Peter - Thanks. At first I didn't like the paint, but with the number of compliments it receives I'll probably stick with it. You are seeing a classic 20 yard paint job though. Up close she's rough. Unfortunately there are a number of previous paint jobs on the car so to do a paint job right it would need to be stripped to bare metal ....

not something I can afford right now.
I thought about a bar in the back. But that would restrict the height of what could be carried. When it's in place the rack provides a lot of strength. I have been thinking about adding a cross member though. Also remember this is not a roll cage even though it is beginning to look more and more like one. It was sort of my goal not to make it look like it was a real cage ...... but the more I consider a bar back there the more I am considering one. ....

... it would be an easy addition, a simple 90* champher .... Hmmmmm .... Gee thanks Peter...
IOport51 - How does the tubing attach to the top plate? Yours is finished so it looks like you will be bolting the tubing, possibly with a foot plate to it. I was thinking that the tubing would be welded to the top plate.
Is this being manufactured by one of our own here on this board?