Plastic Body

[dalkill]

A while back I saw a top gear episode where they had a sports car made mostly of riggid plastic, and the body of the car was produced in SA.

Now I gots to thinking, what if one could make replica body of SFA of this rigid plastic. THis should surely make the vehicle much lighter and more economical....

[CasKru]

If I'm not not mistaken, that factory is somewhere in PE :Geek:

[astam]

will fibreglass do?

see viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1974&start=0&st=0& ... ilit=mboza

[hilex08]

years ago there was a factory in mtubatuba, dunno if they still excist,

saw some hilux fibre glass bodies they made, and very close to the real mc coy

[Bfreesani]

That company does not exist anymore, but have moved on to start up another. They were the original owners of the Sani corporation that was bought up and closed down due to the possible competition for the Xtrail and then the Terrano and with the Pathfinder already launched abroad. They produced the Nissan Sani and I believe one of the conditions to closing the company was a restraint of trade agreement whereby they may not produce any body for a Nissan. But I think if you can get hold of them, they have no restriction on Toyota's.

The guys are now producing fiberglass cabs for roadgraders (think it was Caterpillar) .. For the life of me I can't find the link to the website. Will continue looking

[dalkill]

This would be great for coastal regions where the vehicles suffer from alot fo rust as well...

But what could one replace... fenders, bonnet, door... could you rplace the entire cab as well?

[Scorpion]

I've saw the Hilux fiberglass shells a long time ago, and you could replace every single body panel, including the cab. Not sure if it's the same company, though.

[JohanM]

I am just wondering how the fibreglass will hold up to the vibrations of corrugated roads in the long run and how safe it would be in the event of a mishap or roll over ect.....

I still prefer the hard cage.... :roll:

[dalkill]

but with plastic it should handle the vibrations better than fiberglass...

also worried about the safety aspect. maybe keep the cab and just replace fenders and doors.. should be a bit safer.

[ThysdJ]

also worried about the safety aspect. maybe keep the cab and just replace fenders and doors.. should be a bit safer.

I dont think it is less safe than a steel body. I would just install a good roll bar.. Lotus and Corvette have been building fibreglass sports cars for ages.. and a good thick layer of fibreglass can be stronger than 2.5 mm steel.

The problem in replacing just the doors and fenders is that they might not fit 100%... and rattle and not be dust proof... :roll:

[JohanM]

The problem in replacing just the doors and fenders is that they might not fit 100%... and rattle and not be dust proof... :roll:

Thys I agree, because then it becomes similar to the others on the road like Rand Lovers or Dustbins....

[ThysdJ]

It is not all that difficult to make moulds of your metal fenders/body panels and then cast your own fibreglass body panels, but it is a sticky, dusty, smelly job and you need heaps of space.. The bonus is once you have the moulds, you can reproduce many replicas and sell them to other people who want replacement fibreglass panels...

[JohanM]

Thys, but I am sure you have more than enough space at home to start the idea, you can maybe even ask niel to join in seeming that he is becoming rapidly very handy in building stuff....

[Tristan]

Ive seen a complete fibreglass Hilux Surf but nooo!! idea were it came from :?

Would be a huge benefit down here at the coast.
The X-Trail has plastic fenders that you can actually push in with your hand and they just pop back into shape again when you let go a pretty cool feature for offroad I think

[ThysdJ]

Thys, but I am sure you have more than enough space at home to start the idea, you can maybe even ask niel to join in seeming that he is becoming rapidly very handy in building stuff....

My place is too small, and I have worked in fibreglass before Johan, and never at my house again. You dont understand where that fine dust creeps in, it goes all over the place, and it makes you itch as well... NO NO NO... One day when I win the Lotto and I can afford to rent a little workshop about 5km away from my house I will consider it...

[Bfreesani]

If the surf was anything like the Maverick and the Sani, they are complete fiber glass with only the bonnet and doors being metal. EVen the big talegate is fiberglass. They say the vehicle would be around 300Kg heavier to have the same strength but in metal.

[JohanM]

David,

That is a very interesting fact to know. However, I am sure that with the technology they used, it is pretty safe though..... :roll: