Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Rear roll bar for a + 4

Can anyone recommend a roll bar for a + 4 to be fitted in the UK?
I see several options but would appreciate feedback before spending so much.
Thanks

Assuming this means a "roll-over bar" then I too am looking for advice, for a 2004 4/4. Librands for example? The quoted fitting time (11 hours) seems a lot and is likely to double the cost of components.

Nigel

If you want a roll bar that's suitable for sprinting or racing then I think Melvyn Rutter is the agent for Safety Devices roll bars for Morgans.

I am not sure that the Librands roll bar complies with the latest MSA regs.

My interest is for road use. The Librands one consists of a base frame, to which you add the bar/cage - which can be either road or track, and can be interchanged if you need both.

John+4 didn't state which application he wanted if for.

Ditto. I want it for road use, but the cost of over £1k seems excessive

The options I have found so far are:

1. Librands: http://www.librands.co.uk/products/rollbar.htm

Quoted £711 for parts, at least, and plus VAT on top
Fitting "11 hours" so dependent on rate could easily be £600+

2. Libra motive: http://www.redspy.co.uk/libramotive/jsp/libra.jsp?lnk=502

Parts £695, fitting £660, all plus VAT

3. Simmonds: http://simmonds.uk.com/product_ssteel_removrallbar.htm

£1400 plus VAT fitted

Now I know my head is valuable, but this is a lot of money. The Libra motive page refers to "stripping out all the interior". In my case, if I was going to do it, I would probably consider replacing vinyl trim with leather at the same time.

Is anyone aware of other options? Has anyone had one of these installed?

Nigel

Libra Motive does not exist any more (the page is held by the web company that ran the web site).

Bizarre!

These are all one and the same. Steve Simmonds is just an agent fro Librands (whcih used to be part of Libramottive before Rob Wells sold out and it subsequently went out of business).

Rob still trades as Librands (I think it used to be a joint venture with BHM - hence the 'brands' bit).

I had one of these removable bars fitted to my 1999 4/4. The high version fitted for sprints only as you cannot fit the hood and had the polished version for the road.

They are actually all made by Custom Cages in Daventry but I think under a sole distribution agreement via Rob.

Have you tried Chas Windridge at Mogsport ( www.mogsport.co.uk ) as I think he might have someone who can custom make things at a reasonable price.

The roll bars for pre-long door cars (pre-1997)were made by a UK company called Safety Devices. http://www.safetydevices.com/ (Bars for long door cars are more problematic). Roll bars require a Certification from a licensed expert to be allowed on a race track. Safety Devices can do this. From a bad memory, I recall Safety Devices was purchased in 1989 by a German company by the name of Matter but was repurchased by the original owners a bit later and they are still there. Good people.

Their roll bar prices were always very reasonable..I have their Morgan price list list from a few years ago. Depending on height and on whether you wished a removable diagonal bar, they could then be purchased direct (with fittings but excl VAT and installation) for under 200 GBP. All UK dealers had stocked and installed for years.

However, a few years ago one UK dealer (Melvyn Rutter) convinced the company that an exclusive franchise for the UK would be best for everyone and an agreement was made. Since then, these Morgan roll bars can only be purchased, (whether you are a UK dealer or a UK consumer) from this Agent.

The price increased significantly and most dealers in the UK have simply stopped installing them. One can still buy directly at Safety Device prices if you are OUTSIDE of the UK.

There is also another problem I may have noted earlier. Most Morgan roll bars (including those of Safety Device) are made to fit under a Morgan top. That makes them too short..as a normal person's head extends over the height of these bars. For that reason they cannot be used on a racetrack. There is a bolt-on extension that raises the height to make it certifiable.

To avoid some of the issues noted, I have heard that MogSport is going to produce their own roll bar for Morgan racers. It will be much less expensive than what you have been quoted.

Lorne