I do not feel very safe in my 2006 Mustang GT convertible in case of a roll over. Therefore I am thinking of installing a roll bar. I found a company in California (Autopower Industries, www.autopowerindustries.com) that produces such roll bars. Their roll bar code (for 2005 and up convertible Mustangs) is 71272.

A light bar would look nicer than the Autopower roll bar but I was told that light bars do not provide protection in case of a roll over.

My questions:

1. Does the windshield frame provide any roll over protection?

2. Can the combination of a light bar with the windshield frame provide any roll over protection?

3. Can anybody recommend other roll bars for 2005 and up convertible Mustangs, on top of the ones manufactured by Autopower Industries?

Thanx

 

do you plan on rolling your car....?

 

I hav seen a rollover pic of an 05+ stang. I was very frightened how liitle protection the A pillars offered.

 

http://www.kirkracing.com/catologue.htm
http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant...ory_Code=AP272

Couple places to look.

In order for a rollover bar to afford real protection it has to meet certain specifications not usually compatible with an ordinary road car. I believe a "street" rollover bar will give a little protection at low speeds, no guarantees. From what I can see, you'll lose some of the ease-of-access to the rear seat.

It also seems to me that a genuine, safe, well-constructed "competition" bar will do as much as can be done for safety, short of a roll cage, which is probably not a realistic option for a street car.

Worst of all, a "show" bar or "light" bar may instill an unwarrented sense of security or invulnerability, leading to over-reaching the driver's or the car's capabilities.

One of the sites linked to a series of photos demonstrating exactly what parts of your car you have to poke holes in and cut up in order for a rollover bar to fit. I am looking at a 6-point bar from these folks:
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/ (search for "roll bars") for a time when I'm a little closer to the end of Mr Ford's warranty period.

Like everything else, compromise is the key. Give a little, get a little.

 

The A pillars on a vert will offer little to no rollover protection. The light bar may offer some, but on some verts it's so low that the drivers head ends up above it so there's no point to it either. I don't know if that's the case in a Mustang vert, I haven't sat in one myself, but they look high enough.

Whatever you do, make sure it's installed properly - if it's not bolted or welded to the body correctly, it can shear off in an impact, get professional help if you're unsure of doing it yourself.

If you're real hardcore about your driving (autocross, etc), you may also want to consider upgrading your seat and harness to a five-point.. Overkill for the average joe, but I've always been of the opinion the when you roll a vert, it's going to be bad enough trying to keep your arms from flailing outside of the car, let alone not getting ejected. Standard seatbelts will work, but nothing will keep you in tighter than a properly installed five-point harness.

 

what a suprise!!!
you shouldnt have bought a vert if you have this issue.

 

Acually CDC has documented cases where there "Light Bar" has held up very well and saved lives in some cases.I had mine installed at CDC .I talked to the gentleman installing mine in detail.They will never refer to it as a roll bar because of liability reasons.But they manufacture them in house same material as the roll bar on my old Jeep.The light bar is mounted to the frame.

 

+4653464641345374641133877743456564
Not very many verts are good in a roll over. It's just something you will have to live with if you own one. I think an actual functional roll bar looks like crap on a convertible.

 

roll bar in a vert... FTL..... unless it's a dedicated track car IMO....

 

Maybe some of you have seen this tale of a flattened windscreen frame in a slooooow rollover?

https://mustangforums.com/m_2220418/tm.htm