Single or Dual Roll Bars

[Al G]

Originally Posted by dr evil

You are much safer on the street without a roll bar.

I'd really like to hear the logic behind this statement.

[kevins2]

Originally Posted by Al G

I'd really like to hear the logic behind this statement.

I think this comes from the volumes written in previous threads. On the street, you are much more likely to get in a rearend collision than a rollover. There are stories of guys bashing their heads on the rollbar and getting severe concussions or even dying from it. Of course, this doesn't address what would have happened with no rollbar. Having your head snap back with nothing there isn't good either. No clear answer to this one unless you're willing to compromise the look for some sort of padded head restraint.

Kevin

[DanEC]

My ERA Street Roadster replica (no roll bar) is the first convertible/roadster I've owned. I try not to fret too much over the lack of a roll bar because I plan on street driving only, the cars have a low center of gravity, and there are millions and millions of other convertibles out there that never had roll bars also. I do worry about the prospect of a rear ending - but no more than in my 66 Corvette or 67 GTX, both of which have low back seats and no head restraint. I would also worry about having a naked piece of hard steel pipe behind my head running around on the street with all the crazies out there. I would have to put some high density padding on it if it were me. Might make the difference between a concussion and bashed in skull. Everything has risks. It's hard to mitigate all of them.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Everything has risks. It's hard to mitigate all of them.

Exactly. Whatever makes you happy.

[tkb289]

MJJ

Here is a link to a long thread from just about 2 years ago, if you have not seen it yet …

Passenger Roll Bar -- Yes or No

As you can tell, it’s a topic of a great deal of discussion. Bottom line, it’s your Cobra, build it the way you want it.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by MJJ

Why do most go with the single roll bar?

Seems like the dual would provide more protection especially if you had a passenger?

Pretty obvious for the man that doesn't have to prove anything - the benefits of 2 rollbars outweigh 1 for the reasons stated. These cars are replicas, how many actually hold true to all components of a 60's cobra? - not a one.

Cars with 2 bars look stupid, cars with one long one look stupid. The correct look is one roll bar. You bought the car for the "look", and all that goes with it,,,, don't chinse it up. Besides, having 2 tells the world that a"girly man " owns it !

After reading this ridiculousness my 1st thought was too bad there isn't a jackass screen to prevent potential cobra owners from buying.

[itstock]

I stuck with 1 because I liked the look.

Unfortunately, I am finding that many "track day" events require both do to mandatory instruction before letting the cars rip.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

After reading this ridiculousness my 1st thought was too bad there isn't a jackass screen to prevent potential cobra owners from buying.

What makes you so sure that you'd pass?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Dimis

What makes you so sure that you'd pass?

Well I've been waiting for, like, seven years for CSX3183 to get his "CSX4000 series car" and... it will be a real hoot, if and when he finally gets it, if it has two roll bars.

[CSX3183]

Well, I guess one of these days I need to update. Hasn't been my #1 priority. I had a deposit on a 4000, had everything bought from soup to nuts to finish it off.

Was going to make it as close as I could to be an exact mirror image of CSX 3183. Then I got cancer of the tongue, had 35 radiation treatments, along with Chemo..


Being unable to work, I owned my own business, hired a guy who robbed me blind. Lost the business, way too many medical bills, couldn't work, too sick, lost our house also. Of course during that time I was able to pull off a miracle.

I got my 10,000 deposit back from SA. While gaining back my health/strength, we moved back to my home town, and was able to find a home thru family and friends.

All was well until 5/12, found out I had lung cancer, had half of my left lung removed, and Chemo again. Now I go every 2 weeks to get infusions of Magnesium.

All along this time I have been restoring to concours condition, a 68 Cougar XR-7 GT-E.

So, there is your reason for your little joke, of course, I did own and enjoy to the max, CSX 3183 for over 7 years.

Have you had the experience, and the fortune to own a REAL car? or just a facsimile of one?????

I make no excuses for my biting humor, I tell it like I see it and how I feel towards the cars, with reverence, and when I see something that I think looks like crap, I'll express myself.

Two roll bars, cup holders, heated seats, fancy mirrors, heat guards for the pipes, etc., etc. Jesus, just go out and buy an Escalade or Vette.

Because your sure ain't experiencing anything close to the real deal.

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well I've been waiting for, like, seven years for CSX3183 to get his "CSX4000 series car" and... it will be a real hoot, if and when he finally gets it, if it has two roll bars.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by CSX3183

Was going to make it as close as I could to be an exact mirror image of CSX 3183. Then I got cancer of the tongue, had 35 radiation treatments, along with Chemo..

Being unable to work, I owned my own business, hired a guy who robbed me blind. Lost the business, way too many medical bills, couldn't work, too sick, lost our house also.

Well I am certainly sorry to hear all of that... and I wish you all the best in the future. My heart definitely goes out to you.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by Dimis

What makes you so sure that you'd pass?

Don't have to pass, don't have to take the damn test, JBL's are not cobra replicas

But you can bet your sweet bippy it will have 2 rollbars 'cause track days are certainly in the mix.

[rodneym]

People have been punchy lately.
All this jibber jabber is just "whose wife is prettier".
We all know what's more original.
We all know what's safer.
We all know what's cooler...whoops!

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by rodneym

People have been punchy lately.
All this jibber jabber is just "whose wife is prettier".
We all know what's more original.
We all know what's safer.
We all know what's cooler...whoops!

There is NOTHING more original, less safe and more cool than twin Paxtons...
freakin' nothin.....

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Don't have to pass, don't have to take the damn test, JBL's are not cobra replicas

But you can bet your sweet bippy it will have 2 rollbars 'cause track days are certainly in the mix.

Love me a JBL... Seriously aggressive looking beast!

But I would NEVER have two rollbars on it


Just one big one that spans across the width of the car.
I figure that should increase the rigidity on a car that could actually make the most of it!

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by Dimis

Love me a JBL... Seriously aggressive looking beast!

But I would NEVER have two rollbars on it


Just one big one that spans across the width of the car.
I figure that should increase the rigidity on a car that could actually make the most of it!

The builder disagrees with you, that idea was brought up early on, double rollbar was the recommendation.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by tkb289

MJJ

Here is a link to a long thread from just about 2 years ago, if you have not seen it yet …

Passenger Roll Bar -- Yes or No

As you can tell, it’s a topic of a great deal of discussion. Bottom line, it’s your Cobra, build it the way you want it.

You might want to talk this guy ^^^, if you buy your Cobra from ERA, since Tim and ERA designed a multiplicity of roll bar setups for his ERA.

As for the "girly" comment, usually that's a classic Freud defense mechanism called "over compensation."

[CSX3183]

More along the lines of levity

Originally Posted by RodKnock

You might want to talk this guy ^^^, if you buy your Cobra from ERA, since Tim and ERA designed a multiplicity of roll bar setups for his ERA.

As for the "girly" comment, usually that's a classic Freud defense mechanism called "over compensation."

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

You might want to talk this guy ^^^, if you buy your Cobra from ERA, since Tim and ERA designed a multiplicity of roll bar setups for his ERA.

Don't have much to add to the discussion that has not already been said, other than for those that have one, the roll bar is one feature of a Cobra no one wants to test, be it one roll bar or two.

When I was planning my ERA FIA build, I too could not decide which way to go. So I asked Peter if they could fabricate two different roll bar set ups, turns out they could and they did a great job. This was the first FIA like this they have done.

For me it works well, swapping things around takes about 30 minutes. There is an extra hole in the body, but I am OK with that. I prefer the classic single hoop look and that is the way the car is configured most of the time. The full width roll bar is nice to have as an option, but it does look a bit out of place, as it's not very common. I really like the no roll bar, street car look.


------------------------


Single hoop Traditional FIA roll bar set up.




Full width roll bar.

Note: There is precedence of this configuration as some early racing Cobras had full width roll bars similar to this. In Trevor Legate's book, COBRA The First 40 Years, there are photos of this kind of set up (see pages 53, 73, 88, 89 & 91).



This view shows the metal cap that fits into the grommet. The cap could be painted black or body color to make it less noticeable.




No roll bar offers more of a street car look, but with the FIA body. Again, if the caps are black or body color, they will not stand out as much.

[rcobra427]

Two roll bars? Ick.