New project

[Petrus]

Oh my...
Just received a message from Bubbly.
She is excited about making the thing for me.
My life réally is like an alternative reality 

[Petrus]

By Jove...the stress of the first cut 

We are making it the three panels. Two panels driver (A) and passenger (B) with zipper in between, third (C) across the hood.
Two slits at the door opening/hard top fittings.

Tomorrow draw the pattern exactly on the coth in the car.

Monday morning will go to the supplier of the hardware.

Looks to be réally cool and it is quite nice to do this together with Bubbly; all going seemless. Pun intended.

[Petrus]

Nope, they did not have what I wanted.
Not an issue as there is a specialist supplier in Barcelona but would have preferred buy locally.

It is ordered:
 4  turnbutton fasteners
10  pushbutton fasteners
 4  Tomax fasteners (for the dashboard)

[Petrus]

Have the hardware in and we did a second fit with the pre-cut B panel.
I know where to put the two Tomax studs in the dash.
When tose are in, mark the rear of the partly sewn paned and put the hats in.
Hook the hats on the studs and then accurate mark the corner behind the mirror.
This allows me to see where to fit the turn button, with that mark the back, fit the eyelet, hook it up, mark the rest of the panel incl. where the envelope for the headrest goes, and the slit for the hardtop mounting.
Sew the panel, mark where the push buttons go etc.

Fit and eveluate.
Copy to panel A.
Repeat procedure.

With both panels fitted and zipped together, panel C can be marked.
Repeat procedure.
Well, íf is turns out doable, want a cool looking hook up over the hardtop bracket with a tongue going through.

The most tricky bit looks to be that Bubbly best take her sewing machinery to Mountain Girls´s so we have only a few meter between parked car and sewing machine... 

Back to the hardware: Those Tomax studs are áwesome with a very satisfactory fit and precise clíck action. You can fit and pull without ány tension on either the pleather or the stud. Lóve them!

[Petrus]

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Right, time for the driver´s side.
For some more info; the studs are screwed VERY tightly into the plastic and to make it extra secure added composite glue to bond them.

[Gibla]

Looks a very neat solution so far, congrats

[Petrus]

Thanks.

[Petrus]

Felices los cuatro:

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In tune with the other retro details it looks actually bétter; not all that plasticcy anymore.

[shnazzle]

Very tidy. As you say, it adds a bit of intrigue as well.
Those fasteners remind me very much of the fasteners on my guitar strap. Strong as hell but very easy to remove

[Petrus]

Very tidy. As you say, it adds a bit of intrigue as well.
Those fasteners remind me very much of the fasteners on my guitar strap. Strong as hell but very easy to remove

A fastener stud a bit more close up

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[Petrus]

Change of procedure. We are joining Panels A and B with the zipper first now. Then makr where to punch the holes for the fittings.
With the front part clipped on the studs mark the sides so they can be cut and sewn whereas I can put the fitting on the doors.
Néxt weekend Bubbly will take her machine to Mountain Girl´s, stay overnight so we can crack on with the car close at hand and try finish.
Going to be challenging.

[Petrus]

Today ´T-day´.
Bubbly is coming to Mountain Girl´s with her sewing equipment.
We can work on the cloth and have the car at hand there.
Fingers crossed. Toes included.

[Petrus]

So for so good

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and no other tension than just the right amount on the stitchings 

[Petrus]

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[Gibla]

Looking damned nice, the girls have performed well(tension or not)

[Petrus]

Looking damned nice, the girls have performed well(tension or not)

Looking good yes.
The girls... well, only Bubbly is involved in the manufacturing and she´s a champ.
Í am as content as a monkey with seven tails but she is not all that happy with the inevitable imperfection in such a one off and first go. We are not professional soft top fabricators and though we put the time and effort in, it is learning as we go along.

For the rest saying nothing is saying too much. Beejeezusss....

[Gibla]

d first go

When travel to S.Spain is somewhat easier(whenever that may be) you just may have some N.European visitors looking for hospitality and maybe tonneau, front spoiler and lightweight seat replication :-)

[Gibla]

Í am as content as a monkey with seven tails but she is not all that happy with the inevitable imperfection in such a one off and first go. We are not professional soft top fabricators and though we put the time and effort in, it is learning as we go along.

That is what the previous post was meant to include:- whatever,the design and fabrication looks fabulous ...3 gold stars to the workers :-)

[Dev]

Initially I was not in favor of this kind of modification for our kind of cars but I must say it has been executed very nicely and looks like a quality job.

 What would sell if you ever decide to make them is a frunk cover and rear storage bin cover. I stopped selling those kits  but when I did I sold a lot of them and continue to have requests which I decided to discontinue. It was a good weight saving modification while looking like a complete car.


 

[Petrus]

Initially I was not in favor of this kind of modification for our kind of cars but I must say it has been executed very nicely and looks like a quality job.

Thank you!

What would sell if you ever decide to make them is a frunk cover and rear storage bin cover. I stopped selling those kits  but when I did I sold a lot of them and continue to have requests which I decided to discontinue. It was a good weight saving modification while looking like a complete car.

Thanks for the suggestion but not looking to sell stuff ;-)
Ok, maybe my crytomoneys when those recover.

Lóve my car looking ... euhm... more functional :-)
It ís even more funtional in quite fundamental things actually for an open car; no carpet and such to get wet, no headset to get stolen :-O

[Petrus]

Finished the thing yesterday.
Mán what a challenge to wrestle the entire piece underthrough the sewing machines 

Withe the rear panel attached to the two front pieces we fitted the sheet on the car to mark the rear curve. Bóth the girls smoothly coöperating hands on    so I could mark.

It was too late to punch/drill the holes for the fittings so will be doing that today.

There are three details we may need to address:
- I máy need a bit of velcro to keep the zipper ends neatly closed. Will see when I have the central lid fitted again.
- The sheet is now simply óver the headrest and máybe we will add a small evelope.
- At the drivers side we made a seam to facilitate folding that behind the seat. It currently has no provsion to attach it to the metal as I would ideally want it to hook up to the turnthingy but have not thought of a way to do that.

Aaaaaaaanyway, the main sewing is done. Bubbly is not really pleased because if we´d do a second one it would be better in some details. Mountain Girl is awed. I am over the moon.
Spent the night at Bubbly´s and now at Mountain Girl´s again to finish the fittings.

...to be continued...

[Petrus]

With help of Mountain Girl marked the fittings and... done!!!
The side slits need yet be finished but that is as planned. Can now order the hardware for those.

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As you can see the material needs to settle to the fitted form.
Yes, we would do a wee bit better job if we´d do it again  but all in all am quite pleased with it.

So, now the driving :-)

[Gibla]

<870 kg now?

Still looking v good, how quick would you think that would take to put on in case of heavy rain (1-person only)

[Petrus]

It´s not even 3 kilos actually.

I put it on from zero in  2 minutes but the idea is you leave it on; just unfasten and zip open de driver side. Less ado than folding the ears in.
Zipping up, and press buttons, 30 seconds?

It is not for heavy rain btw. I´d unbutton it, fold it in the back and pull the roof up, or if a few wet days are expected, fit the hard hat.

Functionality wise it is for like greenlaning a classic british sportscar: Just you, windows down, mongos fitted, enjoying the scenery with minimal wind buffeting and minimal weather hassle.

Picking up charming company on the way? Fold the other side behind the seat too. Same thing if you would want the windows up.

Does it add a lot of funtionality over the OEM soft top?
Nah, just a bit, but it doés add an extra way you can drive about and leave it overnight/parked. Same as every tonneau fitted to any cabrio.
Worth the effort?
Not for the functionality, but yes for the heck of it ánd I have The Ony One 

[Gibla]

Silly me, I thought it was to replace the soft top completely, hence the weight reference.