ERA Tonneau Cover

[ERA Chas]

Good-you won't waste $$.

[tkb289]

To digress just a bit ... and I don't have any Cobra tonneau cover experience just yet ( need the car to be finished first ) ... but I can pass on one interesting feature from the tonneau cover on my TR6. It has a strap attached near the zipper area, on passenger half of the cover, that hangs down near the hand brake. There is a post on the side of the transmission tunnel that the strap snaps onto (provided the post has not been removed of fallen off). This puts some tension on the cover to keep it from moving around quite so much.

The end result is that the passenger side cover does not flap around as much at freeway speed, but that's 60 to 65 mph in a TR ... which with skinny tires and wimpy brakes is fast enough ... but Cobra freeway cruising speeds would be somewhat higher ... !

Not sure how well it would work in a Cobra, but it could make the passenger side cover flap less. The nice thing is, at lower speeds on a cold day with the passenger side tonneau cover on and the heater going, it does help to keep the chill off of the legs.


- Tim

[cscobra]

I've never had problems with the tonneau cover for my '52 MG TD, even at 75+ (yes, it tops out just over 80). The top and side curtains work well, too--if rain comes in, it does so under the gasket under the windshield.

[patrickt]

Really all I was looking for was something that I could quickly put on the car if I was caught in a thunderstorm that would still allow me to drive home. I guess a Gore-Tex tonneau wouldn't make any sense, huh?

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Really all I was looking for was something that I could quickly put on the car if I was caught in a thunderstorm that would still allow me to drive home. I guess a Gore-Tex tonneau wouldn't make any sense, huh?

I assume you have considered the snapless tonneau that Phil Deal does? I think I am going to go that route, so I have something that I can very quickly put on if it looks like it might rain and I will be away from the car for awhile. But you can't drive with it. Installs in less than a min (supposedly).

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

I assume you have considered the snapless tonneau that Phil Deal does? I think I am going to go that route, so I have something that I can very quickly put on if it looks like it might rain and I will be away from the car for awhile. But you can't drive with it. Installs in less than a min (supposedly).

I have a light canvas tarp that folds up in to a little ziplock bag in my trunk. I can get that out and over the open part of the car in two shakes -- but obviously can't drive with it. I don't think there exists anything that does what I want.

[DonC]

That top that's pictured is referred to as a "Bimini Top". One of the members of the Mile High Cobra Club has one on his car and it's used not to keep the rain off but to keep the sun out. I made a run with them a couple of years ago and the temps were well into the 90's and he and his wife stayed reasonably cool without the sun beating down on their heads while the rest of us were getting our brains fried.
DonC

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DonC

That top that's pictured is referred to as a "Bimini Top".

Don, did you hit the 'm' key instead of the 'k' key?

[Gunner]

What we need is a tonneau with magnets all around the edges, like a shower curtain.

That would work, right?

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Gunner

What we need is a tonneau with magnets all around the edges, like a shower curtain.

That would work, right?

I like that. Or how about something that rolls up like a window shade.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Or how about something that rolls up like a window shade.

That wouldn't work. But what would work is a combination hooded, rain slicker and plastic tonneau in one. You'd put it on like a rain slicker, get in the car, and then snap the plastic lift-a-dots on around the perimeter of the open part of the car and you're good to go. That would be quick, clean, and keep most of the rain out of the car while driving. I'm not sure how to get around the steering wheel issue though.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

That wouldn't work. But what would work is a combination hooded, rain slicker and plastic tonneau in one. You'd put it on like a rain slicker, get in the car, and then snap the plastic lift-a-dots on around the perimeter of the open part of the car and you're good to go. That would be quick, clean, and keep most of the rain out of the car while driving. I'm not sure how to get around the steering wheel issue though.

Sort of like the body gasket (whatever it's called) for a sea kayak. Although you would look pretty far from cool in that getup.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Sort of like the body gasket (whatever it's called) for a sea kayak.

Exactly. A body casket... ehrr, I mean gasket.

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Sort of like the body gasket (whatever it's called) for a sea kayak. Although you would look pretty far from cool in that getup.

Hey! That's another one of my specialties!

How to make your own spray skirt

[WarrenG]

Originally Posted by patrickt

That wouldn't work. But what would work is a combination hooded, rain slicker and plastic tonneau in one. You'd put it on like a rain slicker, get in the car, and then snap the plastic lift-a-dots on around the perimeter of the open part of the car and you're good to go. That would be quick, clean, and keep most of the rain out of the car while driving. I'm not sure how to get around the steering wheel issue though.

Actually Patrick, when I had my MG that is exactly what I used to do. Left the tonneau up on the passenger side and wore a plastic rain "slicker" that I tucked under the edges of the tonneau and up on the dash. Kept me dry until I could get home to the garage.

BTW-The top is fine at any speed, it does not flop around. I just don't like driving sports car with a roof on it. The ERA tonneau takes about 2 minutes to put up and keeps the inside of the car very dry in the rain when parked. it also does a pretty good job of keeping the passenger side dry when driving with it over that side. I have driven the car with the tonneau on up to 115 mph. Mine only has one piece that flops around near the roll bar cutouts and I just put a microfiber cloth on the velcro between the tonneau and the body to keep it from scratching the paint.

[Got the Bug]

One the guys down in Southern California had a half top made. It probably keeps out about the same amount of rain as a soft top or a tonneau.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

One the guys down in Southern California had a half top made. It probably keeps out about the same amount of rain as a soft top or a tonneau.

That's dumber than my rain slicker idea.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

That's dumber than my rain slicker idea.

Just trying to keep the ideas flowing.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

One the guys down in Southern California had a half top made. It probably keeps out about the same amount of rain as a soft top or a tonneau.

Look Ma, a Baja Cobra! Only in Cali.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Look Ma, a Baja Cobra!

Actually, I think it's a pretty cool idea for a quickie top, sun or light rain.

Anyone have the details of how the windshield attachment works? I'd guess there's a shaped bar that attaches to t-bolts that slide into the top channel?