So I have a buddy who's really good with fiberglass and can make almost anything, provided he has something to make a mold from. If we're successful in making the first one for my car, it wouldn't be hard to make more, provided theres a demand for it. Would any of you lot be interested in a fiberglass hood for your S-type? I can provide more info on costs once I get rolling on the project, just putting out some feelers to see if this is something y'all would be interested in.

 

What model year are you intending to replace? Pre facelift steel hoods, or the newer Aluminum hoods? FYI, the newer aluminum hoods fit on the older cars, but the grill has to be swapped too.
It becomes a cost versus durability and further weight savings.

A carbon fiber hood at a reasonable cost, might get more interest. (Stronger, lighter...)

 

I have a 2000 MY S-type I'm doing this for, though I might look into picking up a newer aluminum hood to make a mold from, if that's the case. I've looked into using carbon fiber instead of fiberglass, just not sure what goes into the carbon fiber manufacturing process. I believe it's similar to laying fiberglass, I dont know though.

 

hi
why would you want GRP bonnet, when post 2005 aluminium bonnets are so cheap and light

 

In the order of material properties: (strength to weight ratio and durability)
#1.Carbon Fiber
#2 Aluminum
#3. Fiberglas.

In tems of cost and difficulty to manufacture parts:
#1 Carbon Fiber
#2 Aluminum
#3 Fiberglas

In terms of enthusiasts making replacement body panels, Fiberglas is the easiest, because defects can be easily hidden, Aluminum sheet is a lot harder to form and bend to shape without large industrial presses.
Carbon fiber is the best, but the resins used in making carbon fiber parts have to be cured at higher temperatures and/or under pressure, therefore making it difficult for an enthusiast to make good parts.

Since aluminum hoods are available for for our S-types, I don't think it is worth the time to try to fabriate a fiberglas hood other than for your own gratification. Carbon fiber will take too much effort to ever recover your investment in time and making the mold of you wanted to sell them. (Little to no demand for the old S-types.)