Things used to hold bonnets open..

[ckerr]

Things used to hold bonnets open..

What all have you seen used to hold open, partly open / closed bonnets at car shows? Lanyards? Fancy Chain? What else?

I have a beetle and fancy making under the bonnet a bit of a show piece for no reason really, just a bit of fun, the bonnet is sprung so when you open it, it’s open right up the air… Though about modifying a baseball bat to hold it partly open / closed or a vintage ski pole…

Anyone any photos of stuff they have seen at shows?

[Soopahfly]

I like to use the little metal arm that came attached to the car designed for keeping the bonnet up.
It's adjustable in two positions and you don't need to remember to take it with you.

[Iain]

Bonnet propped open by camshaft looked quite cool.

Don't get leaving a beer/cider can under there, might as well shut it.

[composimmonite]

I used a ratchet strap on my Land Rover. If you unhook the support then it will open further and rest against the roof. It only took it being blown onto me once, whilst working on the engine, to realise that it needed some sort of secure support.
With that in mind be careful about simply propping it open with baseball bat, camshaft or whatever as all it'd take is somebody to knock the car or gust of wind to dislodge the support and bonnet to come crashing down.
If you want to make it "trick" what about a linear actuator to make it remote power open and close ?

[mjphotography2016]

always aware when i open the bonnet to 90° on the Mercedes as the only support seems to be the hinges but i havent heard of one going to far over, but if you open it normally as with most people who have owned a mercedes will confirm you end up smacking your head sooner or later! also trying to open the bonnet up to 90° on your own can at best be difficult

[vulgalour]

Best way to keep it open a set amount when it's a sprung bonnet is to tie something between the two parts of the latch. A period gents tie like the above would be very suitable for this purpose, easily obtainable in a wide variety of colours and patterns.  There's loads of things you can use in the same vain, all depends what sort of look you're going for with the end result.

[composimmonite]

For a sprung open bonnet then a small retractable dog lead (they lock at any length)could be modify to work.

[VIP]

Surely the point of holding open a bonnet halfway to 'look cool' (questionable in itself) is to use something interesting to do it, not something you scrabbled around in the boot to find as a 'make do', like a tie or dog lead would?

[ckerr]

Some cool ideas, Just thought some seat belt webbing. could use the latch at the end of make a hook.

[baggabones]

I removed the spring an old beetle of mine and couldn't refit it! I used on old cut down golf club as a prop

[ckerr]

What was it?

... Never mind see it now. Image didnt load

[dbizzle]

Nov 26, 2014 15:06:17 GMT @automatik said:

Someone posted this once here:
(pic)

Yep, that was me.

Also, this:


DSC_5142 by dbizzle_, on Flickr


...although you could just do this, then you won't need one:


DSC_0979 by dbizzle_, on Flickr

[shagracer]

SNOWY by shagracer, on Flickr

[Davenger]

This is how I was rolling at RRG14