
That would make a good deal more sense unless you really don't want to part with the Griff, then it would be worth thinking about the cage
Quite so.
I love my Griff, can't really afford to replace/upgrade it to a newer and more fortified TVR, and am very attached to it. I've no intention of retiring it from track use (not that a full cage's advantages are valid on the road too) and driving it carefully, so eventually I think I'll get a full cage fitted.
Definitley the way to go Digga, I can fully understand why you (or anyone else for that matter) wouldn't want to part with the Griff or Chim. And for the figures quoted by rollcentre (who are Martin Short's outfit/top GT team) £800 seems excellent for the added safety and like Mr Heath says the stiffness and handling qualities are a welcome added bonus...
The only thing I would say is the amount of turmoil it caused fitting the one in the Wedge was immense. The dash had to come out, fuse panels relocated etc etc etc. Had to cut holes all over the place and so on. You also need to make sure that it doesn't get in your way either and interfere with the car's controls.
The only Griff I have seen with a roll cage was at David Gerald (their Griff racer). Might be worth having a look before committing.
The only Griff I have seen with a roll cage was at David Gerald (their Griff racer). Might be worth having a look before committing.
Hi all,
I think the tragic past events have shocked us all and I, for one, have been seriously thinking about having a roll bar fitted.
Now, I know it shouldn't be an issue with safety but I think the rollover hoops fitted to the yellow chim in the link above look way better than the full roll cage.
My question is: are they just cosmetic or are they a viable and, more importantly, safe proposition? If so, does anyone know where the owner sourced them? How much they cost?
Many thanks in advance,
Phil.
I think the tragic past events have shocked us all and I, for one, have been seriously thinking about having a roll bar fitted.
Now, I know it shouldn't be an issue with safety but I think the rollover hoops fitted to the yellow chim in the link above look way better than the full roll cage.
My question is: are they just cosmetic or are they a viable and, more importantly, safe proposition? If so, does anyone know where the owner sourced them? How much they cost?
Many thanks in advance,
Phil.
Phill, from what I can make out they look like the ones from peninsular, in which case I think someone, not sure who had looked at them before and they are cosmetic as the don't attach to the chasis.
I could be wrong with this so don't shoot me. and if I m wrong I appologise to peninsular in advance.
Having researched this a great deal, the only ones I found were Tower View, Roll centre and TVR, In the end I went for the TVR one as it looked like the best fit for me and the factory would make it and my dealer would fit it prior to me buying the car.
Its not perfect but seems very sturdy and may offer some rather than no protection should the worst happen.
Edited to add having jsut looked on the peninsular site the hoops are £500 plus fitting, however they also do a normal omne as well.
One other thing woth bearing in mind is how far you have your seat back with certain roll bars as most fit behind the seat and between the parcel shelf, apart from the Tvr one which fits down the side of the seat, which is good and bad a it sits a bit close to my / passangers head (padding needed)
>> Edited by phib on Tuesday 28th January 22:38
I could be wrong with this so don't shoot me. and if I m wrong I appologise to peninsular in advance.
Having researched this a great deal, the only ones I found were Tower View, Roll centre and TVR, In the end I went for the TVR one as it looked like the best fit for me and the factory would make it and my dealer would fit it prior to me buying the car.
Its not perfect but seems very sturdy and may offer some rather than no protection should the worst happen.
Edited to add having jsut looked on the peninsular site the hoops are £500 plus fitting, however they also do a normal omne as well.
One other thing woth bearing in mind is how far you have your seat back with certain roll bars as most fit behind the seat and between the parcel shelf, apart from the Tvr one which fits down the side of the seat, which is good and bad a it sits a bit close to my / passangers head (padding needed)
>> Edited by phib on Tuesday 28th January 22:38
Might be a daft question, but what would this do to insurance premiums? I was considering a rollbar for a long time before I bought the car (and won't let an increase in premium put me off), but prior experience of any mods to production cars suggests its going to be expensive.
Ideas from anyone thats already got one?
Ideas from anyone thats already got one?
Tescos said the premium would go up ... I asked why and they said it was because it might get scratched.
This thought worried me quite a lot.
Talked to them a bit more and discovered that they didn't understand the difference between a bull bar and a roll over bar. Eventually they decided it didn't make any difference.
Come to think of it, does any one make bull bars for a Chimaera?
This thought worried me quite a lot.
Talked to them a bit more and discovered that they didn't understand the difference between a bull bar and a roll over bar. Eventually they decided it didn't make any difference.
Come to think of it, does any one make bull bars for a Chimaera?
chim_knee said
Now, I know it shouldn't be an issue with safety but I think the rollover hoops fitted to the yellow chim in the link above look way better than the full roll cage.
My question is: are they just cosmetic or are they a viable and, more importantly, safe proposition? If so, does anyone know where the owner sourced them? How much they cost?
Phil.
Phil,
Will drop the owner an e mail tomorrow to try and find you an answer.
Martin.
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