Tonneau cover for the S series?
Discussion
Does anyone know if a full tonneau cover was ever available/ is currently available for an S, or where I could get one made? It would be useful to have something easier to fit than the hood for parking etc. while out for the day - at the moment my hood stays down for most of the time as the car is garaged and I don't drive it (if I can avoid it) in the rain.
Any advice would be very welcome
Any advice would be very welcome
doddze said:
not sure.... but check to see if your insurance is still valid if the car is left unattended with the roof off.
Interesting.. Never really thought of that. Mine always has the roof on overnight, (unless garaged), but frequently gets parked more or less anywhere with its lid off, (that I'm happy to park it anyway). There's never anything in it, face plate for the stereo is in the boot, no gloves etc and so far, (touch wood), both of them have been fine.
I'm stil working on a new hood idea..
which with a bit of luck should make its 1st appearance for Le Mans..petclub said:
Funny this, I was only asking about this earlier in the week. I used to have an Austin Healey that just lived with the tonneau on. However, I've never seen any TVR with one as yet.
that's what I used to do with my westfield - easier than fiddling with the roof. I think I'm going to investigate having one made. I'll keep you all updated on the 'prototype'
I have seen a cover that just goes over the cabin and hooks into the wheels ( or arches )
Easier than a full cover if you just want to leave the car a while or if your roof leaks.
Can`t see how you locate a tono , had an MGB with one many years ago but the roof fixed with studs that doubled up as mounting points .
dale
Easier than a full cover if you just want to leave the car a while or if your roof leaks.
Can`t see how you locate a tono , had an MGB with one many years ago but the roof fixed with studs that doubled up as mounting points .
dale
mycroft said:
I have seen a cover that just goes over the cabin and hooks into the wheels ( or arches )
Easier than a full cover if you just want to leave the car a while or if your roof leaks.
Can`t see how you locate a tono , had an MGB with one many years ago but the roof fixed with studs that doubled up as mounting points .
dale
That's one of the problems - my dad had one on hs 3000S which located on studs at the back (where the hood also mounted) and then there were 90 deg. flat edged hoos which slotted in behind the dash behind the screen. I was thinking about something which is elasticated around the back of the rear hood section when folded. The problem with the covers that hook into the wheel arches is that if you leave the car outside when its windy the straps can be abrasive and leave nasty scuff marks on the bodywork.
I think it wouldn't be too hard to get a tonneau to fit securly, I can see how you would secure the front section, and presumably poppers could be used at the rear and the sides could hook into the gap at the top of the door cards somehow. But how do you drain water off it? I guess it would need some sort of lip or gutter at the front and sides to stop water from spilling into the back of the dashboard or inside the doors. But this doesn't seem like a very good solution, it wouldn't take much of a slope to have water spilling over the lip. Presumably if you were going to this much trouble you'd go for a split design so you could drive with it on, that means you probably want to leave a gap at the front so that you can demist the windscreen (I assume this is for summer use so you can take it for granted that it is going to be cold and wet).
GreenV8S said:
I think it wouldn't be too hard to get a tonneau to fit securly, I can see how you would secure the front section, and presumably poppers could be used at the rear and the sides could hook into the gap at the top of the door cards somehow. But how do you drain water off it? I guess it would need some sort of lip or gutter at the front and sides to stop water from spilling into the back of the dashboard or inside the doors. But this doesn't seem like a very good solution, it wouldn't take much of a slope to have water spilling over the lip. Presumably if you were going to this much trouble you'd go for a split design so you could drive with it on, that means you probably want to leave a gap at the front so that you can demist the windscreen (I assume this is for summer use so you can take it for granted that it is going to be cold and wet).
rain? - take it out in the rain? - the mainintention wa as a 'security' device (to make the car look 'closed' but its a good point - I'm not sure how tonneaus usually drain and the side windows are potentially a problem. On the 3000S of course there were no wind-up windows and the doors were cut away in a crescent shape from the top so there was a natural angle down over the doors. Take your point though on the English summer
I've always wondered the same, as I regularly used one on my MG Midget.
Trouble with the S, I think you'll find, is that where the hood folds back is much higher than than the top of dash. On the Midget the dash was at same level as folded hood. Heavy rain sometimes 'pooled' on the centre of the tonneau over the seat area, running away from the dash. This could be then be 'ejected' by pulling on the zipper in the middle of tonneau, causing the water to run off over the bit covering each of the doors. Beauty of this design is that it is possible to unzip the tonneau to only expose the drivers seat, great when the weather is cold or raining. As there is a 5 or 6 inch drop from back to front on the S, the water would run down into the dash. Only option would be to have the tonneau mount onto top of windscreen, then water would run off back over hood but you'd lose the closed in effect during inclement weather!
Steve
Trouble with the S, I think you'll find, is that where the hood folds back is much higher than than the top of dash. On the Midget the dash was at same level as folded hood. Heavy rain sometimes 'pooled' on the centre of the tonneau over the seat area, running away from the dash. This could be then be 'ejected' by pulling on the zipper in the middle of tonneau, causing the water to run off over the bit covering each of the doors. Beauty of this design is that it is possible to unzip the tonneau to only expose the drivers seat, great when the weather is cold or raining. As there is a 5 or 6 inch drop from back to front on the S, the water would run down into the dash. Only option would be to have the tonneau mount onto top of windscreen, then water would run off back over hood but you'd lose the closed in effect during inclement weather!
Steve
mycroft said:
I have seen a cover that just goes over the cabin and hooks into the wheels (or arches). Easier than a full cover if you just want to leave the car a while or if your roof leaks.
Got one: TC100
It got thoroughly tested on this year's Spanish Tour. It's light, cheap, waterproof and packs small. I'll be at SCH4 if anyone wants a demo.
I always fancied a tonneau for the S, but I didn't want to have to modify the car too much to fit it. I've heard that the one-off Chimaera tonneau done by Tower View was quite a tough job.
Roy
>> Edited by Roy C on Friday 12th May 14:02
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