Europa front end bra

[Pfreen]

There are a lot of dump trucks on South Florida ruining paint jobs with stone chips.  Does anyone know of a bra made for a Lotus Europa?

[Rosco5000]

I would suggest finding your local car wrapping place and see what they can do for putting a clear 3M protective vinyl on the car.  Usually they offer options on how much of the car you want covered. The clear vinyl is quite good.  I have it on my wife's Escalade and it keeps things projected from chips.
R

[Pfreen]

I thought about that.  I was kind of thinking that with the bra, I could take it off at shows.

Can the 3m vinyl be removed? 

[BDA]

I've never seen or heard of a bra for a Europa. From what I am told, they can trap water underneath potentially causing future paint problems.

I believe Rosco is talking about what is sometimes called a "clear bra." I saw one on an S2000 and it was nearly invisible. The only thing you could see - and you had to look for it - wais the line of the end of the "bra." I believe they can be taken off without damage to your paint (I don't know why you would want to), but you should check first. A good wrapping or tint place should be able to handle it but it will be probably be more expensive than for newer cars because there won't be any patterns for a 40+ year old car.

Tint World does Clear Bras (https://www.tintworld.com/services/automotive-services/car-protection-film/paint-protection-film-kits/). I have used Tint World up here in NC and they've been pretty good (admittedly, I don't have much to compare them too). They tinted my Mercedes C230 and my Europa. The Europa was more challenging since, as I said, there are no patterns for it, but they did a great job. I plan on getting a shade tint on the windshield since I sit too high for visors to be useful. They have several locations in your area (https://www.tintworld.com/search-location).

[literarymadness]

I found a place on the west coast that would do a custom group order (20) if someone in the L.A. area would bring their car in for the exact fit dimensions.  It is the only thing they manufacture. carbras.com  I would definitely in on tht one.

[jbcollier]

The old fashioned black "bras" for the front of the car also had issues.  Movement of the bra due to air flow/wind could scratch the paint.  Long term bra use could lead to "tan lines" where the faded paint met the covered paint.

[1970EuropaGuy]

I used a bra on my BMW 2002 for years. The key is to wash it and the car regularly and not leave it on the car for extended periods of time. I liked the look on the 2002, somehow can't see one on the Europa.

[Pfreen]

Well, my stone chips went from the spoiler to 6” up on the front of the hood.  I don’t think film would be attractive there. I would not cover the spoiler with a bra.  I would use the 3m film there.

The comments about the bra are interesting.  I keep my car in a garage so I don’t think paint fading would be a problem.  Abrasive wear of the paint could be a problem if you just left the bra on all the time.

How many of you all would be interested in a group buy?   I would be willing to try one.

[tedtaylor]

Paul, you have to stop "tail gating" those trucks!    Seriously though, following too closely is most of the problem.   Stay way back or go around them.    I had a bra for my M100 Elan that I fit, then immediately took off and stored away, never to use.   Changes the whole look, risks JBC pointed out, and fiddlely process to install kept me away.   I tried selling it on the LEC forum and no one expressed interest.

[bert knip]

Yesterday your car looked great, Bert

[Certified Lotus]

Here you go.....I’m sure it can be adapted to a Europa.

[1970EuropaGuy]

Here you go.....I’m sure it can be adapted to a Europa.

I always liked Gurney bumps.

[Pfreen]

I got some stone chips because I drove it over 4000 miles this year.  I just touched up the chips, and I was trying to find a good solution to avoid having to that.  It is not too hard to fix the chips since I have single stage paint.