Superbird Wing not accepted by DMV

[hemigeno]

I borrowed a 1:1 scale drawing of a race Daytona wing several years back, and tried to get some copies made.  The drawing was almost as big as a quilt and had degraded quite a bit over the years -- in addition to being quite fragile -- to the point it could not be fed through a plan-sized scanner/copier to copy it (even if it was folded).  I took it to two different historic document restoration places hoping they could help flatten it out and perhaps even digitially photograph it for preservation.  No one wanted to mess with it.

Once I struck out getting anyone to help out, I gave it back to the owner.  In retrospect, I should have taken at least a few pictures of the areas that were still in good shape.  Yet another omission of mine I can regret at my leisure...  

The drawing showed how the holes were to be drilled at the top of the wing uprights to route the retaining cable NASCAR required - but it contained zero engineering information such as you'd be needing.  I don't know where such info would exist, and it would need to be totally redone to suit the Swiss regulations anyway.

Kinda stinks that they're putting you through the hassles.

I wonder if you could replace the four studs at each wing base (going through the quarterpanel) with two molded plastic studs - or however many studs you could use and still stay beneath the 60+/- lbs. of applied breakaway force.  Might have to have them molded with a narrowed section to reduce their tensile strength - which is counterintuitive to say the least.  One of the other stud mounting holes in each upright could be used to thread in an eyehook, to which a safety cable could be attached and anchored to the wing brace.  I don't think you'd HAVE to have a cable routed from one side to the other, since under this scenario the whole wing would "break away" and you'd want the center section secured to the uprights with the regular capscrew to keep it all together as an assembly.  Worst case scenario, we know it's at least possible to run a cable through the uprights and center section - since the NASCAR guys did it without any major problem.

As has already been said, get a fiberglass wing to mess around with like this and keep the original on the shelf/intact.

Good luck with getting it all resolved!

[swissmopar]

Thank you all again!!!
Since there are different vendors of fiberglass wings, which one shall I buy?
Is there anybody producing carbon fiber wings?

[rainbow4jd]

OK - I don't mean to insinuate that you've been getting bad information - but you're getting suggestions that aren't practical and don't really address the issue at hand.  So, I'll give you both...

THE PRACTICAL - WORK THE LEGAL SYSTEM
1) You need to get a printed copy of the DMV regulations.  Everything down to the letter of the law and all its subsets.
2) You need to also look for and get printed copies of anything that might be similarly related to the registration of "antique vehicles, historical vehicles, anything that might possible be stretched to give you an exception.  No doubt there are really old vehicles (turn of the century vehicles) in Europe.  I would look to see what statutes cover this vehicles.
3) You need to get a local Swiss attorney to give you a general opinion (over a beer) as to whether fighting the DMV is worth your time and/or money and if you have any chance at all.
4) Generally, "vague" laws cannot be upheld and enforced.   You are looking for things that actually specify "what is a wing".   If you can't define it, you can't enforce it.   You might be able to argue that unlike "cosmetic wings" that buzz cars employ, you actually have an "airfoil" on your vehicle which contributes to the safety and stability of the vehicle.  In other words, its a vital a function as is the safety glass windshield.    That's why you need an attorney.  Attorneys are specialists in dealing with the vague and undefined.
5) I did a brief check on Swiss laws and here is an interesting comment   "Any car sold within the European Community and that meets EU standards is automatically in accordance with Swiss law and can be imported without modification."  If I am not mistaken, Chrysler did directly sell Superbirds in Europe.   You might be able to argue that the prior sale of the Superbird by an EU country, perhaps England, means that your Superbird has already met the criteria for approaval in Switzerland. 
6) If he thinks you have a chance - hire him and let him handle it.

OK - now if the attorney says you have "no chance" - here's my own version of the "creative solutions" you've been previously offered.

THE PULL IT OUT OF MY REAR END IDEAS
1) Be creative.   Since the wing is a three piece item and two pieces (the fins) actually bolt down into the frame, you may be able to argue that they are required structural components (if you can find some supporting U.S. documentation to hang your hat on). 
2) See if you can get by with leaving the metal fins intact and make a center section out of balsa wood, plastic, or styrofoam!   Something that might break away or meet whatever specific criteria you are trying to meet.  Don't think of the wing as one unit - technically, only the horizontal piece is the wing, the other two are brackets.


http://www.isyours.com/e/immigration/relocation/vehicles/registering.html

http://www.tcs.ch/main/de/home.html

[hitail]

swissmopar

I am serious about the Ferrari F40 idea.
The linked article notes a gentlemen that was able to register a Ferrari F40 in Switzerland. Maybe he can help.

http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/228225/driven_ferrari_f40.html

Hitail

[myaerocars]

I just saw this post and  I am surprised that so far no one mentioned driving the car without the wing (unless I missed it).  Could you get it inspected without it... just have a small flat black fiber glass pieces made to just take the basic shape of the very base of the wing -  like little filler pieces  -   and then have studs molded into and drive it like that. ...... I know, not a very good choice but better that nothing.  Drive it to a show or whatever and have a  "support vehicle" carry your wing for you.  The wing isn't very big when taken apart and hey you can make some new friends wherever you go!   Oh it is  sure to be a conversation starter.

Just  a thought and my  ....

Godspeed,
JON

[swissmopar]

Short update:

(1) SwissBird will be inspected May 10, 2011 without the wing - but will be on the street with the wing May 11, 2011 ...
(2) Carbon wing (2.5kg) will be finished mid June 2011, testing of the wing including the offical approval will be available end of June 2011. I will drive the car with the original wing. I assume that the police is only controlling the approval of the wing but not the material.

Attached a few pics of the home of the SwissBird. Typical european garage ... The chassis frame in the front of pic 3 is a 1958 Corvette - just back from powder coating.

Keep you posted!

[fc7_plumcrazy]

Hi Karl,

good luck for the MfK !
Hope to see you in Västeras again !
Maybe with the bird?

Carsten

[ACUDANUT]

Honestly, unless you are going in reverse at 60 mph, someone will have to be scooped up by the nose (which in their mind probably cut off their legs), smash into and go over the windshield, clear the roof, roll down the back glass, just so happen to roll up on the torso (since the legs are now dismembered) and then get decapitated.  Speed in order to accomplish this amazing once in a life time feat........ probably an excess of 200 mph!    

And here I thought the BS we went through for our cars in the USA was a lot!

Yea, try telling those idiots this.

[swissmopar]

Hi Karl,

good luck for the MfK !
Hope to see you in Västeras again !
Maybe with the bird?

Carsten

Hi Carsten,
Yes - this year with the Bird at the Big Meet in Sweden!!! Looking forward to meet you there.
Karl

[swissmopar]

The car is ready for inspection without the wing ...

[BigBlockSam]

good luck 

[swissmopar]

Here an update:
(1) inspection without wing was successful
(2) DMV ruling: wing should not be out of carbon because of splintering in case of an accident ...
(3) wing will be produced out of glass reinforced polyester - weight 5kg
(4) here some pictures of the negative

[hemi68charger]

OK, maybe I missed something here, but why can't the original wing be used? It's not made of carbon fiber, so wouldn't splinter in an accident...

And man, that's a "typical European" garage?....   

[Ghoste]

The original one is a high risk for pedestrian decapitation and therefore must be made to be a breakaway upon impact deal and ince he didin't want to destroy the original in the test or application of this madness he wisely created a duplicate.

[Dirtybird]

I hit a pheasant last year- feet just touched the top of the windshield- and the body hit the wing- POOF!  nothing but feathers-

[Ghoste]

Not saying it's impossible but I think right now the total number of pedestrians worldwide to have been decapitated by a Superbird wing after being struck by same number around zero. 

[Old Moparz]

I bet there are more incidents with pedestrians & side view mirrors on trucks.