MK1 FULL tonneau

[WJNB]

When owning my MK 1 I NEVER encountered another owner who had the full tonneau, hood 'boot' yes. It was an optional extra beautifully illustrated in the then period brochure that I still have, together with a huge collection of early MX-5 stuff brochures, magazine articles, books etc which I still enjoy browsing. (Nothing Eunos please note)
I obtained my full tonneau second-hand complete with the little windscreen studs that required the removal of the little plastic blanks on the dash coaming hard up against the windscreen.
What joy driving solo with the cover over the passenger area, bit like riding a motorbike, & with the side windows up never getting wet in the rain. Replacement more expensive & powerful sports cars have come nowhere near the fun I had in my MX-5 & of course none can be fitted with full tonneau covers.
The cover & studs are in my loft so maybe one day I might be able to use them again.

[threespires]

I've got one & enjoy the solo feeling when driving alone. I had to swap the seats from Tombstones to removable head rests for it to fit.
I too have never seen another car with a full tonneau fitted.

[VladD]

Does one of you fancy posting a picture with it fitted? I quite fancy one now, but hadn't realised that they existed.

[threespires]

OK - If it's nice tomorrow I'll do it for you.

[threespires]

Hello OP WJNB

Do you have a photo of the Ad for the tonneau?

[AmiableChimp]

I would love something like this for my Eunos but suspect the combination of tombstone seats and IL motorsport rear view mirror that has a bar down to centre of dashboard may make fitting one difficult.

[threespires]

I don't think the mirror brace would get in the way, it's where the zip is and there is a gap it would fit around.
I'm hoping to take a photo of mine fitted but it's raining at the moment.

The tombstone seats are more of a problem. I managed to get a pair of Mk 2 seats with a velour centre section. I've done a 'foamectamy' and fitted heater pads are are the best 'standard' seats I've ever tried. I had leather for a while but didn't like them.

I'll try later for a photo.

[threespires]

Mazda MX-5 Full Tonneau

[AmiableChimp]

That does look cool but I suspect the seats are a major issue.

It would also have to be in tan to match my V-Special colour combination

[drgoatboy]

threespires said:

Mazda MX-5 Full Tonneau

I wondered if your latest pictures would turn up! Glad to see you keep improving the old girl. Liking the full cover, studs were already there weren't they?
Dan

[threespires]

Yes Dan the tenex studs were still there.
I fitted an engine bay strut brace last week as I felt it was rolling too much in the corners, I've yet to test it to see if it's improved it.
Also I've found that the stereo takes more than 1 CD!
It's first trip to France comes up next month for the Champagne Rally.
www.classicrallytours.com

[MX-5 Lazza]

The engine bay strut brace does almost nothing. Under-chassis bracing is what you need. None of them will affect roll though, that's all about shocks, springs & ARBs.

[threespires]

MX-5 Lazza said:

The engine bay strut brace does almost nothing. Under-chassis bracing is what you need. None of them will affect roll though, that's all about shocks, springs & ARBs.

OK - thanks

[VladD]

threespires said:

Mazda MX-5 Full Tonneau

Thanks.

[AmiableChimp]

threespires said:

Yes Dan the tenex studs were still there.
I fitted an engine bay strut brace last week as I felt it was rolling too much in the corners, I've yet to test it to see if it's improved it.
Also I've found that the stereo takes more than 1 CD!
It's first trip to France comes up next month for the Champagne Rally.
www.classicrallytours.com

My Eunos has the brace between the rear wishbones, it also runs Meister-r coilovers and I've gone up to 195/60/14 tyres on very lightweight Enkei RPF1 alloys.

On an owners club run last year, a friend in his mk2.5 sport was really struggling to keep up with me through the twisties as I was able to carry much more speed through the corners than him.

I also have a front strut brace fitted, but as Lazza says, it's more for looks than anything else.

[california dreaming]

Hello, I have a full tonneau cover but it came without the fixing studs for the dash. No one seems to sell them with a Mazda part number. I tried to zoom in on the photo to see what they looked like but the resolution was not up to it. Are they tenax studs with a short, self tapping thread or more like little spikes? If the latter, how does the Tenax female part attach to it?
Thanks for your help

[WJNB]

VladD said:

Thanks.

That's exactly like mine, except somebody filled in the Mazda logo with silver paint!
An added section had to be sewn in on the drivers side for some reason.
Maybe I'll keep it complete with screw-in studs as one day I'll either have another Mk1 or it will be my pension fund - I jest of course.

[WJNB]

california dreaming said:

Hello, I have a full tonneau cover but it came without the fixing studs for the dash. No one seems to sell them with a Mazda part number. I tried to zoom in on the photo to see what they looked like but the resolution was not up to it. Are they tenax studs with a short, self tapping thread or more like little spikes? If the latter, how does the Tenax female part attach to it?
Thanks for your help

The studs do seem unique but it might be worth trawling through the numerous classic car accessory websites as there may be something comparable from yesteryear.
When removing the blanks I had to be very very careful not to lose the studs down the screen vents for they are very tiny.
Plan B might be replace entirely with modern-day fixings as I'm sure the studs simply screw through the fibre type coaming & not into anything more solid.

[mad4amanda]

they are called tenex fittings . I got mine off ebay but my cover is too small it is too tight and pulls the door cards off might try and set a spacer in as love the idea but high back seats can be an issue too

[WJNB]

mad4amanda said:

they are called tenex fittings . I got mine off ebay but my cover is too small it is too tight and pulls the door cards off might try and set a spacer in as love the idea but high back seats can be an issue too

I'm sure there were after-market full tonneau covers with pockets for the high back seats or seats with headrests.
Sewing in a tiny extra width of material might work or try heating up the cover with a hair-dryer then stretching it.
The door cards must be very insecurely fitted for the cover to pull them off!