GTII WINDSHIELDS

Many have tried....none have succeeded.

iturner4527

OK, Here is the story on Bradley GT 2 Windshields. From 5 years ago.

First the Big Bad News “Viracon” sold off ALL their window & windshield Operations.

Viracon sold their Glass operation to PPG Industries and Guardian. PPG Industries took all the high end large production and Guardian got the left-overs. This person did give me the number to Guardian and a contact name.

Name: Guardian Glass
Street: 2040 Production Drive
Findlay, Oh 45840-5449
Phone: (419) 420-9736

Kevin McMillin 419-209-6332

I called the Guardian number and acutely talked to the contact person, He found that they had the info on the Bradley GT2 windshields but did not know if they had the tooling. He said he would research to see of they had the tooling and if so have sales call back with more information. I had asked him how the windshields would be shipped. He said they can be bulk shipped or individually shipped, but again it all depends on where they are to be shipped. I asked to make sure, if I supplied them with a list of individuals to be individually shipped, and he said yes, but again cost depends on location to be shipped to.

I had received a call back from a gentleman from Guardian and we had a very informative discussion on the production of the GT II windshield. Like most companies today to keep up with the demands for production, they have gone to full robot operations.

First, Guardian does have the tooling for the GT II windshield, but the question comes to legal issues “Who owns the right to the tooling” and there for it products.

I had check on The Bradley trademark to see if it was open, and maybe we apply for it. But someone at Bradley had just reacquired the trademark license.

Bradley trademark
Owner
(REGISTRANT) Bradley Automotive, Inc.
CORPORATION MINNESOTA
6315 Timber Trail Edina MINNESOTA 55439

Someone can try to contact the Bradley Automotive, Inc, and see of they would set up a windshield production or release the tooling so we can produce the windshield needed.

As for a TradeMark, we can have a off the wall new car name entered and a tooling made for the same windshield, problem is more cost. Maybe the only answer.

Second, Guardian usually does a production of 200 to 500 or more of a product. Anything less would require a setup charge of $4000. This goes to programming the robots for the job, a test run and evaluation of the products.

After the setup charge of $4000 is paid any number of windshield can be produced. More windshield made the price would be a little lower. We would need to order 200 windshield at a cost of $50,000. I have seen many GT II on Ebay and Craigslist listed with no windshield or a cracked windshields.

To get 200 windshield will take some heavy investment on someones part or a complete investment of a well formed Car Club. For the ones of us that have good windshield once they are broken or damage our cars are done for. The next time you see a GT II up for sale for $2000 or more you better buy it for the windshield, if it has one.

So the question is what can we do as the Bradley Car club, does anyone have the $50,000 to start the first production for the Bradley GT II windshield or off the wall name? (Setup and products)
($50,000 is my arbitrary number for cost, it may probably be much higher.)

How do we organize all the Bradley GT II owners US wide who need windshields ?

Wyn

I for one would love to have a second ws. Im always worried that a branch or hail will fall and end my beloved car.

Yeah, that's what I am thinking. I know Skip20 did a conversion, but has anyone else successfully done a windshield conversion?

hey everyone, I contacted the glass company and received these two emails.

first email:

Jonathan,

We can produce windshields for your vehicle without issue. Please take a photo of the logo position on the car and try to get the logo to be as clear as possible so that it is readable.

In order to prepare a quote I would need to have your contact information.



Steven Miller will work up the quote for you so please reply to all when you get the photo and the contact details.

Regards,

Second email:

Jonathan,



In addition to the photo that Steve requested, can you please include the following information:



1. Rough dimensions

2. Do you need a blackout perimeter painted around the edges, or is the window clear to the edge?

3. From the photo it looks like the windshield is flat top to bottom, is that true?



If we do produce this windshield for you we would need a template of the exact shape and contour to produce from. There are many options for this, including wood, sheet metal, fiberglass, etc…or you can have someone come out with digital templating equipment and measure the car exactly, and provide a digital CAD template. We can discuss these details further if we get to that point. We would also generally provide a prototype prior to a larger order so that we can confirm the fit.



Please provide the information noted above, the photo of the logo that Steve Lerner requested, and contact information, and I will work up a quote for you.



Thanks,

If I can get any of the stuff they are requesting posted here, that would be great since I don't have too much disposable time right now. Also, If someone else would like to be the person giving them contact information, that would be great since I again don't have too much disposable time or cash right now; I can be that person for now, but once they want some kind of money commitment, I can no longer do it.

Thank you for checking on the Windshield Company. What needs to be done now is to find everyone who needs a Windshield who should be willing to spend possibly up to $500 or maybe more for it, and hope it would be abit lower. You will need a known number windshields to ask for a quote on.

I for one would like a spare windshield.

The only problem I see is the picture of the logo. Which may bring up the legal problems of infringement rights.

At looking at their web site I saw they need a Template to make the windshield. I have not used my windshield yet and thought making the template from it and to take it to them. Its about a days drive. But with my health problem I am afraid to move the windshield and try it. when I go to use it I will need two people to move it and install it.

I had debated about making a template for my windshield so if it ever broke I would make a windshield out of plexaglass.

Wyn

What we need is the list of people who want a Windshields.

The $500 is what I figured would be a good and the $1000 is a pit of a stretch. But I would do it to get the spare Windshield.

The only option is to buy another Twoie with a good windshield, and that could run anywhere from $500 to $1500.

Someone should put this request on Thesamba!

Wyn

I'm in for a new one. Maybe even a spare if the price is right. Unfortunately the shipping to WA state is gonna suck!

Thanks,
Matt

Hey everyone,

I just let the guy I was coordinating with know that "horen2tas" had spoken with Steve Lerner and gave him ball park estimates of the windshield prices, he responded with this email:

Jonathan,



So you are aware of our terms, we require a 50% deposit prior to production, and full payment prior to shipping. To benefit from a price break due to mass production, all parts we produce would be “identical”, within our standard tolerances. If you are going to be coordinating this purchase, you should be aware of these terms and make sure that your customers know that they are getting a windshield made to match the shape and contour of the sample windshield, not something that was specifically fit to their vehicle. For our purposes, we will be dealing with you as the only customer. Please make sure you think through all of the details, such as collecting money, shipping and distribution. If you have any questions, please let me know.



Thanks,

I DEFINITELY cannot be the guy coordinating this right now, at least for another year or two, so if anyone else with the time and money (shouldn't be too much considering we get a list of serious buyers) wants to take over, please do.

Here is Mr. Miller's email: srmiller@bentglassdesign.net
We still have quite a ways to go before we should contact them again, just throwing this out there well in advance.

Personally I would go Skips route before buying the correct glass. You all know what happens shortly after replacing a windshield. Odds are the factory one will greatly outlast any replacement. Something to do with a man called Murphy. Besides the way my insurance works, if the glass is busted and there are no replacements. I get 10,000 for the car which I can buy back for 1000, leaving me with 9000 to redesign for a more abundant windshield.

But it would help those of us who are not guru's of fiberglass or mechanically inclined to do such a mod. I do see dans point plus he would come out ahead.

What would you estimate something like that would cost?

YIKES, if it was somewhere in that rang then I would rather get a GTII windshield or attempt it myself

I am in for 1 spare if the price is right.