To roll bar or not to roll bar a TR7 Convertible? - that is the question..

[CV35Ian]

So the TR7 V8 has passed its first MOT since 2010, and now the Wipers are properly fixed and the cheapo Facet Fuel pump replaced with a better quality item, we are almost ready to play!

I have a Roll Bar to potentially fit, presuming it will need plates with captive nuts to fit properly (its a Rimmers style one), my question is are these generally liked in the Drophead world or is the purer no roll bar look preferred? I suppose there are genuine safety aspects here to consider but if that were the ultimate argument I doubt i'd be driving any classics, riding a motorbike ...............or even getting out of bed in the morning!

So thoughts based on the aesthetics please?

And can I attach photos here without resorting to a dropbox picture library thingy - i'm a printed album kind of chap!

Thanks

[stevie_a]

Firstly, it is your choice.

Me!

I managed to get a good one from a scrap car years ago, Cleaned it up and sold it.

Why?

Although I like the look of them and yes they improve the stiffness of the car, the downsides for me were, obstruction of roof when trying to get it up and down, as for unzipping the back window what a pain .

Just my reasons.

[supercass]

I think they look ugly and spoil the lines of the car. There is little doubt though about the improved safety with a properly fitted roll over bar. This would be the reason you fit one. If you're not worried about that why fit one? You also, of course, have to drill non original holes in your bodywork. supercass

[saabfast]

I prefer the look without a roll bar, much cleaner looking.
However, my car came with one fitted when I bought it (Alley type). Although I prefer the look without I have kept it as it does seemed to have stiffened the body (compared to the shakes some report), I do not have any trouble pulling the hood over it and it has given me somewhere to mount a high level brakelight, and, of course, it adds some safety if you reckon you are ever going to roll it. The down side is that the rear view in the mirror is more restricted, the hood bag needs trimming to suit and you cannot unzip the rear window, and the looks.
But, as said its your car and your choice. Look at a few from different angles and see what you think.

[Hasbeen]

I drove in the last ever LeMans start sports car race at Bathurst, in my Morgan +4 in 1964. [TR3A engine for Triumph fans]. The introduction of seat belts ruined all such fun.

My Morgan did not have a roll bar, & infact the only 2 cars of the 40 in the race that did have roll bars were a Lotus 19 & a Lotus 15.

Anyone with any knowledge of Lotus strength in the 60s know that any roll bar fitted to them was only for decoration, [& compliance], & more likely to kill you than save you.

The sports car was a British concept, using cheap parts from family cars in light bodies to give more performance. Nothing heavy & unnecessary was ever fitted. That Bathurst field was full of these cars. MGs, Midgets, Sprites, Healeys, Morgans, Lotus & even a Turner.

None of us considered that we were worthy of living for ever, or even wanted to, we just had fun.

What ever happened to the old British spirit of adventure that once ruled the waves, & damn near the planet. Could it have all moved down under, & to Bathurst in the 60s, before finally passing into history.

Hasbeen

[CV35Ian]

Thanks all,

I may leave as is - watch out for the ebay 'Roll Bar' listing!!

Ian

[XSeries]

There was a roll bar on one of the 4 TR7 / TR8s I have bought. There were none on those I sold and nor on the cars I still own.

Brian

[seven]

My roll bar sits in the shed waiting for the day it will be fitted or not
It was the bar that came off 'Var'

[dursleyman]

My first TR7 came with an Alley bar included but when I got it home I found it was not fixed to the car at all, just placed in position! Because of the need to build the mounts into the car I kept it until I had my "new" car in pieces and was able to get the mounting points welded in.

I agree the aesthetics are open to debate but I take the view that should I manage to find myself upside down I would prefer something between me and the scenery. Personally I don't find the appearance ugly.

[sonscar]

Mine too was only decoratively attached with self tapping screws and washers.I welded plates with captive nuts to the refitted bar.It is personal choice but I like it.Steve..

[busheytrader]

Back in the day when wedges were current, a work colleague rolled his Persian Aqua DHC. He was found lying sideways in his upside down car, the windscreen frame flat on the dashboard. It was rush hour on the Hangar Lane gyratory system in London. You're lucky if you get up to 20mph there but a heavy goods vehicle was involved.......he was OK.

I wouldn't worry about what others think, it's your head and shoulders.

Then again neither my wedge or daily drive MX5 have a roll bar.

[john 215]

Hi,

Got one on mine and certain it stiffens the shell and with the strut brace at the front she feels as good as my FHC, as others have said your car ..... your choice.

Cheers John

[saabfast]

Back in the day when wedges were current, a work colleague rolled his Persian Aqua DHC. He was found lying sideways in his upside down car, the windscreen frame flat on the dashboard. It was rush hour on the Hangar Lane gyratory system in London. You're lucky if you get up to 20mph there but a heavy goods vehicle was involved.......he was OK.

I wouldn't worry about what others think, it's your head and shoulders.

Then again neither my wedge or daily drive MX5 have a roll bar.

Agreed, you never know when it is going to happen even without racing. Back in 1974 my mate had a nice midget (RWA one bought in new 1973). He was coming back from the coast one night rather late after some liaison or other. Fell asleep about 2 miles from home, went straight across a corner into a front garden and up the rockery. Car turned over and he was lucky, the hood sticks held, probably because it was slow, and he climbed out upside down. Damage was not too bad and the insurance put the car back on the road.

[Henry]

I have one so probably biased!
They do obscure the view through the rear view mirror but I'm planning on making an ali spacer block painted black to lower the mirror a tad which should sort it.
They are a PITA to fit, even though the welded nuts were there in the car from when S & S had fitted one to the car previously. I bought mine from ebay cheaply, I cut best part of 2" from the ends of the tube that goes down the side of the seat to get it to fit. I had mine trimmed to match the seats.
When fitting make sure it is low enough to clear the roof going up and down, that's why I needed to cut the 2" off, and the hood cover will need trimming around the bar. I also removed the large plastic trim panel from behind the seats, it doesn't do anything anyway, and carpeted from the shelf down behind the seats.
I plan to also make a wind deflector that slots in under and between the two tubes to stop the draft at the back of our heads.
Good luck!

[john 215]

Hi,

Agree with my learned friend Henry, they can be ' character building ' fitting them and req trimming to fit in same places, easy to cut down than to add on I guess !! Moved my roof up to max in the locating holes to clear it also. Then had a custom made tonneau cover for roof made by a local trimmer. Mine came of Ebay for about £100 brand new, think the gent bottled it when he realised would take longer than 10 minutes to fit !

Cheers John