Alfa Romeo Duetto hood/roof?

[elansprint71]

Having, once again, broken all my finger-nails trying to have a "rapid erection" of the S3/4/Sprint hood, I wondered if anyone has come up with a conversion to the stylish "flip the handle, throw it back" hood of the Duetto, which pre-dates even the ridiculous arrangement on the S1/2 by a couple of years?

Chapman, possibly, calculated that he could save one shilling and nine-pence three-farthings per unit by not following/stealing previously-established practice. Strange this, as he had no qualms about taking others' inventions and putting his name to them. I really regret not having quizzed Ron Hickman on this subject when I had the chance.

Just a thought...

[elanfan1]

Could you adapt one of these!

http://youtu.be/LXVqLbRirMA

[elansprint71]

That's it! Anyone got a scrap Mazda lying around?

[Jentwistle3]

It would have been interesting to hear Hickman's thoughts on the topic. The Elan has the worst hood arrangement of any of it's contempraries: MGA / B, Sprite, Austin Healey, etc. I've owned and driven all of them (175,000 miles on my MG Midget) and been caught out in many a rainstorm. Even my Bugeye was easier, faster and less damaging to the paintwork than my S2.

[bengalcharlie]

Lotus soft top construction was very agricultural compared to many other euro cars. Alfa's giulietta spider introduced in 1954 came out with a folding top similar to the duetto as you described. Porsche 356's were even better ( double lined) but many English cars were very basic to say the least..

cheers

Robin

[richardcox_lotus]

That's because it never rained in England.

Regards
Richard

[Robzildjian]

I would also be very interested to hear if anyone has successfully fitted a folding hood to an ?lan or plus 2. Or could anyone recommend a specialist?

Thanks

Rob

[jimj]

Rather than butchering your car and still finding that the rear suspension towers preclude a hood folding into, and reducing the size of, the boot, why not accept that the Elan hood from S3 onwards is quite a good, neat compromise.
Pete, meanwhile, can get some................

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Jim

[Elanman99]

Rather than butchering your car and still finding that the rear <a class="vglnk" target="_blank" href="http://www.eurocarparts.com/suspension-and-steering" rel="nofollow"><span>suspension</span></a> towers preclude a hood folding into, and reducing the size of, the boot, why not accept that the Elan hood from S3 onwards is quite a good, neat compromise.
Pete, meanwhile, can get some................

Cuccio Nail Strengthener 13ml Nail Repair Strengthen And Lengthen Natural Nails (cures grumpiness)

?4.95 + ?0.95 delivery
In stock. Sold by Faith Cosmetics

Jim

But Pete does not have a handbag to put the manicure kit in, on the other hand though he nearly always sports a small case which he claims contains photographic equipment.......

Ian (in the nothing wrong with an original S4 hood fraternity)