Cabrio mechanism instead of targa
Discussion
Hello There!
Is there anyone who has thought of putting a "normal" cabrio mechanism on an S?
Getting ready for the dutch Tvrcarclub Schotland tour I noticed there is REALY not much room for stuff in the boot. I might try taking a mx-5 mechanism or what and "bespoke" it to fit an S. Any thoughts?
Cheers
Olav
Is there anyone who has thought of putting a "normal" cabrio mechanism on an S?
Getting ready for the dutch Tvrcarclub Schotland tour I noticed there is REALY not much room for stuff in the boot. I might try taking a mx-5 mechanism or what and "bespoke" it to fit an S. Any thoughts?
Cheers
Olav
I think this would be very difficult.
I think there's lots of mathematics involved in a cabrio roof mechanism, and you'll need to be able to tension it to the top of the front windscreen with a perfect fit.
Of course if you make it work I'll have one !
You could take a can of tyre foam and leave the spare wheel behind!
Chris
I think there's lots of mathematics involved in a cabrio roof mechanism, and you'll need to be able to tension it to the top of the front windscreen with a perfect fit.
Of course if you make it work I'll have one !
You could take a can of tyre foam and leave the spare wheel behind!
Chris
Yes It will be complicated but looking at the spitfire it is actually a simple principle
I have contact with a guy who smashed his mx-5..asked him about buying his hoodframe...
the hood itself will not be off the shelf so I'm afraid having one made will be costly too.
Would look nice though:
I have contact with a guy who smashed his mx-5..asked him about buying his hoodframe...
the hood itself will not be off the shelf so I'm afraid having one made will be costly too.
Would look nice though:
Olav Bergman said:
I noticed there is REALY not much room for stuff in the boot
Olav, secret is to pack lots of smaller soft bags / holdalls than larger hard ones. By making sure everything fots into the corners I can get loads and loads of stuff on the boot floor between the roof panels and fuel tank and around the spare wheel. Using the rear shelf as well gives me plenty of space for 4 or 5 days worth of clothing, tent, sleeping bags, chairs, stoves etc for 2 people at Le Mans. And if you're feeling confident you could leave the spare wheel at home and use some cans of tyre weld instead.Longers
Leave the roof panels at home Olav... its always sunny in Scotland ! just take an umbrella for the occasional shower. 
or you could add a bootlid rack to hold even more baggage that you probably dont need. I find that cans of beer pack really well and if you take enough they will not move round much
Take care though packing your boot in case the baggage jams the boot strut and you cant get to that beer 
seroiusly, have you thought about keeping the fold-up part of the hood and replacing the targa panels woth something else ? that may be easier than trying to re-engineer the whole hood.
or you could add a bootlid rack to hold even more baggage that you probably dont need. I find that cans of beer pack really well and if you take enough they will not move round much
Take care though packing your boot in case the baggage jams the boot strut and you cant get to that beer seroiusly, have you thought about keeping the fold-up part of the hood and replacing the targa panels woth something else ? that may be easier than trying to re-engineer the whole hood.
Edited by ketvrin on Tuesday 7th August 13:13
No need for a coat, a t-shirt will be fine. I believed you for half a second when I read your reply :-) Olav Bergman said:
Chairs too???!!! 
Nothing too dramatic, some like these that go into a reasonably compact tube when folded.....http://www.factory2u.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=122&...
ketvrin said:
have you thought about keeping the fold-up part of the hood and replacing the targa panels woth something else ? that may be easier than trying to re-engineer the whole hood.
I'm sure there were some threads on this subject a year or so ago. I think the idea was a roll up / fabric middle section, something like the Lotus Elise uses. Dunno what cam of it though....I did approach a local guy that used to make their own kit cars. The idea was to replace the current 2 hard panels with 3 and then hopefully these would then be able to be stored on the back shelf leaving the boot free. He did say it would not be cheap as the moulds would be hard to make. Never took it any further.
Hello All,
Yes I remember reading the old thread a while back. There's no one who is crazy enough to want a normal cabrio mechanism and do something with the thought?
I stopped taking my pills about a year and a half ago and I skipped shock therapy too so I just might give it a go...
Ideas are welcome.
If progress is made I'll keep you posted.
Cheers
Olav
Yes I remember reading the old thread a while back. There's no one who is crazy enough to want a normal cabrio mechanism and do something with the thought?
I stopped taking my pills about a year and a half ago and I skipped shock therapy too so I just might give it a go...Ideas are welcome.
If progress is made I'll keep you posted.
Cheers
Olav
Agree with Longers that you can take a lot with the S 
. Also not forget the passenger footwel. You can place quite a bag directly located to the bodywork, just in front of the door.
But if you insist in making your own cabriolet roof...
Here's some classical inspiration!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiWrwunq8Bg&mode=related&search=
. Also not forget the passenger footwel. You can place quite a bag directly located to the bodywork, just in front of the door.But if you insist in making your own cabriolet roof...
Here's some classical inspiration!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiWrwunq8Bg&mode=related&search=
Olav Bergman said:
Is there anyone who has thought of putting a "normal" cabrio mechanism on an S?
I'm sure this would be extremely difficult, as already noted on here. However, I do think it would be a great idea to fit a soft top convertible roof. I've always thought the TVR targa panels were a rubbish idea. I'm amazed that they even stuck with it (albeit as a single section roof) right up to the Tuscan convertible last year!As far as I'm concerned, if you want an open-top car then all you really need is a lightweight, rainproof top that is quick and easy to put up if it throws an unexpected shower. On the other hand, if you want better security, insulation and protection from the elements - buy a coupe or something with a retractable roof like a Mercedes SLK.
In my opinion, the TVR roof is bulky, awkward to put on and offers little in terms of sound or heat insulation! Which is why I hardly ever bother with it
.Now I've stopped ranting... I am amazed how much space there is in the S boot with some careful planning. On the way to Rockingham last weekend I managed to pack away the roof, the spare wheel, a 4-man tent, a sleeping bag, a folding chair, some tools, a crash helmet, shoes, clothes, toothbrush and ten cans of Stella. It all went inside the boot with nothing on the parcel shelf or in the car.
With the 3 panel idea - which I think has the greatest chance of success - do you reckon it would be possible to make a template from wood ?
Someone with a bit of woodcarving skill (that excludes me) could surely come up with a solution carved from a number of appropriate bits of wood glued together to give the 3D profile to carve from ??
Just a thought.
Not sure what the next stage would be though - though a friend of mine has a 3d laser mapping business - so it just may be possible to get some CAD profiles doing this - AND if this worked it would mean that only one side panel would need to be made - as it could be electronically mirrored to create the other side to get the data for some kind of mould.
Maybe I'm getting carried away here ??!!
Chris
Someone with a bit of woodcarving skill (that excludes me) could surely come up with a solution carved from a number of appropriate bits of wood glued together to give the 3D profile to carve from ??
Just a thought.
Not sure what the next stage would be though - though a friend of mine has a 3d laser mapping business - so it just may be possible to get some CAD profiles doing this - AND if this worked it would mean that only one side panel would need to be made - as it could be electronically mirrored to create the other side to get the data for some kind of mould.
Maybe I'm getting carried away here ??!!
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Wednesday 8th August 19:30
My bet is that with solid panels, one size would not fit all as each car is slightly different, whereas a true soft-top section between the existing fold-up roof and the screen could be more standard with stretching making up the differences. I'm thinking a rear member to fix to the existing rear hood and a front member shaped to the front windscreen frame with a similar "over-centre" stiffener(s) to those on the existing rear roof section to provide tension and shape... dunno about window seals though ?
The tensioners could fold in-over (or remove) for storage and the whole lot rolled up and put away... sounds simple doesnt it ?
surely if Clarkson can do it ?
The tensioners could fold in-over (or remove) for storage and the whole lot rolled up and put away... sounds simple doesnt it ?
surely if Clarkson can do it ?
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