Brainstorming for CF manufacturing business

I’m exploring the possibilities of a composite manufacturing business that would specialize in automotive performance parts build from carbon fiber. I know there are several companies already providing hoods, fenders, body panels, etc. but I’d like to know what’s missing from the market.

When you think about your car, what parts do you wish were available in CF?

What parts currently offered in CF do you feel are weak, poor quality or just plain garbage?

 

Well, I think that any good ideas presented in this thread will be snapped up by the sponsors we have that are already in the business...



Mike

 

CF replacement panels instead of factory pieces for the track day/club racer crowd. this exists for Lotus, Porsche and Corvette, I think there's a market for challenge cars, 360/430/458 road cars, etc.

 

Hello, All. My name is ______. I'm a Ferrari enthusiast/owner. (Inset car here if owner).



What you did was walk into a room and started talking. Why anyone would respond to that I don't know.

 

How about CF body panels that actually FIT? That'd be a good place to start. Most aftermarket pieces I have seen fit like crap and/or have sketchy quality control.

Replacement pieces for certain types of piping (i.e. intercooler, radiator, etc) would be cool, too.

 

Show quality CF parts that fit would be good as mentioned. I would look at doing a 308 GTO style front spoiler that would mount the GTO style driving lights on a regular 308. Maybe some slightly flared fenders and a hood. Bumpers would be cool too. The Singer Porsche has a lot of appeal just because of its body modifications and I think the 308 could benefit from some mods as well. I like the driving lights on this yellow car but they should be at the same depth. While your at it some pedestal style mirrors.
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Custom fit race seats. You ship customer a kit with instructions to make a mold of his body using a bag system, basic thermoformed seat shape to sit in, and expanding foam that sets. He ships it back, you create a perfect shape of his body in CF for the seat frame, with a thin padding and leather or alcantara covering. You would want to protect yourself from potential liability since the seat is a structural part and integral to the safety of the occupant. If a flimsy seat were to break, you could get sued, but perhaps if they were for off-road use only there would be less expectation for safety.

Second idea would be real CF console pieces to replace sticky parts in Ferrari road cars from the 90s. You could do real CF for many performance cars, not just Ferrari. Jag XK of XJS, Corvette, Boxster or Cayenne would just be a few, basically anything that has removable dash and console pieces would be a candidate. The sticker fake CF interiors universally look like garbage.

Whatever you did, try to make sure you can produce the pieces using vacuum bags and possibly heat lamps only. Small investment required. If you decided to make major structural pieces it would require an autoclave which is another level of investment in equipment and facilities.

 

By the same token, what you did was say to the person walking into the room: "Who the f:censored:k are you talking to us?.... P:censored:ss off!"

It was hardly the friendliest of welcomes to a forum site!



To the OP:

It's an interesting idea but we would really need to know some more details as to the type of parts you're talking about (body parts?, interior pieces?, seats?, spoilers? etc., etc).

I suspect that you'll probably find the market for carbon fibre parts fairly limited in reality and you'll end up discovering why some other companies in the business end up having so many quality issues! (It's easy enough to say: "Those parts are poor quality, I could do a better job of it Myself!", but often the reality is that it is harder than you thought!).

Anyway, best of luck with it and welcome to Fchat!

 

How about carbon fibre non sticky interior pants that last forever?

 

Well, they'd look nice, but they'd be hard to walk in.

 

First actual LOL of the week.. Thank you!

 

Hmmm... Pretty much the same thought I had.