Tried out the top and side curtains for the first time...

[kevins2]

Hey Dan,

Sounds like a video of you getting in and out of your car as you described would be quite entertaining

I got about half way through putting my top kit together. You guys sure aren't giving me incentive to finish it...not a fun project.

Kevin

[Grubby]

3 Hot Rod Power Tours with my last ERA. That's 5 days of long drives. The top and curtains are wonderful. They keep you warm and mostly dry.

My wife actually enjoyed the trips.

The next ERA will certainly have a soft top, side curtains, heated seats and heater.

We tried on long road trip w/o a top and it was miserable. Wet and cold when we got caught in some early Summer down pours. We were forced to stop for some long meals to try and warm up and dry out.

John

[Tom Wells]

Or you could take the Wade Chamberlain approach: with Dave Smith as a passenger...

[desgros@vtlink.]

Typically British, the way it was before roll up windows and easy up tops like the MGB, my first new car.


John
ERA Slabside #3010 289 BRG

[Kit Coyle]

Back in the early 60s I owned a Jaguar XK-120 roadster that I drove to the
university every day. In the Pennsylvania winter that meant the flimsy top
and side curtains had to go on. At around 60mph the tops of the side curtains
would bow out a few inches and when it was snowing it would let the snow in
the cockpit. Then you would have swirling snow on both sides of the windshield
with vertigo soon to follow. A fine English car experience.

[Jim Vander Wal]

When I purchased my Superformance in 2004 from Dynamic I asked the young sales guy about the top. His response, after a pause, was "less wet". I've since concluded that the top was some weird cross between a WWII military two-piece pup tent and a plains Indian teepee.

In my 60k plus miles between two SPFs I ran the top about 3 maybe 4 times. My basic analysis is "a different wet", top or no top you'll get wet, just depends where it comes from.

At the same time I've logged many miles in the rain and prefer to run without the top and just center the Rain Gauge, that big one in the center of the dash that reads CCW, at 100% and let the rain blow over the top. You still get wet more so when you stop but then Cobra life is full of adventure.

Jim

[boblyon1]

The October 31, 2002 issue of Second Strike had a 5 page article about "weatherproofing" an SPF. They identified the major leak areas and suggested weather stripping and foam in strategic places to minimize water into the cockpit.

[snapier]

Did your Superformance come with a Tonneau Cover. Mine SP01400 came with one and I found that it is very effective keeping water off your legs.

[eschaider]

Depending on the rain, road condition, your tires and your driving skill it is possible to find a speed that the rain just flys over the top of your head and the car does not fly off the road. A definite balancing act but depending on how bad the weather (and how good the other stuff) sometimes possible ...

Ed

[Tom Wells]

Like this 😅

[eschaider]

A veritable master of the near impossible, with nerves of steel. Very impressive, Tom


Ed

[boblyon1]

I was caught in a rainstorm once. As long as I kept the speed over 30 I didn't get wet. Damn those red lights and stop signs. Put the top and side windows on once and thought it made the Cobra look like a hearse.

SCOF has an old technical bulletin showing where you can adjust and pad all the areas where rain leaks in - If you follow it all the way I hear it works pretty well.

[65snake]

Grubby!
You convinced me to order the top and side curtains with my new slabside #3035. I had #407 for 26 years and only had the top, but now living in Florida we see much rain and heat. Will also be installing Vintage air Mini/ Heat. When it's hot here it's HOT!
Bill