LOL. Look at the guys buying Miatas these days. There amount of folks (especially in the NA world) who are treating these cars as "classics" is getting smaller and smaller. They are becoming the "new 240sx". DORIFTUU MISTLE!!
LOL. Look at the guys buying Miatas these days. There amount of folks (especially in the NA world) who are treating these cars as "classics" is getting smaller and smaller. They are becoming the "new 240sx". DORIFTUU MISTLE!!
I had a set of these on one of my first cars, no idea which brand but they looked well made and I'd say they were cast ally rather than CNC but it was about 6 or 7 years ago. Kind of wish I'd kept them with the insane numbers being discussed here .... I can't believe they would cost that much to make so I'll look into it
Russell
Did you actually mean to refer to the 240Z? At any rate, at my age, I'll never view anything that requires a smog check (in California, that's anything pre-1973) as a "classic". However, the NA Miata's saving grace is that it's an honest top-down roadster meant to emulate classic roadsters, and it achieved that better than any of its successors, and at a low-down-dirty price. That's why it'll continue to be a desirable blank slate for anyone who wants to race them, rice them, retro them, or otherwise customize them to their heart's desire.
Demon I Am (06-15-2016),NCGreasemonkey (06-15-2016)
I did a feasibility and price study and some preliminary CAD work on this. It required using used pivots and latches from a donor (market price $200 for parts that aren't available new), four custom made pieces of rubber (couldn't easily adapt the donor rubber, but with some hand working it could be done), two pieces of custom tempered glass with three holes in each, a machined frame that fit in the front and bottom of the glass channel to hold the pivots and a small jig that is used in the install to cut a hole in the bottom of the vent window channel to provide room for the bottom pivot.
Bottom line, I could not do it for less than $1200 even with a fair number of sales. The market won't pay that. Maybe three people might pay more than $1k, but at that sales level the price is more like $2500.
Taking short cuts, like Lexan instead of tempered glass, or not having adequate water channeling by not using the right rubber, or not having the pivots sunk into the frame all turn what could be a nice piece into junk not even worthy of JC Whitney. I'm willing to do one for myself, and maybe get another set of the glass made, but it's ludicrous to think it can be produced as a quality and inexpensive part.
Jason McDaniel
Demon I Am (06-15-2016),Fishbulb (07-29-2016),flooglemop (06-16-2016),HarryB (06-15-2016),Jimmy Vee (06-15-2016),NCGreasemonkey (06-15-2016),Paul B (06-15-2016),revlimiter (06-15-2016),Rogue (06-15-2016),wannafbody (06-15-2016)
^ that.
That is why we haven't ever had vent windows for our cars in the last 25 years.
NCGreasemonkey (06-15-2016)
thats why i think marc can do the best quality to price ratio.
Greasemonkey2000 (06-15-2016)
^^^Exactly. It is unfortunate but 'outsourcing' has become a huge part of 'American business' but i don't fault anyone for trying to make a living, regardless of where they reside, and the reality is MANY other countries can manufacture cheaper than a U.S. manufacturer.
Even if the price point ends up being higher than I'd be willing to pay I would LOVE to see these get made and on others roadsters!
'01 NB2 aka MisF1re: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....218#post207218
'97 M aka Warbird, gone but not forgotten: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....B&goto=newpost
Instagram: @greasemonkey2000
flooglemop (06-16-2016),NCGreasemonkey (06-15-2016),Paul B (06-15-2016)
Yes, outsourcing would definitely bring the price down. But outsourcing is also why some could not afford it at any price, i.e., they've no jobs to pay for anything. Honestly, I'd rather pay more and see it domestically manufactured than see it outsourced. Adam's gauge faces could be made in China for a fraction and sold here for a sawbuck (and that's no exaggeration. I have manufacturing contacts in China that could do it). But if I were in the market for gauge faces, I'd rather buy them from Adam simply because he's a domestic entrepreneur who works diligently to provide a great product about which he is passionate. While I know people want to get the best price, the cost in job-loss is sometimes just not worth it to me. Frankly, if I had several grand to blow, I'd put in a custom order for those vent windows in a heartbeat. Because I don't have that kind of scratch, however, I had to put a cap on what I could actually afford, hence my $600 ceiling (which I might be willing to raise by saving up if I saw that a quality item could be had for it. Alas, it doesn't seem like it'll happen).
Quick update:
This is made with acrylic and will be sold at a very affordable price. We are going to finish another prototype which will look better and be more appealing to the eye. Once we have everything figured out, I would like to make a version with actual glass and aluminum fittings for those ready to pay more for a better product.
Stay Tuned! ;)
Cermivelli (07-30-2016),Dave737 (07-29-2016),Demon I Am (07-29-2016),flooglemop (08-03-2016),Greasemonkey2000 (07-29-2016),Hammerhead (07-29-2016),JamieH (08-03-2016),John J (07-29-2016),NCGreasemonkey (08-01-2016),Rogue (07-29-2016),tsingson (07-29-2016),vote4pedro (07-29-2016)
Wow you got on that project fast, Marc! Looks great!
If i could make a suggestion(may already be in the works)...it needs something that will secure it from the inside since the opening is large enough that someone could open it, reach in and unlock the lock. Honestly that would be a deal breaker if it couldn't be secured for me as Warbird is currently my daily.
Last edited by Greasemonkey2000; 07-29-2016 at 12:52 AM.
'01 NB2 aka MisF1re: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....218#post207218
'97 M aka Warbird, gone but not forgotten: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....B&goto=newpost
Instagram: @greasemonkey2000
Yeah it will be lockable of course!!! The new version is coming soon. I will post pictures ASAP!
flooglemop (08-03-2016),Greasemonkey2000 (07-29-2016),HarryB (07-29-2016),JamieH (08-03-2016),NCGreasemonkey (08-01-2016),Slampen (07-29-2016),tsingson (07-29-2016),vote4pedro (08-03-2016)
Marc, I have money in hand. Just waiting to see the glass version as well. Great progress!
Slampen (07-29-2016)
Thank you Marc!
wow this is really cool !!! Keep us updated for sure!!
Yes here is an update!
Just so you know, we still need to add a gasket all around the piece, a metal bar to keep the vent open while driving, the 3 locks usable from the inside (of course) and the trim will be matte black in the final version (we can offer different colors though) so that it blends better with the window frame/existing seal.
Update soon!
Cermivelli (08-04-2016),CMP (08-03-2016),Dave737 (08-03-2016),flooglemop (08-03-2016),Greasemonkey2000 (08-01-2016),Hammerhead (08-03-2016),HarryB (08-02-2016),JamieH (08-03-2016),Jimmy Vee (08-03-2016),John J (08-03-2016),MLambert19 (08-02-2016),NCGreasemonkey (08-01-2016),oldgrayleather (08-03-2016),Phatmiata (08-10-2016),RotorNutFD3S (08-02-2016),tsingson (08-05-2016),vote4pedro (08-03-2016)