62 replies to this topic

[LY_Scott]

Hi all,

I know this topic gets covered from time to time. It never really gets anywhere. Now its my turn. In May last year some silly old person drove into my VX, only choice due to the price of parts (and the fact that it wasnt my fault) was to go via insurance, shivering at the thought that the price of clamshells might mean the car a write-off. It wasn't but then had to wait 3 months for a rear clam to become available. Got me thinking why no-one still is manufacturing clam shells except GM/Lotus. So as my fetish for stock cars increased my mind went to the Hot Rod formula's where the cars are replica's of road cars built from fibreglass. Car's the copy now are 206, 206cc, Tigra, Mini, Z4, Corrado among others. Now I then discovered one of Europes biggest Hot Rod shell manufacturers is based very near me as well as stock rods and F2's. The thought is that they will be able to manufacture quality clam shells at their facility.

Heres a couple of examples of hot rods for you stock car novices:








I'd like to try and gauge interest in the clams to show the owners the amount of viable business. I'll probably post this across on the scottishelises.com site too I'm sure the Elise lads have the same problem.

If anyone has the current prices for the clams please let me know too...I'll probably just call up and find out anyway.

Cheers,
Scott.

[LY_Scott]

BTW to give you an idea

The whole shell of that mini retails at £1200

here's another piccy

[Muncher]

A lot will depend on how good the fibreglass finish is and how closely the originals can be matched. There are also some bespoke fixings on the clams with would need to be re-made. The bit which the headlights sits in would have to be made for example, therefore the development period could be very long. It's something I've looked into quite closely already but I'm not sure the demand is sufficient.

[markiii]

great idea :-) I'd be interested, perhaps they could make lighter ones?

[jasvxt]

A lot will depend on how good the fibreglass finish is and how closely the originals can be matched. There are also some bespoke fixings on the clams with would need to be re-made. The bit which the headlights sits in would have to be made for example, therefore the development period could be very long.

It's something I've looked into quite closely already but I'm not sure the demand is sufficient.

Agree with the above, but someone needs to sort the shortage of clams out, they are currently roughly £2,500 plus vat each end, and you have to wait forever for replacements, as they are made in France.

Plus all the needless warranty claims for clams hasn't helped either, i wonder what happened to all the clams that came off at Luton, they could have easily been re prepped and resprayed.

Replacement after market clams done to a good standard, should come in at least 50% less than the OEM one's.

Also it would be helpful if the aftermarket clams were more sectional in construction, so that the entire clam wouldn't need to be replaced in the event of a small bump.


Food for thought

[Muncher]

If someone can lend me a pair of clams I'll look into it more seriously again.

[StephenM]

Ok a number of problems with this: 1. supply and demand 2. Licenced product and copyright 3. Chrome moulded originals means quality is very high - hand laid clams will not look or be the same. 4. Insurance co's will expect to utilise non-genuine parts at the owners/insurers discretion *if* the car is borderline write off and the customer wishes to retain the car Vs write off/pay out - the problem here is getting approval on the quality standard on the the copied parts. Good idea for race cars or second hand cars though in case new GM onea are not prefered.

[ElizP987]

Ok a number of problems with this:

2. Licenced product and copyright

The original clames are made up from about 13 moulds If I remember correctly.
As long as its made up differently, in less moulds for example, surely you can get around this?

[james141]

2. Licenced product and copyright

Ding!

That will be the main problem!

The original clames are made up from about 13 moulds If I remember correctly.
As long as its made up differently, in less moulds for example, surely you can get around this?

I dont think that would wash, you cant say I have made this ipod lookalike that looks identical but is made a different way!

Edited by james141, 07 February 2008 - 06:20 PM.

[techieboy]

But there is a whole industry built up around the manufacture and supply of "pattern" parts. You'd never buy an OEM front wing for a MkI Golf from VW, for example. You'd buy a pattern one from German & Swedish, EuroCarParts or, whoever. So, there must be a way around it.

2 piece front and rear clams would be great. Each clam split into upper and lower sections would potentially save huuge amounts of money in the event of a mishap. As previously mentioned, quality is the most important factor (assuming any legalities can be overcome).

[ianrm]

The problem with clams is that in the GM world the total number of VX/speedster made is rather insignificant so stocking large amounts of clams is not highest on their list nor cost effective. It is probably easier and cheaper for the clams to be built in batches when enough orders are placed. Thus peaks and troughs occur with availability. The paint bubbling clams will all be destroyed by GM as are all warranty returns. The bubbling is nothing to do with paint or preperation, it is the clams themselves that are at fault. So they are not needless claims. I have seen many crash damaged clams and quite a few could easily have been repaired rather than replaced but that is the customers choice. There are plenty of companies that could do the work to a high standard far cheaper than the cost of a new clam or body part. We just have to accept that occasionally parts for the VX are going to take time to become available it is after all quite a rare car. Just my view.

[ElizP987]

2. Licenced product and copyright

Ding!

That will be the main problem!

The original clames are made up from about 13 moulds If I remember correctly.
As long as its made up differently, in less moulds for example, surely you can get around this?

I dont think that would wash, you cant say I have made this ipod lookalike that looks identical but is made a different way!

Their patent will be of a descrpition, as long as you are not following this identically, its fine.
Anyway, you could go and alter the fog lamp holes or grill slightly etc, we have already looked into this about 18months ago tbh.
Like has been mentioned, copy parts etc, how do you think they get away with it?

Edited by ElizP987, 07 February 2008 - 09:30 PM.

[VIX]

So how much for carbon fibre clams. Mmmmm!

[Muncher]

So how much for carbon fibre clams. Mmmmm!

Lots! My new hardtops are made with a special kind of weave which can be very thin, very strong and very light. I imagine a clam made of that would be well under half the weight of a standard one and probably not far off carbon fibre weight, without the enormous cost.

[markiii]

So how much for carbon fibre clams. Mmmmm!

Lots! My new hardtops are made with a special kind of weave which can be very thin, very strong and very light. I imagine a clam made of that would be well under half the weight of a standard one and probably not far off carbon fibre weight, without the enormous cost.

vague idea of price at all?

[Muncher]

So how much for carbon fibre clams. Mmmmm!

Lots! My new hardtops are made with a special kind of weave which can be very thin, very strong and very light. I imagine a clam made of that would be well under half the weight of a standard one and probably not far off carbon fibre weight, without the enormous cost.

vague idea of price at all?

Depends how how many are made. I would imagine you're looking at about £750 per clam. Would probably get the bonnet and engine cover done too as there would be a big saving there too. The unknown factor is development costs, I'd need front and rear sections of clams (damaged ones would probably do) and I'd get some of the mounting points made in alloy by SpitFire.

It's a demand issue as you'd need to cover the development costs. The other issue is transporting the completed clams, they'd need to be delivered by hand or collected which could be expensive if you need to do a few hundred mile round trip in a large van.

[markiii]

So how much for carbon fibre clams. Mmmmm!

Lots! My new hardtops are made with a special kind of weave which can be very thin, very strong and very light. I imagine a clam made of that would be well under half the weight of a standard one and probably not far off carbon fibre weight, without the enormous cost.

vague idea of price at all?

Depends how how many are made. I would imagine you're looking at about £750 per clam. Would probably get the bonnet and engine cover done too as there would be a big saving there too. The unknown factor is development costs, I'd need front and rear sections of clams (damaged ones would probably do) and I'd get some of the mounting points made in alloy by SpitFire.

It's a demand issue as you'd need to cover the development costs. The other issue is transporting the completed clams, they'd need to be delivered by hand or collected which could be expensive if you need to do a few hundred mile round trip in a large van.

not hideous then, though I suppose that wouldn't include Paint?

[SteveA]

Wasn't Rapidos working with someone in producing carbon clams? I know they already have carbon boots & bonnets at around £400 each IIRC.

[Arno]

Just a sideline that may be an option..

These guys are in HongKong, which makes shipment a bit of a pain, but they can ummmm... 'duplicate' most parts in wet laid CF or fibreglass if someone were to send them an original.

Some of the Elise bits they do fr price-info (add shipping cost though):

http://www.revozport.com/Lotus.html

Contact ken@revozport.com for more info.

Bye, Arno.

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

Just a sideline that may be an option..

These guys are in HongKong, which makes shipment a bit of a pain, but they can ummmm... 'duplicate' most parts in wet laid CF or fibreglass if someone were to send them an original.

Some of the Elise bits they do fr price-info (add shipping cost though):

http://www.revozport.com/Lotus.html

Contact ken@revozport.com for more info.

Bye, Arno.

interesting the s2 carbon hard top 3kg