Carbon fiber defender

All valid points.

Can we have a front spoiler to mount on the front bumper to keep the front end more stable at speed as well?

That's what the winch is for.

You maybe didn't know, but all winches are wind tunnel tested to add to the ground effect and sleek, aerodynamic lines of any Tratter. 'course, the bigger the winch and the more weight, the better, 'cos more is always better ..

Yer but no but how about a carbon fibre roof to go ont top of the eggsisting roof to help stop it leaking? Light weight so it won't increase the centre of gravity or damage the handling.

Hippo said:

Yer but no but how about a carbon fibre roof to go ont top of the eggsisting roof to help stop it leaking? Light weight so it won't increase the centre of gravity or damage the handling.

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Didn't they do that on the Safari model?

My Old Landy said:

Didn't they do that on the Safari model?

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Yes but I think they was metal. This bloke is making them out of carbon fibre.

scottson said:

I work for a carbon fibre company. I am trying to convince the company to make defender parts out of carbon fibre (with the pattern). I want to see what interest the people here have about it. I am looking into getting the company to make carbon fibre wings, rear door, side skirts, spotlight racks, bonnets and anything else that people suggest to me on here. In the next few weeks i can get general pricing on items are that recommended the most by you! Carbon fibre does not rust or decompose in any way. for non structural parts of the defender Carbon fibre parts can be made that are lighter and stronger than the original metal parts. Getting these defender parts made is not for my benefit. I drive a defender and i think if the price is affordable, i would buy parts myself.
With the defender being discontinued i think carbon fibre can make a massive improvement to a defender as carbon fibre parts will look the same and maintain the same strength indefinably.
Give me your input!
Give me the parts you would like to see in carbon fibre and would buy!
I want to make this happen
Cheers
Scott

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Hi Scott,

You can already get Defender wings, bonnets etc. in fibreglass (woven-roven matting - which in this application is just as good).

The idea is generally OK (albeit basically already being done) but I don't know that the market is crying out for panels. People don't just go and replace wings randomly so it is more for the restorer or accident damage - would they sell, yes I am sure they would - would your firm sell enough to make it viable - that is the question.

Now - what you would sell is doors! If you could make good reproduction doors at a reasonable price, with good strength (they would need metal structure in them for security and to hold latches hinges etc. without the resin fatiguing.

Back doors for £80.00-£100.00 you would sell them all day long I think. Driver and passenger doors - £150.00-£175.00.

Also - few here would be interested in carbon fibre look - so these parts would be painted - supplied in a suitable primer would be good. You could just lay them up in ordinary glass matt which I am sure your employers could do if they use CF and keep costs down.

Peeps buy all sorts of shiney tat to fit on their tratters. He'll make a fortune out of you lot.

Hippo said:

Peeps buy all sorts of shiney tat to fit on their tratters. He'll make a fortune out of you lot.

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yup, hopefully he will, but hopefully he will improve the product, (rant alert) as at the moment if I want new doors I have to chose:

-all steel ****e made of mild steel that is heavy, will rust, can be bent at top to steal my landy like taking candy from a baby, and stolen by undoing hinge bolts, lets water in like a funnel, seals like a barn door, drums noise like a megaphone - silly price and heavy as crap

-alloy skin mated to mild steel that is less heavy, will rust and corrode like mad, can be bent at top to steal my landy like taking candy from a baby, and stolen by undoing hinge bolts, lets water in like a funnel, seals like a barn door, drums noise like a megaphone - silly price and not even using common sense to isolate the two metals properly

Is there another choice? What will it take for existing suppliers to stop making a fortune out of selling us 70 year old crap, or a 15? year old bodge of crap using pig iron that sank with the titanic???

Maybe, someone to do it well with modern alloys and processes so we have a semi descent product and the present crap peddlers will copy, or someone to make it out of carbon and the crap peddlers will drop their prices for churning out crap and stop making a fortune out of us lot pedalling old crap knock-offs vs shiny new bits...

I would rather have someone make money from me having invested some r&d and improved the product than money for old rope which present doors are. I am just using doors as an example, there are more... but make a decent modern part for me and take my money already as the saying goes!

rant over, more wine, buy carbon sheet and resin on ebay in plan to make may own shiny crap in meantime

cborrman said:

...Lets water in like a funnel, seals like a barn door, drums noise like a megaphone - silly price and heavy as crap...

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I think they refer to this as 'has character'. Some would say they're the best bits.

cborrman said:

What will it take for existing suppliers to stop making a fortune out of selling us 70 year old crap, or a 15? year old bodge of crap using pig iron that sank with the titanic???

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For us to stop driving and repairing vehicle which are of a 70 year old design!
What you are complaining about is part of the very nature of the vehicle. Large flat ali panels that vibrates, and as @Hippo has stated "has character". If you are not happy with it I would suggest that maybe a defender is not the car for you. The doors have not changed in design since the late 50's and if you are not happy with that get a modern car with a more modern design. maybe you could take @Hippo's advice and constant ramblings about how great freelanders are and get one of those. They have a modern design but a whole different set of problems with the doors when they get wet

cborrman said:

Is there another choice? What will it take for existing suppliers to stop making a fortune out of selling us 70 year old crap, or a 15? year old bodge of crap using pig iron that sank with the titanic???

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Forget the landrover, get a Tesla ... Some of us like the idea that we can fix it at home .. whether we want to or not!

Well this thread has inspired me.

I am designing a new crate for my pig using CF. Its going to take a while to reproduce that smashed pallet look but mi pigs’ll luv it.

I love these old threads that emerge! The OP made three posts in 2014 and has probably moved onto making CF shells for Reliant Robins
I personally bought my Landy because I dislike modern vehicles. (my daily driver is however a modern Astra with electronic rubbish throughout!!)
Really not interested in making it into a modern 4x4 and just grateful it runs from time to tome
Still, debate is great.... as you were