Gull Wing Roof Deposits Being Accepted...

Ridgeman580 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2004, 02:01 PM

Sector 111, in conjunction with a U.K.
fiberglass manufacturer (Production
Glassfibre Co.), is accepting $1,000
deposits toward the purchase of a gull
wing top made specifically for the Elise.
The total cost of the (unpainted) unit will be between $2,500 and $3,000,
depending on the U.S. Dollar vs GBP, with the first production run expected to be completed by end-Jan.. You would then,at the time of shipment to you, be charged the remaining unpaid amount. The unit is 'super-light-weight' and able to be 'quickly' removed and stored in the trunk. Simple tools are all that is necessary for setting it up. Anyone interested should either got to the site www.sector111.com or call them at 951-551-0900000 (8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. PCT). By the way, Shinoo just got his CO Elise and is loading it up with many of his tasty bits as I speak.

elise seeker · #2 (**permalink**) 12-06-2004, 02:43 AM

I don't get it. gullwings? on a convertible? so, it's a roof/doors? how does it fit in the 'trunk', you can barely fit a toothbrush in the elise 'trunk'...

the website is empty...

Ridgeman580 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-06-2004, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elise seeker
I don't get it. gullwings? on a convertible? so, it's a roof/doors? how does it fit in the 'trunk', you can barely fit a toothbrush in the elise 'trunk'...

the website is empty...

You need to go to 'Exterior Products',
then click-on the 'gull-wing' snapshot to see a range of photos. The 'front-center' bar, that runs from the front to the back of the cockpit, remains attached and the two fiberglass 'swing up' wing panels take mere seconds to remove. They then can be placed in a trunk-sleeve that stands them up, taking up very little room in the trunk. Whereas in the past, a similiar 'T' top also had two flat, non-pivotable sections, this one with the use of hydraulic shocks allows the top to pivot up and down via a touch of the hand. Makes entry/exiting much more easy when the panels are flipped up.

veryfast · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2004, 04:22 PM

does the center part stays in even after you removed the 2 roofs or can it be taken off as well.

Ridgeman580 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-07-2004, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by veryfast
does the center part stays in even after you removed the 2 roofs or can it be taken off as well.

You can
take it off but it would probably take a few minutes. For the most part, it stays
on so that when you want to 'pop' the
panels in and out, you can do it real fast.

clrodrick · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004, 01:45 PM

This is a cool product. I would consider buying one (even though the price is extreme) except the Elise I'm buying has a stripe going down the current hardtop. So if I get one I'd have to do the stripe on it as well.

Ridgeman580 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by clrodrick
This is a cool product. I would consider buying one (even though the price is extreme) except the Elise I'm buying has a stripe going down the current hardtop. So if I get one I'd have to do the stripe on it as well.

Any professional paint shop can put a
stripe on the inner portion on the two
panels. That 'goes' for the portions of the
T - bar that would need the paint applied
as well. If the stripe on your car isn't
painted on, that too shouldn't be a big
deal with regard to adding it on to the
gull-wing sections requiring it.

MattM · #8 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004, 07:20 PM

any photos of "Wings" Removed but mount still on car? I think I'm in. I'm a big guy and this will increase my Elise enjoyment factor.

Ridgeman580 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattM
any photos of "Wings" Removed but mount still on car? I think I'm in. I'm a big guy and this will increase my Elise enjoyment factor.

Couldn't locate any photos showing the
two panels completely off. Will have to
wait until Shinoo posts some on the
sector111 site. From the one extreme
closeup 'shot' at the sector111 site, you can see the extention of the T bar going from the windshield to the rear center area of the cockpit. I would guess that the bar is about 5" wide so it really doesn't affect the open-air feeling of the car. Not only will the getting in and out be much easier, it will really turn heads when you come to a stop and th panel(s) do a 'hydraulic' flip-up. Same goes for when you are about to enter the car. P.S. - Since my girlfriend is an anti-contortionist , she whole
heartedly agrees with my purchasing
it, saying that 'otherwise' she'd only
travel in it on days when the top was
open.

DCNSX · #10 (**permalink**) 12-20-2004, 12:56 PM

I'd like to see some more photos. Is there another link somewhere (other than Shinoo's site?)

Ridgeman580 · #11 (**permalink**) 12-20-2004, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DCNSX
I'd like to see some more photos. Is there another link somewhere (other than Shinoo's site?)

There were, some time ago, two U.K.
companies expecting to offer a gull-wing.
One was Middlemoor Mouldings, and the other being Autostyle-Solutions. They both had many photos of the gull wing but now I see they no longer exist on-line. P.S. - Photos of the recent HRM
meeting that were posted on elisetalk by Ivan, showed a Saffron Elise with a gull wing fitted to it. Maybe an inquiry with
Mark Starr would help you. He's the head honcho at Hunting Ridge Motors.

adriver · #12 (**permalink**) 12-21-2004, 06:28 PM

This thread is worthless w/o pics!

**mapes** · #13 (**permalink**) 12-22-2004, 12:01 AM

Here ya go:

Learn more HERE

elise seeker · #14 (**permalink**) 12-22-2004, 01:51 AM

can you post some higher res pics? specifically, how the roof looks with the panels closed (how the T meets the panels), and removed, with just the T installed, and how the panels fit in the trunk? I can't believe you can fit ANYTHING in that dinky trunk :p

how easy is it to remove the T and transition to full convertible for summer?

why not offer the roofs painted? you can deal with a painter to establish perfect mixes for each elise color, so that each person doesn't have to take the risk of non-matching paint from the local painter?

I was skeptical at first, but being able to remove the roof easily and store in the car... pretty cool. having to get it painted puts me off a bit..

Ridgeman580 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-22-2004, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elise seeker
can you post some higher res pics? specifically, how the roof looks with the panels closed (how the T meets the panels), and removed, with just the T installed, and how the panels fit in the trunk? I can't believe you can fit ANYTHING in that dinky trunk :p

how easy is it to remove the T and transition to full convertible for summer?

why not offer the roofs painted? you can deal with a painter to establish perfect mixes for each elise color, so that each person doesn't have to take the risk of non-matching paint from the local painter?

I was skeptical at first, but being able to remove the roof easily and store in the car... pretty cool. having to get it painted puts me off a bit..

The paint is DuPont brand and once you have both the Lotus number and the corresponding Dupont number of your specific paint, it shouldn't be a problem for a professional paint shop to complete the painting of the '5' pcs. Also, have you checked out the other photos at www.sector111.com ? Once there, click on 'Exterior Products' and then again on 'Gull Wing'. No photos showing the panels totally removed but they should be coming from Shinoo in the near future.