For several years I have been looking to get some overriders for our Bay and the scarcity and price have bewildered me. I eventually did get a set early this year and they were not in the best of condition. So a friend (who is unable to claim benefits at this time) was tasked to restore them and work started. First top coat went on and the finish was not satisfactory for my friend who questioned why one had a cut out and why all 4 are slightly different (part Numbers are 55312-10, 55312-11, 55312-12 and 55312-13)
After talking about the scarcity of them my friend wondered if people would be interested in GRP copies of the originals so I agreed he could use mine to make the moulds. The holes to fit the rubbers were filled in case folk don't want to fit them and the finish was excellent The negative moulds were made and today were removed
Also a first cast was made of one (which has been a learning curve) So at present my friend has created the green GRP one whichr is a perfect copy of the originals So my question is...... Is there a market for these out there or has my friend wasted his time?
Its not me that's making them so I can not say. I'm just testing the water for my mate so to speak. If enough folk are interested I will tell him to order the white gel coat, resin and matting so he can work out materials and time.
Always people looking for these..... was lucky enough to find a set early on but as the early bays are readily available from the likes of Heritage/Machine7 etc he might find that he starts selling that he might get contracted to make a few batches for said companies..... I've seen Buttys bits & Vintage Speed in Heritage stores & they started as a one man band selling..... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I doubt the normal suppliers would be interested. These will never rust, so they won't be able to sell you another set in 6 months.
Speaking from experience I can say (and most definitely not with any pride, more shame) that the originals to buy, restore, get new impact rubbers for etc have cost me nigh on £500. So what price do people think is a fair price to pay for a full set of GRP ones WITHOUT the rubber impact strips, but a template to drill the holes if you want to fit them (impact strips are £34.95 a pair). The issue at present is the fastening brackets, as we do not know if they are readily available and if not, what the cost is going to be to have them manufactured (we don't know if the ones from early bay overriders will do the job). So as I say, what price would you think is fair and would be willing to pay?
There is a guy on thesamba.com selling GRP overriders , early ones have more holes in than lates and use a coach bolt to bolt them on to the bumper ,you have to have a fixing hole somewhere. You'll soon realise people will want them cheap ...how thick are they ?
Cheers for the link. It's not my venture and I know the work that's gone into making the moulds so far. I believe the trial one was something like a fibreglass sheet that was 300 and another that was 400 with a green gel coat and resin. As for thickness with a micrometer I can not say. Appeared sturdy to me but I am not a connoisseur of GRP so have no real right to say.
