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To bar or not to bar

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M

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What are the opinions on installing a roll bar? The argument for, of course, is that it might save your life in a roll-over. The argument against is that there is little evidence that they might save your life in a roll-over except, perhaps, on high-priced racing cars that have roll-over cages.

If they are so important, why do we not see any roll bars on modern convertibles?

Personally, I think they detract greatly from the looks of the car.

Someone has said: If you plan on having an accident, buy a Volvo!

Seriously, I think the roll bar "sounds" like a good idea, but I prefer to go without one, never drive over 50 mph, drive fanatically defensively, take curves slowly, and trust in my luck.

Any opinions?
 
Hi Lex,

Personally I don`t care for them. As you had mentioned that if your going to be doing "Normal" driving (50-60mph) maybe even on some "Twistie" roads; You should be OK without one.

On the other hand; If you plan on "Racing" to whatever degree; You should probably have one.

I owned a `72TR6 with one & removed it cause I thought it just took away from the lines of the car.

My $.02,

Russ
 
Russ,

Many thanks for your feedback. Obviousy, I agree, but I am open to other opinions. Absolutely, if I were racing I would install a heavy duty roll bar system, but I have no intention of racing or even doing twisties with this car. It's challenging enough to keep it running with "normal" driving, and -- I must say -- completely satisfying at the lower speed. Nothing like humming down the parkway (Blue Ridge Parkway of Virginia) at a reasonable speed, watching the scenery.
 
Personally, I like ours on the 3A. It has a legs that mount to the wheel wells as well as to the floor so it is a stonger mount than those that simple mount on the rear shelf. Also give a place to mount a 3rd brake light up where it can be seen. I'd rather have something in a roll-over than nothing.

dscn0809.jpg
 
I have a roll bar that was installed with six bolts. In the event of a roll over there would not be much left of anything. The roll bar is mainly for looks unless attached right to the frame. I drove the TR3 with the roll bar for awhile with the Brooklands and I did like the looks. But after redoing the car last year I left it off and I think it makes the car cleaner, The third brake light is a great thing to do if you have a roll bar installed. I did paint the roll bar black and it did not stand out so much.

DSC00283.jpg

IMG_0182.jpg
 
I personally don't care for them. A friend told me I needed one when I got the car - about 20 years ago. Told him "Naw, I'm not going to roll it over. I'll hit a tree."
 
I wasn't going to install one until a friend of mine from the Cape Cod British Car Club got hit from behind by a big Ford SUV. He got pushed through and intersection, luckily he was able to swerve to avoid the car coming through, but this put him up an embankment which caused him to roll over.

He and his passenger walked away with a few scratches and were pretty sore. the car was totaled, but they were fine.

And it gave me a good place to install the LED light bar so that I will hopefully be seen, as the driver of the SUV said she never saw him and his little car in the dark.

I know they have their downside too, but I just feel better with it on the car.
 
I don't have one and don't really like the look.

If I get the TR rubber-side up a rollbar could probably make the difference between an open casket or a closed casket.
 
Actually modern convertibles do have roll bars or hoops behind the head of driver and passenger.
They're usually color matched and designed into the car so they're not so obvious.
 
Back in 1984 I owned a MGB. I was driving home late one night, on a nice twisty road, at speeds under 50ph. Nothing seemed unusual until I woke up a few days later strapped to a hospital bed in intensive care. Apparently I rolled my car and crushed the 3 lower bones in my neck. (Car was totaled.) A real pain in the neck had never before been realized. At that time my biggest concern (and everyone around me) involved my ability to move anything below my neck. I swore if I ever walked again, or drove another sports car, I'd get a roll bar.

Since then I've walked fine, and owned at least 5 convertibles. None have had roll bars. My TR6 doesn't have one. I doubt the TR3 will ever have one. I will never have the mobility in my neck that most have, and I'll never be sure my car will save me if I roll again.

I think a roll bar is a really good idea -but it's not my choice. I'm betting on more good luck.
 
AltaKnight said:
Actually modern convertibles do have roll bars or hoops behind the head of driver and passenger.
They're usually color matched and designed into the car so they're not so obvious.
Click to expand...

My wife's 2005 Ford Thunderbird doesn't have one.

Scott
 
As I have flipped two TR4's in past driving habit's, I'd say do it. I like a TR4, 250 & 6 with one. Not crazy about the looks of one in a TR3, 3000 or XKE.

BTW, did not have a roll bar in either accident but was lucky. Just a couple of cuts.

Marv
 
This has been discussed before here, but don't install a roll bar unless it's done properly, basically, SCCA approved.

A poorly installed, un-approved roll bar can kill or maim passengers in some cases.

Be safe. Do it right, or don't do it at all.

Let us know . . . :yesnod:
 
SCCA requires 1/8" 4x4" steel plates under each mounting leg. I've seen some installed with just flat washers - YIKES, dangerous IMO.

But irrespective of whether you have a frame mounted roll cage (for club racing) or an SCCA approved street roll-bar with cross brace, a bar is required on ragtops to participate in track days and time trials. Solo2 doesn't require a bar. So for us, it's a requirement for driving. We don't do parades.

The TR3s are dangerous enough because of their size and lack of door bracing. It's downright scary at times when I'm cruising down the interstate at 80mph and an 18 wheeler or even a Yukon passes by. So my bar gives me a little more comfort and visibility. Before I added the (flashing)3rd brake light on top of the bar (so p/u trucks can actually see my brake lights over their hoods), I would see them in the rear view mirror gaining rapidly as I turned. But now, I can SEE the difference because now they see me and slow as they approach most of the time.

Now if only they made cell/text jammers, maybe we'd all be safer. Just a simple device to block cell signals when the ignition is on and the car is in gear..
 
I think a roll bar give a nice vintage look

but as far as rolling my car, i think I'm gunna die'

DSC07743.jpg
 
I think the roll bar looks pretty good on a TR4, but I think it detracts from the looks of a TR3. Safety should not be sacrificed for looks, of course, but I have this nagging feeling that a roll bar would offer only minimal protection to anyone in the car being flung around in case of an accident.

Since roll-overs are apparently rather rare, perhaps the safe thing with these cars is to wear a helmet (despite the fact that wearing a helmet appears to suggest that you are racing).

It seems to me that the most practical reason for having a roll bar is that it gives you somewhere to place a third stoplight where ordinary drivers can see it.

To tell the truth, I hate driving through town or other populated areas because I never know what some distracted driver is going to do. I only feel comfortable on back roads, country roads, and on the Blue Ridge Parkway where there are few cars, top speed is 45, and most curves are taken to 25 or 30 mph. The last place on earth I would want to be is on an Interstate highway in one of these cars knee-high to a semi.
 
The only safety positive, in my book, is that there is so much money, time, and care put into these cars, that we probably drive them extremely defensively and don't take any obvious chances (with the exception of driving them in the first place). I am many more times aware of what's going on around me in this car than I am in my daily driver.

On a related matter. I asked my British car guy if I should replace my lap belts with over-the-shoulder belts. He said absolutely not, unless I have a roll bar. Says he: with over-the-shoulder you cannot attempt to protect yourself in a roll-over by leaning over or to the side (if that's at all possible). Over-the-shoulder holds you upright, and that's not the desired position in a roll-over.

Oh well, here's a thought: These "rolling coffins" are much safer than motorcycles.
 
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