I’ve recently had the opportunity to become involved in a project that I think some of you may be interested in.
I should state up front that I suppose this should be construed as a form of market research, but I spoke to Russell and he feels it allowable within the TOC as long as I don’t get too specific about certain things.
Anyway, A friend is in the early stages of producing a number of BA Falcon parts for the aftermarket. The most interesting of these, for a number of reasons, is the carbon fibre BA XR8/GT bonnet (see photos attached at bottom of post).
I’m sure a number of forums V8 purists will lose their heads and immediately scream RICE, but before you do, I’d like you to consider two points...
A major issue with the BA is weight. What would you say if you knew this bonnet was both stronger than the OEM steel bonnet, and also 55% lighter? Furthermore, what would you say if you found out it was 25% cheaper to buy than the equivalent OEM steel item?
The GT rear wing is also stronger, but will be roughly 55% cheaper than the outrageous OEM price from FPV.
I don’t say this because I’m trying to make a sales pitch, I say this to try and get some of you to think a bit before you post a reply.
Obviously, there will be non-XR8/GT buyers lining up to purchase this stuff. Supply and demand dictates this will happen no matter what you or I think, and screaming RICE isn’t going to stop it.
But there are those of you out there with XR8’s and GT’s spending a lot of money to make your cars faster with engine mods, but weight reduction is another avenue to explore. Some of you have gone to lightweight alloys; Pursuit owners have removed hardtops. So saving 55% (in reality nearly 15Kg) on the weight of probably the largest single panel on the car helps, and I suppose it could possibly even lower the cars’ centre of gravity slightly.
The cost of OEM replacement parts in another matter worth mentioning again. FPV have set incredibly high prices to discourage people from buying these parts to stick on their non FPV vehicles, but this effects genuine FPV owners should the have an accident and need repairs (or for that matter should they just wish to preserve the originality of their factory parts.
Apart from the bonnet and rear spoilers, a GT front bar is in the works at present (and you can bet this will be a LOT cheaper than the 2K+ price of the OEM front bar), and other parts will follow.
So I’d like people to post their comments and answer the appropriate poll questions placed at the top of this thread.
Cheers
Jason
BA carbon fibre XR8/GT bonnet:
Bonnet inner:
Unpainted:
A closer look:
Pursuit wing:
I should state up front that I suppose this should be construed as a form of market research, but I spoke to Russell and he feels it allowable within the TOC as long as I don’t get too specific about certain things.
Anyway, A friend is in the early stages of producing a number of BA Falcon parts for the aftermarket. The most interesting of these, for a number of reasons, is the carbon fibre BA XR8/GT bonnet (see photos attached at bottom of post).
I’m sure a number of forums V8 purists will lose their heads and immediately scream RICE, but before you do, I’d like you to consider two points...
A major issue with the BA is weight. What would you say if you knew this bonnet was both stronger than the OEM steel bonnet, and also 55% lighter? Furthermore, what would you say if you found out it was 25% cheaper to buy than the equivalent OEM steel item?
The GT rear wing is also stronger, but will be roughly 55% cheaper than the outrageous OEM price from FPV.
I don’t say this because I’m trying to make a sales pitch, I say this to try and get some of you to think a bit before you post a reply.
Obviously, there will be non-XR8/GT buyers lining up to purchase this stuff. Supply and demand dictates this will happen no matter what you or I think, and screaming RICE isn’t going to stop it.
But there are those of you out there with XR8’s and GT’s spending a lot of money to make your cars faster with engine mods, but weight reduction is another avenue to explore. Some of you have gone to lightweight alloys; Pursuit owners have removed hardtops. So saving 55% (in reality nearly 15Kg) on the weight of probably the largest single panel on the car helps, and I suppose it could possibly even lower the cars’ centre of gravity slightly.
The cost of OEM replacement parts in another matter worth mentioning again. FPV have set incredibly high prices to discourage people from buying these parts to stick on their non FPV vehicles, but this effects genuine FPV owners should the have an accident and need repairs (or for that matter should they just wish to preserve the originality of their factory parts.
Apart from the bonnet and rear spoilers, a GT front bar is in the works at present (and you can bet this will be a LOT cheaper than the 2K+ price of the OEM front bar), and other parts will follow.
So I’d like people to post their comments and answer the appropriate poll questions placed at the top of this thread.
Cheers
Jason
BA carbon fibre XR8/GT bonnet:

Bonnet inner:

Unpainted:

A closer look:

Pursuit wing:
