Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have a question about installing a new headliner. I have finished the painting on my restoration, except now having a problem with the bows staying in place. Is there a clip or something that holds them in place while the liner is stretched? They seem to slip off of the ledge and cause undo wrinkles. The screws that hold the drip trim on seem to line up with the bow locations. So far I will attempt to use the ends of the screws by setting the bow tube over them to hold them in place.. Knowing lotus that may have been one of their duel purposes. I did not remove the headliner myself to know what it looked like, but I quess the bows do not set straight up but at an angle?? No end to the learning process with lotus. The upholstery shop is now on the second try and can use any advise. Can't wait to get the liner in so I can drive it with an windscreen. Thanks for any advice!!
1967 lotus elan S3 coupe
36/5785

my head liner was glued to the fiberglass top and the side panels screwed into 1/4/ round glued to the sides of the fiber glass --you must have the deluxe model ---- ed

The bows do indeed line up with the screw holes for the rain channel. The trick is that little clips are used to hold the bow in place. The clip is nothing more than a paper clip bent open, leaving two loops. one loop goes around the protruding screw, the other loop is pushed up into the end of the bow tubing. The clip wasn't actually a paper clip but similar in shape out of heavier wire. HTH

Stan

I installed my headliner about a year ago. Here is a picture of the little retaining wire saarhus mentioned.
<a href='http://www.unibrain.org/gallery/interior/Headliner_retaining_clip_relationship' target='_blank'>http://www.unibrain.org/gallery/interior/H...ip_relationship</a>




Here are a couple of pictures of the installation. I used a bunch of binder clips to hold the stretched headliner in place
<a href='http://www.unibrain.org/gallery/headliner' target='_blank'>http://www.unibrain.org/gallery/headliner</a>

Many thanks for the info, it was just what I needed. Now I understand how to install the headliner bows. The picture will help my upholsterer. Thanks again