ATTN: SC and Carrera Cabriolet owners...

[Joe Bob]

I've always wanted a tonneau cover for my cab.

One that has HD zippers and fasteners with maximum life canvass that is made to fit with cut outs around my roll bar. I loved the one I had on my Austin Healy 3000. But it was a cheap aftermarket POS, ugly, bad fit and cheap....

I am looking at making a batch of 10 or more, prototype cost a of $1500 with copies at $500 each including the amortized cost of the prototype. .

So....looking for a someone that has a cab tonneau cover to use a pattern and also pick their brain on areas of improvement. Plus people that would be willing to purchase....or someone who can make a cad design to reduce costs.

My ideas would be HD molded YKK water proof zippers, tie backs for both driver and passenger sides, steel siffeners on the passenger door side to preclude velcro or fasteners for closed use at speed. Bucket/glove tops for the seat tops. Tenax fasteners on the rear and to be used w/o the cab "boot" cover.

I'm open for suggestions....also if you know a sale maker or upholstery person who can mae them cheaper....chime in.

If the mods think this should be moved to classifieds, move it w/o any grief....

[87maniac]

I have a tonneau for my 83 Cab.

It's a great look, provides a place to put stuff in the
back seats out of view. The extra security is nice.

This was car #150, it does not have
tenex fasteners on the dash or doortops.

I'm considering using high strength magnets
on lieu of tenax on the door tops and dash.

A bar across the back of the front seats would provide
an ideal place to velcro the tonneau and keep it tight.

Yes, the passenger seat must be reclined, the tonneau does
not accommodate seats in the upright position.

[david482]

I have one for my 89 with the tenex fasteners. The only thing I think I am missing are potentially some toggles or snaps on the tunnel that can be hooked to a strap that is on the cover. There are snaps to allow it to be held when folded behind the seats but I think there should be something to hold dome the passenger side. I have the sport seats and on the lowest setting can have the seats only partially reclined, it may also be the cover has stretched so that the passenger set can remain more upright, the advantage is that with some tension on the cover it keeps it from fluttering in the wind.

[Joe Bob]

Still looking for interested parties.

[boyt911sc]

Bob,

I am interested and put my name on your list. My only concern is the fitment and locations of the Tenax fasteners on the tonneau. Since your seamstress or tailor has not done this tonneau before, there might be some fitment problem. I might be mistaken but I think your car is a converted cabriolet and might have some difference with the factory made cabriolet for the fasteners locations (?). Maybe not. Thanks.

Tony

[Joe Bob]

In my experience, snaps or tenax fasteners are left off until fitment on the individual car. The female fasteners on the cover are then matched to the male fasteners on the car.

I have replaced the boot cover twice and each time the cover was a virgin w/o fasteners. My first cover had snaps, I went with the tenax ones on the second one as they are a more secure fit.

Cab and Targa bodies are pretty much the same up to 1989. So that should answer fitment questions.

[boyt911sc]

Bob,

What would be the minimum number you need to get this project to fly? Aside from saying "I do". Would you require some sort of commitment like a small deposit? I like to have one and put my name on your list. Thanks.

Tony

[Joe Bob]

$2100 gets a prototype and one copy. 2700 gets p-type and two copies......so on and so forth......

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

$2100 gets a prototype and one copy. 2700 gets p-type and two copies......so on and so forth......

Bob,

I don't think you could attract prospective buyers with this scheme. The fact that you don't even know or have someone to make it or have a sample to use is not very encouraging. Were you able to borrow a tonneau from the other member? Good luck.

Tony

[Joe Bob]

A local shop that has done English, French and German restorations is the one who gave me the bid. A PP and PCA member also gave me a recommendation on the facility. Unfortunately he owns a coupe.

I/He has seen the shop's work and it is very high quality.

Group buys have been on all of the 356/914 and 911 lists that I have participated on for 20+ years. If you don't feel that the deal is worthy of your participation, don't participate.

Also, if no one is willing to participate then I will simply pay the prototype fee and take my cover and go home. I won't offer the copies for sale at $600 each either.

[universeman]

An alternate approach then, might have been to say "I'm having some made and can take orders for them for $900 each" (or whatever you want to defray your cost with) and leave out all the stuff about prototypes.