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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Plastic body kits? Why not?


lightwave

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I feel stupid asking this, because it seems like such an obvious question, but if the plastic Toyota parts are so good, and fibreglass body kits aren't... why are all body kits made in fibreglass?

 

Ok, I can answer my own one here; because it's cheap, right?

 

Perhaps the real question should be, why does nobody make after market body kits from plastic? Is it not easy or cheap to do?

 

Does someone technical have an answer? Maybe I should go into business making plastic body kits if it's easy/cheap.

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I feel stupid asking this, because it seems like such an obvious question, but if the plastic Toyota parts are so good, and fibreglass body kits aren't... why are all body kits made in fibreglass?

 

Ok, I can answer my own one here; because it's cheap, right?

 

Perhaps the real question should be, why does nobody make after market body kits from plastic? Is it not easy or cheap to do?

 

Does someone technical have an answer? Maybe I should go into business making plastic body kits if it's easy/cheap.

 

Moulds for plastic parts are hugely expensive and require big quanities to be cost effective, there just is not a big enough market with the Supra.

 

It is a lot easier and cheaper to create a mould for laying up fibreglass.

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Laying fibreglass is much less involved that making say an injection mould for plastic. Stillen have done it right...it's a shame others don't. Stillen have a nose and sideskirts made in Urethane.

 

Thats what Im having fitted atm :D

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Moulds for plastic parts are hugely expensive and require big quanities to be cost effective, there just is not a big enough market with the Supra.

 

It is a lot easier and cheaper to create a mould for laying up fibreglass.

 

He's right

 

A mould tool to produce a side skirt would be complicated and extremely expensive to make, then you need to have a press large enough to satisfy the quantity of plastic resin required to mould the skirt (IE 500tonnes +)

 

The quantities would not justify the investment and manufacturers - like Toyota - would not see any return on their investment for a number of years

 

Then there is the other issue of the price of the resins, which are oil based and we all know how expensive oil is at the moment

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Laying fibreglass is much less involved that making say an injection mould for plastic. Stillen have done it right...it's a shame others don't. Stillen have a nose and sideskirts made in Urethane.

And the Wings West Splitter - nice product - much under-used IMHO

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Very good IMO and I've seen 2 up close, as usual with bodykits though a lot of it is down to the person doing the fitting.

 

Could be time to replace the Veilside. Looks good, but in every other respect it's a complete PITA....

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