Technical Fabricating a clear display enclosure for a car?

This is a shot in the dark but for the museum exhibition I've been working on, I've been trying to find a company that's capable of fabricating some kind of clear/transparent enclosure big enough to display a car within.

Hagerty, for example, did this for National Registry cars that were displayed on the National Mall.
I did reach out to Hagerty and they basically had this done custom at a cost that's way beyond our budget.

Regardless, what we're looking to do doesn't have to be as sophisticated as this but it's the same general idea: put a car in a clear box to display it out in a public space.

The problem is that in asking around, including the "car people" I know, no one knows who does this work because it's not exactly a common fabrication request. I sent the question to someone I know at SEMA to see if they'd have any suggestions but I figured I'd ask the collective wisdom here:

Any of you know a company capable of doing this kind of work, especially in Southern California? Thanks in advance.

 

You can buy clear plastic inflatable bags to park a car in

 

These guys might be able to help. I've had them build cleanrooms for me in the past. I don't know what your budget is, so they might be too expensive.

https://www.terrauniversal.com/

 

Build it......wood or aluminum and tempered glass. Envision a shed without walls or a sun room.

If you must, a contractor and a glass guy.

 

What is your budget?

 

Plexiglass and hinged?

 

Just spitballing, but, have you tried reaching out to any companies that specialize in trade show displays?

 

I would think museums would have information on who builds museum type displays. I am going to guess you are not going to like the prices of anyone who specializes in this professionally.

 

Without knowing anything about the vehicles you want to enclose at the minimum I can see using 12 sheets of 4 x 8 x 1/16” polycarbonate sheet with a cost around $450. Then there is the material to join the sheets, the base, flooring, roof and lighting. Would 1/16” thick material be enough?
How elaborate do you want the displays? Could you get volunteers to help with the project?
I was estimating the sheets needed for a 1932 Ford which is approximately 170” long and 80” wide, stepping up to a ‘49 Merc and you need more plastic so maybe $575 for the larger vehicles.

 

I'd try a local glass company that does store fronts and so on.

 

We built the overhead light displays for the local Porsche dealership. They're fully programmable RGBW LED's. It really wouldn't be that difficult to build a display case with similar lighting features. Try your local custom sign shop, not a vinyl/graphics shop, but a commercial sign company.

 

Buy a stack of glass patio doors, build a simple framework to support them, and roof it with corrugated plastic.

 

Hard to say but a few thousand would be within our target range, say, up to $3000 or so. Beyond that and it's more challenging without outside support/sponsorship. The museum I'm working with hasn't tried to approach anything quite like this before so it's new for everyone here.

 

Indeed. That's why I wrote a contact at SEMA but I'm still waiting to hear back.

 

I would guess you'll have 2 or 3 times that number in just materials.

 

Polycarb (Lexan) is preferable over Acrylic (Plexiglas) since acrylic is softer material and scratches easier. Length is a critical decision point since the two materials come in 8 ft and 10 ft lengths (5 ft x 10 ft). Going cheap shit will look like trash. You can do an extruded aluminum frame (Misumi, Bosch, etc) since their extrusion is available in 20 ft lengths. Minimum polycarb thickness will be 6mm (material is metric) to be self supporting. Another major consideration is if the case needs to be disassembled and moved.... a major design detail. Also, does the display need a roof or floor? Note that large plastic panels have a static problem that attracts dust but you can ground the panels and apply an antistatic spray to neutralize the problem. Using the 10 foot long panels, you would need a joint in a 20 ft long box. A 5 ft tall box would look funky displaying a car unless it was an Indy car or similar. Box height probably needs to be 8 ft while the width at least 6 ft. Remember Polycarb and acrylic are metric sheets but close to imperial. Glass probably wont work for insurance reasons unless it is tempered... and really heavy.

 

This isn't really a conventional museum-type display though. It's one thing to build, say, a table-top vitrine or a display wall behind plexiglass but a five sided enclosure, big enough for a car? That's a lot less common, at least for the kind of community museum I'm working with. They have a decent budget but this is way outside their previous exhibition needs.

 

What about those glass patio's on the side of houses and restaurants? Some are big enough to put a few cars in. I think they might be available in some kind of pre-fab kit. All the fast food ones look the same

 

Lots of museums have fully enclosed displays that are larger than a car but I think you are going to find $3000 is not much of a budget at all for what you are looking to have made unless it is some sort of DIY type deal.

 

3000$$$ gets you a nice rug and some velvet stanchions and a "don't Fcuken touch the car dude" sign. Champagne taste, beer budget.

 

Try a company that makes custom greenhouses.... they have the knowledge and ability

 

I would also assume you’re going to need to run power for lights and I assume some sort of ventilation? Seems like putting a car in a glass box outside for a mystery amount of time could really have a ton of factors. Don’t envy the challenge but want to follow along all the same.

 

for anyone jumping in with 3K on hand?? perhaps.

 

Maybe get the extrusions from someone like this,
https://www.atlanticaluminumproducts.com/supplier-sales/.
Some of this stuff, you rope in the glazing like a winsdhield. Extrusions, weather strip and lots of lexan.
Mike

 

How secure do you need it? Do you need a top and bottom? Does the car need to be observed from all sides or could the back and maybe ends be solid? What about solid all the way around (plywood) with windows put in for viewing?Many options but we need more detail.

 

First off where are you located? I work with a design company that does displays at The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte N.C. We use RexRoth Bosch aluminum extrusion in 45x45mm. And lexan . Not sure of the thickness of the lexan but it can be ordered in sheets bigger than 4x8. Now that said it can get expensive.
I know a few years ago the Hall had some cases with cars in them on platforms with casters so they could be moved around.

 

like this?
They come in different sizes.
https://www.temu.com/ul/kuiper/un9....ZbzYormmpwQYCqAoLaxozCVVi3NY_lfRoCDjYQAvD_BwE

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/...SEoxno1fHffRg1kxDBOPcjiAtTejCSCFN7Pn&usqp=CAc

 

convert an old shipping container by removing the sides and retaining the corner posts

The sides can be made from clear PVC hf welded , so they can roll up.
If you use hooks and stretchy cord you can get the sides drum tight.

I have made a lot of clear walls over the years for Marquees that caterers use. I even made 3 sided clear panels for my ex-wife's walk-in dog kennel

The center divider is only there because the walls were modular [multiple size Marquees]


@Oliver Wang you could also use a PVC roof ! the one above does not have a full height centre pole

I was involved in developing / designing this ^ back in 2005