FTO AUSTRALIA

Are carbon fiber bonnets legal if you secure them properly or are they just plain illegal due to the material etc?

Yup, the latter,

Technically illegal, however there are some that get away with it, either by painting them or by plum luck.

I guess if you had to get the car engineered for other reasons (turbo, supercharger etc) they would most likely knock it back on the bonnet alone then?

Yeah just get it engineered and then put the bonnet on if you want it that much.

The government seems to think if you're in a collision the carbon Fibre will shatter, fly across the sky and slice someone's head off...

Happens in motorsport all the time

You can actually get the bonnet engineered.

I will need the other bits engineered anyway, any idea what/if any additional modifications would be required to the bonnet Ben?

Just had a look through the summary of ADR's and can't find anything about bonnets other than in ADR 42 general safety requirements which just says about bonnet latching.

But then I found this: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... 011_v3.pdf

4.3 CUSTOMISED AND REPLACEMENT PANELS
4.3.1 Customised Metal Panels
Body panels may be customised (e.g. to fit alternative lamps), provided that the structural
integrity of the body is not adversely affected and the vehicle continues to comply with all
relevant ADRs.
4.3.2 Fibreglass and Other Composite Replacement Panels
Original bolt-on metal bonnets and mudguards for pre 1971 (ADR 10) vehicles may be replaced
with fibreglass or other composite panels that comply with sub-section 2.7, providing the
modification does not increase the rigidity of the front structure of the vehicle and the
collapsibility of the steering column on ADR 10 vehicle is not compromised.
The catches and/or the design of the replacement bonnet must prevent it from being propelled
through the windscreen into the cabin area in the event of a frontal collision.

Doesn't mention post 1971.

I didn't buy the bonnet, phoned a couple of engineers and one said he wouldn't pass it and the other said he didn't see a problem and that the authorities shouldn't cause a problem just insurance company if they are asking for a certificate.

I had my CF bonnet, and boot on my insurance policy ...

Even made a claim and had the bonnet replaced on my policy ...

Nice one.
I'm regretting not getting the bonnet now as is the way with these things.

Rob Furniss wrote:Nice one.
I'm regretting not getting the bonnet now as is the way with these things.

Surely could pick another up? Or was it a good deal?

bjk wrote:

Rob Furniss wrote:Nice one.
I'm regretting not getting the bonnet now as is the way with these things.

Surely could pick another up? Or was it a good deal?

Was a good deal, went for $170.

Rob Furniss wrote:

bjk wrote:

Rob Furniss wrote:Nice one.
I'm regretting not getting the bonnet now as is the way with these things.

Surely could pick another up? Or was it a good deal?

Was a good deal, went for $170.

I think I paid almost 7 times that amount for a brand new one...

Yeah i've really missed out, that was advertised as brand new too.
I was watching the auction ready to click and watching the seconds tick away while I was on the phone to an engineer who was talking really slowly explaining stuff about legalities and testing so I bottled it (bidding) and then in the end he said he didn't see a problem and thinks it's a load of crap about them being unsafe.
Even if I had bid doesn't mean I would have got it at that price though.
My current stock bonnet is dented and scratched from when someone through a brick through my windscreen up in Port Hedland (their first attempt failed), I didn't have insurance then!

It's so sweet living in Melbourne. Shipping by container through import monster is cheap as. My SSR Integral GT1s were $570 landed to Melbourne. Bonnets go so cheap on Yahoo Japan but because it's not legal I haven't picked one up. If the law changes i definitely will!

Shhtuart wrote:It's so sweet living in Melbourne. Shipping by container through import monster is cheap as. My SSR Integral GT1s were $570 landed to Melbourne. Bonnets go so cheap on Yahoo Japan but because it's not legal I haven't picked one up. If the law changes i definitely will!

That is mega cheap mate, where can I get some again and what's this import monster stuff?

Ok just had a quick browse on import monster, there's a Bozz wing for an FTO on there at the moment - although says it was added to their list in 2013

Yeah it's been sitting there for ages. Not a great wing but the asking price isn't too bad.

Browse the Yahoo Japan section. They translate it into english and give you a quote on shipping costs. I imported 3 facelift bumpers with rheo and lights for $180 each a couple of years ago. Bigger items are best through container but for smaller ones EMS is the way to go.

http://www.importmonster.com.au/yahoo?cat=0&term=fto