Hi guys,
Another image heavy post! Went to South East Trimmings to get my hood fitted "just in time for summer" and what a fantastic result! Note, it's not very tight at the back as I've had to adapt the spring for SWMBO and she struggles to shut it with more tension, hence a bit of bagging ... when at "proper" tightness it's "tight" and smooth.
SSL20769.jpg | SSL20770.jpg | SSL20771.jpg | SSL20772.jpg | SSL20776.jpg
Friday: I live in Andover so it was a great run down, staying in a QHotel just outside Maidstone (£99 bargain!) and then a quick blat over to get the hood fitted - 4 hours quoted, so Beth and I went for a wonder around Canterbury which, incidentally, is lovely. Got a call 3 1/2 hours in saying it was done! Went back, had a good long technical chat about this and that and drove off. The amount of knowledge in his head is awe inspiring - and such an eye for detail! There was another stag there that was being redone and the inside was just beautiful. All done by him and his wife. Within 5 minutes he'd analysed half-a-dozen questions I had (but hadn't asked) and a few more beside - If you hadn't guessed, I'm quite impressed. There were a few problems with the frame alignment (that we thought was OK) that he sorted as part of the "service" - so new webbing, velcro, seals, mohair black hood with beige lining all for £520.
We were storing the hard top in the garage at my father-in-laws as he has a "patented" stag hardtop storage system in his garage involving ropes and pulleys. So off to Windsor we went, the wind in our hair.
Friday night: On erection of the hood once we got back it turned out that there was a slight oversight in the stitching of the zip and 1-2" wasn't "caught" in the sandwiched layers. Phoned him back up, explained what had happened and to my surprise was asked if I could get back there on Saturday! So...
Saturday: After an early start we rock up at 9am and watch it be handstitched with great skill and an hour-and-a-half later, fully stitched and with another coat of sealer we were on our way.
Both Beth and I commented to each other how nice it was to find someone who really cared and knew their stuff, but didn't try any kind of sales pitch, or "whilst I'm at it how about I fix this, too..."; he also imparted two key bits of knowledge: VW beetle trim clips are as close to the original stag trim clips as possible and that if the plastic "trim clip" locators on the door stop gripping then turn 'em 45(degrees) and they'll more than likely start gripping again.
Any more angles of the hood can easily be provided, inside or out. The external zip on the window makes it an awful lot easier to put up and down, by the way - highly recommended.
Another image heavy post! Went to South East Trimmings to get my hood fitted "just in time for summer" and what a fantastic result! Note, it's not very tight at the back as I've had to adapt the spring for SWMBO and she struggles to shut it with more tension, hence a bit of bagging ... when at "proper" tightness it's "tight" and smooth.
SSL20769.jpg | SSL20770.jpg | SSL20771.jpg | SSL20772.jpg | SSL20776.jpg
Friday: I live in Andover so it was a great run down, staying in a QHotel just outside Maidstone (£99 bargain!) and then a quick blat over to get the hood fitted - 4 hours quoted, so Beth and I went for a wonder around Canterbury which, incidentally, is lovely. Got a call 3 1/2 hours in saying it was done! Went back, had a good long technical chat about this and that and drove off. The amount of knowledge in his head is awe inspiring - and such an eye for detail! There was another stag there that was being redone and the inside was just beautiful. All done by him and his wife. Within 5 minutes he'd analysed half-a-dozen questions I had (but hadn't asked) and a few more beside - If you hadn't guessed, I'm quite impressed. There were a few problems with the frame alignment (that we thought was OK) that he sorted as part of the "service" - so new webbing, velcro, seals, mohair black hood with beige lining all for £520.
We were storing the hard top in the garage at my father-in-laws as he has a "patented" stag hardtop storage system in his garage involving ropes and pulleys. So off to Windsor we went, the wind in our hair.
Friday night: On erection of the hood once we got back it turned out that there was a slight oversight in the stitching of the zip and 1-2" wasn't "caught" in the sandwiched layers. Phoned him back up, explained what had happened and to my surprise was asked if I could get back there on Saturday! So...
Saturday: After an early start we rock up at 9am and watch it be handstitched with great skill and an hour-and-a-half later, fully stitched and with another coat of sealer we were on our way.
Both Beth and I commented to each other how nice it was to find someone who really cared and knew their stuff, but didn't try any kind of sales pitch, or "whilst I'm at it how about I fix this, too..."; he also imparted two key bits of knowledge: VW beetle trim clips are as close to the original stag trim clips as possible and that if the plastic "trim clip" locators on the door stop gripping then turn 'em 45(degrees) and they'll more than likely start gripping again.
Any more angles of the hood can easily be provided, inside or out. The external zip on the window makes it an awful lot easier to put up and down, by the way - highly recommended.
.
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