Spitfire MK2 soft top hood - already have frame

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Hello,

I've just picked up a MK2 that has the soft top frame but nothing attached to it. Any ideas on if it's possible to get the soft top without the frame? Or do they come together?

 

Thanks 

[Josef]

Yep! You can get hoods via the club (from Don Hoods) which are apparently very good but I’ve been waiting a long time for mine now… James Paddock, Prestige, Aldridge, Canley Classics etc etc all list and sell them. 

[NonMember]

27 minutes ago, RichTeaBiscuit said:

I've just picked up a MK2 that has the soft top frame but nothing attached to it.

Just to be sure you're not labouring under a misapprehension... that's perfectly normal for a Mk2. The hood is in two parts - the frame that stows in the boot and the vinyl that stows behind the trim panel in front of the fuel tank. You can only obtain the vinyl bit as a separate item because that's how it remains in use.

[Adrian Cooper]

When you order a hood it might be a good idea to check that it comes with the 3 metal strips that reinforce the front edge of the hood, where it tucks under the front lip of the windscreen frame capping. Let me know if that doesn't make any sense and I'll take some photographs of mine to illustrate. The rear of the frame also needs a metal reinforcing bar and this certainly does not come with the new hood (at least, it hasn't come with any of the ones I have bought over the years) but it is very easy to make one that works. 

The big question is have you got the 2 little chrome 'jaws' on the rear deck that the rear of the hood hooks into? I really hope that you do as these are unobtainable and vital.

Adrian

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Wow thank you this is all very helpful and informative! I'm a complete newbie.

 

I hope it has the hooks, I've attached photos 

[Adrian Cooper]

Yes! those are the ones. 

The car looks fabulous. Tell us about it?

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Thank you! I don't have it yet, only just bought (and paid!) for it at auction - very excited.

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1966-triumph-spitfire-4Xl064

Looking forward to getting it home and getting a soft top on and doing some of the chrome work. 

All a learning curve but seems like it will be lots of fun.

 

[Adrian Cooper]

Well done, that looks like a very smart, honest little car.

As Rob points out, the soft top is stowed behind the rear cover, behind the seats. I have heard stories of at least 2 owners of hard top equipped cars who didn't know this and discovered them much later. One of these claimed that the hood was still in its original factory wrapping. It's unlikely, but you never know, you might already have a hood. The cover is removed by turning the 2 silver Dzus fasteners with a coin, originally an old penny but a 10p is best now.

People make fun of the crude 'do it yourself' nature of the hood on the Mk1s and 2s but I find that they are perfectly watertight in use, and reasonably quick to put up with a bit of practice, especially if it is raining.

Adrian

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Thanks, I found this youtube video - hopefully explains it well enough

 

 

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Oh there is a choice of materials and zip and non zip out windows.

Have you unzipped the window much if you have one of these?

[Josef]

Your video there is for a later car which has a folding hood frame. The early roundtails have a frame you have to slot together, then you fit the fabric hood over the top. Someone here can hopefully provide a copy of the diagrams from the original owners handbook (I don’t have a copy, and have a later car), or you never know there might be a copy with the car!

[Peter Truman]

taken from the Spit Mk2 Handbook, recently uploaded to the Forum My Triumph Restoration Project.

I have a saved copy of a copy of the handbook if you want it its around 4 Mb so might have to email direct to RichTea Biscuits

[NonMember]

7 hours ago, RichTeaBiscuit said:

I found this youtube video

As Josef said, that video is no good to you as it shows a Mk3, which is a completely different hood arrangement.

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Thanks! This is all very helpful

Is this the sort of thing I'm looking for? Hood Cover - Mohair Non Zip Out Window - 807124MOHBLACK (rimmerbros.com)

Also I can't seem to find one of these anywhere, are they not something needed for this model? Or are they just rare? Hood Stowage Bag - Spitfire Mk1 & Mk2 - 706831 | Rimmer Bros

[NonMember]

I would not buy from Rimmers. Apart from anything else, the "stowage bag" product is Not A Thing - Mk1/2 NEVER HAD THEM because the entire hood stows away behind trim panels. That hood cover is for the later cars - in fact the photo isn't even a Spitfire but rather a TR6. Would you trust a so-called Triumph specialist who can make that many errors in their catalogue? I wouldn't.

Use Canley Classics or James Paddock or T D Fitchetts

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Great thank you, I started to suspect as such when the specialist sites who make them didn't offer them! I've sent a few enquiries round asking for lead times.

 

[Badwolf]

Peter T - If you have a large file to transfer, I have found the best way is to take out a free Dropbox account and after signing up etc, you upload your file to the site which gives you a URL link. You then just sent this to the recipient or post in on a site like the forum, then by clicking on the link, the file downloads. Works well for me.

[DanMi]

have you tried turning the 2 metal circles at the top of the rear cockpit above the speakers in your photo. The panel will then pull forward and that is where the vinyl part of the hood is stored. It may well be there. Ahh this has been pointed out before! If it,s not there you will need the rear retaining bar and 3 metal strips for the front as well, front are same as the TR4 (3 pieces just in front of the hood but not listed.  https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID200895

found them

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-806696MET

 

[RichTeaBiscuit]

On 29/07/2022 at 15:01, DanMi said:

have you tried turning the 2 metal circles at the top of the rear cockpit above the speakers in your photo. The panel will then pull forward and that is where the vinyl part of the hood is stored. It may well be there. Ahh this has been pointed out before! If it,s not there you will need the rear retaining bar and 3 metal strips for the front as well, front are same as the TR4 (3 pieces just in front of the hood but not listed.  https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID200895

found them

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-806696MET

 

Thanks for this, I still need to order a hood (after I've checked, I don't have the car yet)

A few here have mentioned Don Hoods but their reviews online seem to be pretty poor. What about Prestige? 

Does anyone have an opinion on this sort of thing? Triumph Spitfire Wind Deflector - 1965-1980 | Cabrio Supply

[Colin Lindsay]

3 hours ago, RichTeaBiscuit said:

 

Does anyone have an opinion on this sort of thing? Triumph Spitfire Wind Deflector - 1965-1980 | Cabrio Supply

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254176140861?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=7101533165274578&mkcid=2&itemid=254176140861&targetid=4585169652812023&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=412354547&mkgroupid=1305120599331881&rlsatarget=pla-4585169652812023&abcId=9300541&merchantid=87779&msclkid=7a7926f80ec61cb0c9a6441d99287fc2

This one is much the same, a lot cheaper, but they may only fit later Spitfires... someone here will know.

[DanMi]

I can't see how the same wind deflector could fit both the mk2 and later cars as the attachments are so different, but I haven't tried fitting one, The MK2 has nothing to bolt to and I see bolts in those kits. My opinion is to get the car and try driving it before even thinking about this. Also if the hood cover isn't there, think about how you will use the car before deciding on a roof type. If as is my case the car is garaged and only driven with the hood down (unless caught in rain) then is it worth paying extra for an expensive material.

My money is still on the hood being behind the cockpit panel, very few people know about this storage place

[DanMi]

I have had a look at the listing, looks good. As they say that it has a starting handle! (that is the handle to the jack) I would be very surprised if they knew about hood storage. So don't do anything until you pull that rear cockpit panel forward.

I did note that it is missing the strap to hold the soft top frame (not a big deal) when not in use. There should be a leather strap on the top centre screw that holds the petrol tank panel in place (in the boot), a small leather dog collar will work perfectly. The frame then sits with the base poles on the wheel arches and the centre attached with the missing strap.

[RichTeaBiscuit]

Thank you all. I've very excited to get it now and have a look to see if the soft top is there. This forum should be mandatory reading for new owners!

Mine will be garaged too, but would like the soft top for backup just incase I get caught in some rain.

Picking it up on Wednesday. 

Maybe I'll film the opening 😂

[DanMi]

soft top is always useful but if just for emergencies a much cheaper vinyl one will work perfectly, mine is now about 30 years old and still fine.

[Peter Truman]

Our Mk2 has an American Robins soft top it’s 21 years old and lasting well the front top of windscreen slip under clamp does wear at the ends the bar is sharp and cuts the sleeve don’t know how the Dons and Prestige wear there.