Superformance Clearbra Pattern

[Ace23]

Hauling my car a few weeks back the gear in the ratchet stripped and the handle of the ratchet released and banged around on the front under side of the car. Pretty nasty rash but it didn't damage the body...it did rub through the clearbra and remove all the paint. The car is currently at the body shop and it got me thinking of how the clear bra would be replaced. My car seems to have a multi-piece clear bra up front that looks to be from a pattern....it is impressive how perfect and lined up it looks. Does anyone know if there are Superformance clearbra's or if they are done by hand? I saw a 996TT car the other day that was done at the place the body shop uses and there is not a snowball's chance in hell my car is going there for the clear bra. It had two creases in it you could see from 10ft away. I used the search function and it sounded like a pattern may have existed at one time.
Thanks

[Sawdust]

Ace23
I would start with calling an SPF dealer and maybe they could point you in the right direction

[Ron61]

Either what Sawdust said or go to the Superformance site if you haven't already and post a question asking about this. Most likely there will be someone on the site that can answer your question.

Ron

[Tim7139]

I have one as well and it was absolutely a pre cut pattern as well. However here's a thought.
I do not know if there were more than one pattern. While mine is ok and mine is pristine since the car is low miles, I have'nt been thrilled with the pattern that stops a few inches short of the hood line as well as no coverage over the sweep of the upper front fenders.
While I've not reached a conclusion yet I've done a fair bit of homework on the new 3M spray product which offers decent protection. is cheaper and allows any coverage you deem adequate. Food for thought.

[kevins2]

When I was researching clear bras for my ERA I saw that there are patterns for Superformance cars. I went with XPEL and I know some of their dealers had a pattern. You may need to do some detective work on the internet and make some calls to find someone in your area that can deal with it. I spoke with a few installers and a number of them didn't want to tackle the Cobra front-end. I did eventually find someone with an ERA pattern who was willing to send it to my local installer and it worked out fine.

[jhv48]

You won't need a clear bra if your front end is repainted with a good clear coat.

My spf got tons of chips on the front end during its first 13,000 miles with the original paint job. After a minor altercation with a garage door, my front end was repainted and after another 13,000 miles, not a single chip on the front end. A good clear coat made all the difference in the durability of the paint.

[madmaxx]

Stock SPF paint does seam very very delicate. As far as the clear bra I believe since the front is so "curvy" the only way to do a bra is in pieces. That was 5 years ago, though maybe somebody has a one piece now.

[Tim7139]

Originally Posted by jhv48

You won't need a clear bra if your front end is repainted with a good clear coat.

My spf got tons of chips on the front end during its first 13,000 miles with the original paint job. After a minor altercation with a garage door, my front end was repainted and after another 13,000 miles, not a single chip on the front end. A good clear coat made all the difference in the durability of the paint.

Uh.....No that's incorrect. Every single form of urathane clearcoat will chip, simply a question of degree.
This is why most of this product is sold for modern cars, particularly high end sports cars with the best coatings money can buy.

[jhv48]

Same roads, same driving style. Not a single chip in 13,000 miles.

Facts is facts.

[Got the Bug]

In retrospect, I wish I hadn't gone with the 3M clear bra on my SPF. There's a weired effect in sunlight sometimes, and I've gotten chips on the front area where the coverage ends. I've talked to a few people about removing it, but after 6 years that may be risky.

[Ace23]

I called around and was given the name of a company called Star Shield Solutions out in California. I was told the produce the Superformance clearbra kits. My car has 12k miles on it and the clearbra has done its job...it's a titanium colored car so it's almost invisible on the car.

[Tim7139]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Same roads, same driving style. Not a single chip in 13,000 miles.

Facts is facts.

Luck is luck sport, it will chip like any other coating.

[Tim7139]

It appears Proform design has a bounty of options including a couple of nose tipns, doors, rockers, etc. they must list 15-20 patterns.

[Dons427]

Hello: I have an ERA 427 that was just re-painted.
I was very concerned about protection for the front, especially when on the highway.
I bought the spats from ERA to protect the rear fenders from rocks being thrown from my own front tires, but what to do about the front end protection?
I found that Superformance sells the old fashioned bra made from the same material as my spats.
I took a chance that it would fit an ERA OK, or could be altered by a local interior shop.
I haven't tried it on the car yet.
I am worried that this bra could damage/chafe the very paint job that I am trying to protect! I am thinking that would only install when driving on the highway, and have the car super clean before installing it.
I think the reason that this type of bra fell out of favor was that they were left on too long on expensive cars and dirt got under the bra.
Maybe; the clear coats are more durable now so it can take the abuse of the bra.
I am taking a risk if I install it, or if I don't I risk paint chips.
Anyone have any thoughts on this subject?

[madmaxx]

I used a SPF bra and it worked flawless and never damaged the paint. There is definitely different chip resistant coatings. My lexus with 120K miles has less chips than the last SPF I sold with 4k miles. A pine needle hits a SPF paint job and it chips. PERIOD

[STEVE-O]

Avoid the Xpel / 3M bras that need to applied by a professional or SPF type bra that may scratch the paint, try plastidip. I've used it on the front area prone to rock chips and its perfect. Apply the clear with gloss, use it for a season and remove it. Apply again next season.
https://www.dipyourcar.com/

[kevins2]

Originally Posted by Dons427

Hello: I have an ERA 427 that was just re-painted.
I was very concerned about protection for the front, especially when on the highway.
I bought the spats from ERA to protect the rear fenders from rocks being thrown from my own front tires, but what to do about the front end protection?
I found that Superformance sells the old fashioned bra made from the same material as my spats.
I took a chance that it would fit an ERA OK, or could be altered by a local interior shop.
I haven't tried it on the car yet.
I am worried that this bra could damage/chafe the very paint job that I am trying to protect! I am thinking that would only install when driving on the highway, and have the car super clean before installing it.
I think the reason that this type of bra fell out of favor was that they were left on too long on expensive cars and dirt got under the bra.
Maybe; the clear coats are more durable now so it can take the abuse of the bra.
I am taking a risk if I install it, or if I don't I risk paint chips.
Anyone have any thoughts on this subject?

See my post #5. The guy that made the ERA pattern is in CT. He was hesitant to share it because he said it needed some tweaking but he agreed to send it to my installer, who was able to modify it to my liking and the job came out pretty good. I had it end at the front of the hood, so no film line across the car, just over the fenders. It is 5 pieces, not sure how many the SPF pattern is. I can dig up details and try to get some close-up photos if you're interested. The most important part of this is finding a very skilled installer - a lot of them just can't deal with the curves adequately and don't know the techniques to make it come out well.

Kevin

[Dons427]

thank you Kevin.
I will try my SPF bra first, and then try what you have suggested.
thanks so much for offering to help.

Don

[kevins2]

Don,

The bodies are different. For example, look at your running/parking lights and you'll notice they are not positioned symmetrically. The installer would have to either move the hole in the pattern in the software or eliminate it and cut it manually. Other shape differences as well. If multiple pieces it probably won't fit right at the seams.

[Dons427]

Thanks, Kevin.
I will have my installer work on fitting the SPF bra on the ERA car; and let everyone know the outcome.

Don