Ok guys help me out here , Just bought my 16 yr old beginner driver daughter a 99' convertible , (what she wanted ) . But the only stipulation was if she got a ragtop , it would have to have a functional roll bar. ( had a few young drivers here lost their lives in differant rag top accidents when they rolled over ). so now i am hoping someone on here has one or can tell me where to get one that is nice looking (chrome , powdercoat , paint etc) functional and doesnt require me to cut up , botch up or otherwise ruin the functionallity of the top or rear seat ... this is a very nice car and I would like to keep it that way .. cost is not a big deal , just want it to look nice when the top is down for her . Thanks in advance , and if you have one , some pics would be nice if possible ... The DAD

 

As a dad I understand your concern, however I think you need to look at the big picture here. A steel roll bar in a car that is not equipped with a 5 point harness ( that is worn correctly)is actually more dangerous than not having one. The reason is that in in accident an occupant will get tossed around a lot, even when belted in . All it takes is one smack to the head against that bar and your toast. This is why tracks will require a helmet AND a 5 point if there is a bar in the car. I am sure that people here will argue with me about this, but how many of them have built tube chassis race cars for a living? A bar, or a 5 point is only PART of a SYSTEM and alone can do more damage than good.

 

[align=center]Well as far as building full tube chassis cars that's not a problem. I am a 28 yr veteran of drag racing, running all those years in Super Pro; now my son drives a Jeg's Super Quick dragster that runs 4.50s @ 153 mph in the 1/8 mile, so we definately understand the importance of safety... Now that that's over, the people who rollover hardtops would have a better chance not having the rollbar if they have no helmet because they have a steel roof over their heads like you say - the people who rollover ragtops and die do so because they have their heads smashed and/or necks broken because they have nothing to protect them. I think a very minimal chance of a properly belted in driver hitting the rollbar easily outweighs the 100% chance of getting their head smashed when the windshield folds up like a pretzel if it ever rolls over... Gotta play the odds on this one since it's a street driven car only. I appreciate the concern, but I still am hoping someone can help on locating one for me. Thanks again
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I installed a Kirk (Steeda) 4 point roll bar in my '01 (and I do wear a helmet at the track.) I'd rather take my chances smacking my head on a rollbar than having my head crushed without a rollbar.