Full tonneau cover

[Petrus]

Once upon a time....
I had a Triumph Spitfire 1500. Bought a full tonneau cover for it and réally loved that simple, practical bit of kit.
Over the years also rode several motorcycles with sidecar for daily transport. All former Eastern block products and again with a ´tonneau´-like cover over the sidecar. Again lóved the simple practicallity of the flaps.

Ok, to the MR2; would realy like to fit a full tonneau cover. Can not find ánything!!
Any members here with info or who can point me in the right direction?

[Carolyn]

If there was such a thing, how would you attach it? 

[Petrus]

If there was such a thing, how would you attach it?

If there was such a thing, it would come with attachements and a fitting kit 

If there is nothing, then I will máke one.
Two turns snaps on the passenger dash.
Two eyelets over pin grommets on the driver dash,
Grommets (one turn snap up front and rest push buttons, maybe the first one on the quarter panel turn snap) on both doors and around the rear.
Two short zippers at the sides behind the seats and a long zipper in the middle.
All fittings either screwed or rivited, using epoxy glue to ensure durable fixing.

The fittings I can do myself and I will ask a gf or a seamster in the village to do the cover.

If however someone has already sorted it, I am not one to reinvent the wheel.

[Brizee67]

If there was such a thing, how would you attach it?

If there was such a thing, it would come with attachements and a fitting kit 

If there is nothing, then I will máke one.
Two turns snaps on the passenger dash.
Two eyelets over pin grommets on the driver dash,
Grommets (one turn snap up front and rest push buttons, maybe the first one on the quarter panel turn snap) on both doors and around the rear.
Two short zippers at the sides behind the seats and a long zipper in the middle.
All fittings either screwed or rivited, using epoxy glue to ensure durable fixing.

The fittings I can do myself and I will ask a gf or a seamster in the village to do the cover.

If however someone has already sorted it, I am not one to reinvent the wheel.

Or you could use magnets for fixings...I'm sure they'd hold [emoji846]


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[jvanzyl]

You can buy a full on tonneau cover from cl/midshipgarage ... But it's a solid grp thing..

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[Petrus]

Or you could use magnets for fixings...I'm sure they'd hold [emoji846]

They might. If complete. So I would still need to fit the base plates to the panels and they are not designed for that. Besides; I líke the turn snaps a lot. Think they are cool. Have that same satisfying sensation as old fashioned metal over centre dashbord switches.

@javanzyl; the midshipgarage thing is very cool but misnamed. It is an airo cover behind the seats. Does not cover the occupant compartment.

[Ardent]

Fairly confident to say no proper tonneau exists.
Only that thing that fills in the gaps as jv and you ref to.

Have always liked the idea of a tonneau. Just not sure I could bring myself commit to the twist locks.

I know. Eggs and omelettes.

[Petrus]

Fairly confident to say no proper tonneau exists.
Only that thing that fills in the gaps as jv and you ref to.

Have always liked the idea of a tonneau. Just not sure I could bring myself commit to the twist locks.

I know. Eggs and omelettes.

Thanks. I will pursue the idea a bit further.

The ´tonneau´ (bucket) of the MR2 is rather petite and also fairly uncomplicated. Furthermore the driver side door and dashbord do not need proper fixing down; when you drive it is folded inside.

[Joesson]

Or perhaps the driver section could be "rolled" back and strapped down to complete the retro look.
Although giving the idea some thought a roll back may not work as the major obstruction would be the " headrest " section of the seats. In the days of the tonneau the seat backs were level with the bodywork.
I do like the idea in principal, probably like you (although I never had one) for nostalgic reasons .

[Petrus]

Or perhaps the driver section could be "rolled" back and strapped down to complete the retro look.
Although giving the idea some thought a roll back may not work as the major obstruction would be the " headrest " section of the seats. In the days of the tonneau the seat backs were level with the bodywork.
I do like the idea in principal, probably like you (although I never had one) for nostalgic reasons .

It is not just nostalgic reasons:
- it eliminates buffeting
- it keeps the interior warmer or cooler
- it is a very user friendly cover when leaving your car.

The resident female has just said she is giving me 200 Euros to spend on my car as Í see fit 

[Joesson]

When I read your response a picture came into my mind of a Kayak like apron tied up around the drivers / your neck, with the 2's heater on this could then become like a mobile sauna

[Carolyn]

Fairly confident to say no proper tonneau exists.
Only that thing that fills in the gaps as jv and you ref to.

Have always liked the idea of a tonneau. Just not sure I could bring myself commit to the twist locks.

I know. Eggs and omelettes.

I feel the same about the metal fittings.  Some high quality self-adhesive Velcro could well be an answer.  And it will come off with a bit of gentle heat.  I have some that was used to hold GPS onto the rocket car.  Very strong.

[Petrus]

When I read your response a picture came into my mind of a Kayak like apron tied up around the drivers / your neck, with the 2's heater on this could then become like a mobile sauna

and over here a cooler 

Seriously; it is a very practical dust cover. With 300 sunny days per year it is ever so enticing to leave the car open. The very occasional shower is not the issue, the asured dust is.

I have nooooo qualms about screwing/riveting snaps as it imo only adds to the sports car charm.

[Petrus]

I feel the same about the metal fittings.  Some high quality self-adhesive Velcro could well be an answer.  And it will come off with a bit of gentle heat.  I have some that was used to hold GPS onto the rocket car.  Very strong.

Gentle heat is what the summer sun will apply.

Also, with the tonneau of, either the soft or hard to up, the velcro will look horrid. Imo better the added classic appearance of a few  snaps.

It surprises me to no end that with 30.000 or so Mk3s sold, there is nobody who walked the tonneau way to be found, whereas there are a handful after market suppliers who had a go at the aero cover!

Anyway, as I wrote, I will pursue this a bit further and the mountain love has donated 200€ to the project.

[Call the midlife!]

Purely to add to the mix, the dashboard plastic isn't the thickest in the world, I realise the fixings won't be taking much stress but you might want to look for areas you can access behind to use machine screws, nuts and wide washers to prevent them pulling out.
Just for visualising where you might want to fasten it.


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[Petrus]

you might want to look for areas you can access behind

Is there any instruction on how to get the airbags out?
I don´t want those in anyway and the passenger one out would give me geat access no?!

[Call the midlife!]

Others have removed it to fit the JDM glovebox, at least one member on here did a how to I think? Have a search in the academy files?


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[Ardent]

Will follow this with interest.
Always liked the idea of something like this.

[Call the midlife!]

Be no good for me, I keep all my supplies on the passenger seat on a day out. Drinks, pies etc..[emoji23]


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[Ardent]

 
How many pies do you take

[Call the midlife!]

How many pies do you take

Depends how long I'm out for![emoji23]


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[Ardent]

Thought it would have been ideal for keeping them dry.

[Carolyn]

@Petrus

you've given it a lot of thought, and it is in hot and dusty place, so it should be good.  The airbag does come out.  I have the JDM glovebox.  You can get them from Japan, but they ain't cheap!

I look forward to seeing a pic of the installed project.

[Petrus]

@Petrus

you've given it a lot of thought, and it is in hot and dusty place, so it should be good.  The airbag does come out.  I have the JDM glovebox.  You can get them from Japan, but they ain't cheap!

I look forward to seeing a pic of the installed project.

@Petrus

you've given it a lot of thought, and it is in hot and dusty place, so it should be good.  The airbag does come out.  I have the JDM glovebox.  You can get them from Japan, but they ain't cheap!

I look forward to seeing a pic of the installed project.

Thanks Carolyn.
The JDM cubby is for RHD and will not fit.
Is there a how to about getting it out? I suppose shutting it off before disconnecting should avoid the fault message.

About the tonneau; there is a car upholstery shop just 10 kms up the road and will try drop in tomorrow.

[Carolyn]

I'll have thorough measure of my glovebox.  It's very square.  It might fit.... worth a proper check?  Or has it already been tried on LHD?