New Boxster Hard Top Prototype - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Eric523 · 04-09-2013, 04:52 PM

After about a year of planning, the new top finally fastened down on my Boxster. This first unit is a prototype and just went through its first track weekend at the PCA Festival of Speed Event. I think it looks pretty good and you definitely have better rear vision with the added windows. The crew sprayed some floviz all across the rear of the car and were thrilled with the patterns of attached air. With the new roof, I was able to fit some 996 cup car doors with frames. Looks a bit different, but what do you think?

particlewave · 04-09-2013, 06:28 PM

Wow! Love it!!!

Excellent work!

kcpaz · 04-09-2013, 06:51 PM

Eric, PM or email me when you get the pricing worked out... or if you want another test mule. Not that you need one

RandallNeighbour · 04-09-2013, 07:05 PM

I want one!!!

Topless · 04-09-2013, 07:34 PM

Floviz, so that is the goo he was spraying all over your tail. A little Floviz and the Fontana Roval equals a working mans wind tunnel. Nice! Probably a lot cheaper than renting one of Glenn's fans at NASA-JPL... unless the car lifts off at 140mph and tosses you in the grandstands.

I guess it worked pretty well cuz you were certainly laying down fast laps.

Good to see you guys out there. We need to run the same tracks more often.

Grim1ock77 · 04-09-2013, 07:59 PM

Very cool, it's nice to see custom hard work like that pay off.

jaykay · 04-09-2013, 08:28 PM

Nice! The shot of you under that cup car is interesting. You now have a much more slippery profile than he does as the boxster front shield is much more raked. What where things like down the straights against him? (sure yes I know he can lay down power on exits)

yeah I want one...

Skrapmot · 04-09-2013, 08:31 PM

Looks great, better than the OEM hardtop and more akin to its 911 brother.

Eric523 · 04-09-2013, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcpaz

Eric, PM or email me when you get the pricing worked out... or if you want another test mule. Not that you need one

Will do.

Just need to find out the interest level and what kind of quality people want. We could probably make a standard race quality fiberglass part for $2500 or a top quality carbon version with great fitment for 5000. Even 2500 for a fiberglass one is pretty spendy, but if you bought a f/g roof, clam shell, and rear deck from any of the current manufactures right now you would be at about the same price. This top would be lighter, less complex, have better visibility, and improved aero. Anybody have any input they want to share?

Eric523 · 04-09-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topless

Floviz, so that is the goo he was spraying all over your tail. A little Floviz and the Fontana Roval equals a working mans wind tunnel. Nice! Probably a lot cheaper than renting one of Glenn's fans at NASA-JPL... unless the car lifts off at 140mph and tosses you in the grandstands.

I guess it worked pretty well cuz you were certainly laying down fast laps.

Good to see you guys out there. We need to run the same tracks more often.

Yep, and they took a ton of photos of all of it after that session. I love being their 150mph test mule...But yes, it did work and we were able to go two seconds faster than we ever had previously. Not all in the roof, but it made up for all of the frontal area we added by widening the front end. Data shows we kept our previous top speed up without adding any horsepower. That's not bad when adding 2'' to the front end and increasing front tires from 250 to 280's.

Good to see you guys out there!

Eric523 · 04-09-2013, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

Nice! The shot of you under that cup car is interesting. You now have a much more slippery profile than he does as the boxster front shield is much more raked. What where things like down the straights against him? (sure yes I know he can lay down power on exits)

yeah I want one...

Yeah, that is a really cool shot to compare from. That car is a factory 993 RSR, and this one in particular is the Rothsport Racing 3.9L that makes 400rwhp. He had about 70hp and 200lb weight advantage on me. My aero advantage wasn't enough to keep up on the straight, but I would really gain on him in the NASCAR banked turns 1 and 2 at the speedway. I'll post up some videos ASAP to illustrate this.

jearley6 · 04-13-2013, 06:57 PM

looks nice love the top!

kefboy · 04-14-2013, 12:04 AM

I wouldn't mind having one of these on my ride!

speedyturtle · 04-14-2013, 10:25 AM

very very nice!

Ckrikos · 04-14-2013, 04:44 PM

A carbon top for 3500 would be great. What do you expect the interior finish to be like? Is the trunk accessible. Yours looks much better than the zein top.

samrwalt · 04-17-2013, 12:11 AM

Amazed at your expertise and dedication! Great product, I would definitely be interested in one

aclark133 · 04-18-2013, 04:22 PM

The question of the day is, will we still be able to use stock windows for street use

Eric523 · 04-18-2013, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ckrikos

A carbon top for 3500 would be great. What do you expect the interior finish to be like? Is the trunk accessible. Yours looks much better than the zein top.

Thanks for all of the feedback guys.

At the moment, I think this top will only be practical price-wise as a race unit. It is all one piece, and needs to be completely removed for maintenance or rear trunk access. The inside finish is composite fiberglass and does not have any upholstery.

To make this a street car part, the mold would need to be severely modified, more frames added, sound proofing, glass windows, door seals, a completely new shape around the windows to match the Boxster window shape instead of 996 etc. The price of the top would exceed the value of the cars it is made for, and that just isn't very practical for the manufacture or the consumer.

As a race unit, I hope we get the molds worked up and could get something production ready by the fall. We could get it sorted with a list of other body kit components for racing usage such as the doors, windows, roof, fenders, rear fender flares, rear wing and uprights, bumpers, side skirts, hood, headlight covers, and splitters. One of our next projects is a flat floor and possible diffuser set-up.

Kroggers · 04-23-2013, 05:31 AM

Looks really nice, but I would hate to see the cost to send it to me in Finland

Flat floor and rear diffuser is also on my project list, so if you get there before me and can supply at a nice price - then I might be up for that...

986_inquiry · 04-28-2013, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric523

Thanks for all of the feedback guys.

At the moment, I think this top will only be practical price-wise as a race unit. It is all one piece, and needs to be completely removed for maintenance or rear trunk access. The inside finish is composite fiberglass and does not have any upholstery.

To make this a street car part, the mold would need to be severely modified, more frames added, sound proofing, glass windows, door seals, a completely new shape around the windows to match the Boxster window shape instead of 996 etc. The price of the top would exceed the value of the cars it is made for, and that just isn't very practical for the manufacture or the consumer.

ah that's too bad, maybe we can outsource to china?

but you're right, no trunk access would kill it for most consumers.