A Spyder is an open car with a cut-down windshield. This seems like a vulnerable configuration for some and for others absolutely thrilling. Naturally, we are in the latter camp but I am not willing to throw all safety considerations to the wind (pun intended). The Exige comes with a factory roll hoop that is a nice safety solution though when you see it raw, it is not too attractive. I wanted to update this car with a roll hoop that was also stylish.
We have a local supplier of fabricated parts that is an excellent cage builder. We brought our Spyder over and gave them our requirements. The car came back with a solution that I am very happy with. The only real requirement I gave them was to ensure that the stock Elise clam would fit over it - minus the roll hoop cover - which we intend to leave off.
The stock intercooler will get ditched for a special ProAlloy kit…
The height is slightly higher than stock for a wee bit better protection. We had a harness bar incorporated into the hoop so we can add a set of race harnesses. The tubes cross over and follow down at an angle to the base where it bolts into the stock mounting location. One challenge of installing a steel cage into an aluminum chassis is attaching it. In this case, we simply used the factory threaded inserts. We are also triangulating it to the rear subframe mount - though those two tubes will be hidden under the modified Elise clam.
ABS module is off for a PM rebuild. Did you notice that?
I’m really happy with how it looks. The twin hoops add some flavor and admittedly, extra weight. But we are stripping enough away from other areas that this is an acceptable place to bulk up…
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