Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
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Topic author - Senior Member
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Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
No, NOT what you think...it's for a car! LOL It's Protective Film - helps to prevent rock dings/dents/paint chips, etc. Essentially it's rated for a 1/4" rock at 140 MPH or so, it came from the aerospace industry to protect helicopter blades, aircraft windshields, etc.
I figured with all of the car nuts on this forum that some of you might be interested in this.
Thom at Pro-Tect Mobile www.pro-tectmobile.com just finished up a Clear Bra install on my 2012 Grand Sport Centennial Edition Coupe. It looks GREAT! It will be on display in the Vendor area at the Lone Star Corvette Classic http://lonestarcorvetteclub.com/content ... _id=199271.
My "mandate" (actually my wife's) to Thom was "no seam lines" and I've gotta tell you, he LIVED UP TO IT! Seriously. Of course, to do this, I had full panels covered, not half panels (other than the hatch, but that's along the striping). Had a buddy look at it last night, he couldn't see it, he wasn't able to determine which panels had it, even after I told him where it was. It looks REALLY good. Now granted, I had full panels done, you should see the fenders (remember, this is a Grand Sport, it has the "gills"), they look awesome!
Areas I have covered:
-front bumper (full panel coverage)
-hood (full panel coverage)
-front fenders (full panel coverage)
-rockers (full panel coverage)
-rear quarter panels/brake ducts (full panel coverage)
-roof (full panel coverage, to keep the same look as the rest of the striping)
-halo (full panel coverage, to keep the same look as the rest of the striping and to protect the 100 Years sticker)
-rear hatch (just the striping, to keep the same look as the rest of the striping)
-mirrors (just the forward-facing strike zone)
I decided to cover the Centennial Edition stripes, otherwise they are not protected. The film creates sort of a ghost outline/pinstripe around the stripes, I like it!
Install:
I figured with all of the car nuts on this forum that some of you might be interested in this.
Thom at Pro-Tect Mobile www.pro-tectmobile.com just finished up a Clear Bra install on my 2012 Grand Sport Centennial Edition Coupe. It looks GREAT! It will be on display in the Vendor area at the Lone Star Corvette Classic http://lonestarcorvetteclub.com/content ... _id=199271.
My "mandate" (actually my wife's) to Thom was "no seam lines" and I've gotta tell you, he LIVED UP TO IT! Seriously. Of course, to do this, I had full panels covered, not half panels (other than the hatch, but that's along the striping). Had a buddy look at it last night, he couldn't see it, he wasn't able to determine which panels had it, even after I told him where it was. It looks REALLY good. Now granted, I had full panels done, you should see the fenders (remember, this is a Grand Sport, it has the "gills"), they look awesome!
Areas I have covered:
-front bumper (full panel coverage)
-hood (full panel coverage)
-front fenders (full panel coverage)
-rockers (full panel coverage)
-rear quarter panels/brake ducts (full panel coverage)
-roof (full panel coverage, to keep the same look as the rest of the striping)
-halo (full panel coverage, to keep the same look as the rest of the striping and to protect the 100 Years sticker)
-rear hatch (just the striping, to keep the same look as the rest of the striping)
-mirrors (just the forward-facing strike zone)
I decided to cover the Centennial Edition stripes, otherwise they are not protected. The film creates sort of a ghost outline/pinstripe around the stripes, I like it!
Install:
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
Here is the finished product. I still have to put a few coats of sealant on it and it needs to cure for awhile, but here it is, just freshly done, there are a few areas that need to totally dry out, but that is to be expected, oh, any dust/specs you see are *on top* of the film, wind was blowing during these pictures:
Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
Very nice! My to you for your patience. I have a lot of patience for a lot of things, but I think I would have paid someone to do that for me. Was that custom made for the Vetter or can I get something like that for my truck? That definitely would have protected it from a lot of the scratches it has accumulated over the years.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
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Topic author - Senior Member
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
I did not do this (it would have looked awful if I had)....
Thom at Pro-Tect Mobile (http://www.pro-tectmobile.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) did the install. You can literally get anything covered in protective film/clear bra. I know that he has covered trucks, Porches, Ferraris, Lambos...you name it.
Thom at Pro-Tect Mobile (http://www.pro-tectmobile.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) did the install. You can literally get anything covered in protective film/clear bra. I know that he has covered trucks, Porches, Ferraris, Lambos...you name it.
Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
Well, I thought that was you in the pictures doing this in your own garage.PUCKER wrote:I did not do this (it would have looked awful if I had)....
Thom at Pro-Tect Mobile (http://www.pro-tectmobile.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) did the install. You can literally get anything covered in protective film/clear bra. I know that he has covered trucks, Porches, Ferraris, Lambos...you name it.
I'll have to keep this in mind for my next car.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
No worries, I'm not that skinny!C-dub wrote:Well, I thought that was you in the pictures doing this in your own garage.
I'll have to keep this in mind for my next car.
You can see me in some of the reflections, taking the pictures though. I'm the fat guy...
I thought about doing it on my 2011 Corvette Convertible but ended up trading it in on this one before I did it. This particular car is *really* bad about zinging rocks (from the front tires, they are STICKY and wide), especially to the rear quarter panel, due to it sticking out, because of the wide tires...fronts are P275/35ZR18 and rears are P325/30ZR19 (all are Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car Gen 2 tires).
Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
Ahhh, they do it for motorcycles too! I wish I would have done this for my Hayabusa.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
Very cool!!
And now that you've got that handy clear cover, I don't feel bad for all over the hood.
Nice looking corvette, sir.
And now that you've got that handy clear cover, I don't feel bad for all over the hood.
Nice looking corvette, sir.
TANSTAAFL
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
74novaman,
Thank you, I love it (so does the wife!)...sometimes I catch myself opening the door to the garage in the middle of the night and turning on the light...just to take a peak.
Thank you, I love it (so does the wife!)...sometimes I catch myself opening the door to the garage in the middle of the night and turning on the light...just to take a peak.
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Topic author - Senior Member
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
It's pretty wild! BTW - it literally is slick, as in slippery...that's part of the idea, bugs will slide right off, at least a majority should.AndyC wrote:Wow, that is incredible! I'll have to keep that in mind next time I buy a car - very very slick indeed!
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
I have done this for over a decade on my cars now. (I'm a total car freak, and do a lot of road course driving at MSR and TWS in C.S.). The benefit to these films are amazing.
Rock chips are the primary reason people get 'em, but the best benefit to them IMO are: bugs & bird mess.
You don't have to worry about either etching into the paint when cooking in the sun on long road trips. You can even use the gas station squeegee on the bugs without worry about scratches, etc. It's great!
If you ever put that on a real track (one that has turns!), let me know. I drive with PCA a lot. It's quite a rush and a lot of fun, and like shooting, smooth is fast.
Rock chips are the primary reason people get 'em, but the best benefit to them IMO are: bugs & bird mess.
You don't have to worry about either etching into the paint when cooking in the sun on long road trips. You can even use the gas station squeegee on the bugs without worry about scratches, etc. It's great!
If you ever put that on a real track (one that has turns!), let me know. I drive with PCA a lot. It's quite a rush and a lot of fun, and like shooting, smooth is fast.
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
I love Corvettes, but I hate their interiors, it just looks like the same designer who did the 2000 Chevy Cavalier did the Corvettes' interior. If Nissan can do great interior on their GT-R, why not Chevy? and I love the GT-Rs and I will love more the new Vipers.
Beiruty,
United we stand, dispersed we falter
2014: NRA Endowment lifetime member
United we stand, dispersed we falter
2014: NRA Endowment lifetime member
Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
What is the care like on something like this? Hand wash only or just rinse? Wax? Any cleaners at all?
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
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Re: Got a Clear Bra for my Vette
Treat it like normal. Wash and even wax.C-dub wrote:What is the care like on something like this? Hand wash only or just rinse? Wax? Any cleaners at all?
The only thing you can't do is clay bar.