My father drilled into his kids a fanaticism when it came to maintaining cars. I well recall the time he would spend knocking his handmade alligator shoes against the car before entering to insure not a grain of sand stuck.

From him too I learned the joys of top down motoring. Here though I veered towards the English sports car manner of doing things and belief system of only wimps "raising the hood" in any but the most horrific down pours and then only if you cannot go fast enough to create a good rain blocking wind stream. And I was no wimp.

The problem is I have also owned a bunch of Audi's whose electrics last about three cycles before calling out for bails of cash to repair and replace which can be pretty damn traumatizing when poor.

I love my SRT 6 roadster and its top stays down even in the snow (that is what scarves are made for). The problem has been when parking even for a few minutes. This, too, likely stems from a childhood trauma of having a large pelican evacuate its bowels over me when I was a little kid. I cleaned off ok but that suede-like interior of the SRT 6 would never be the same.

My Audi experience would not allow for raising the top with all the electric motors whirling. My father's training would not allow me to just leave it down. All the fixes I tried just looked messy or obsessive. I know the best fix would be a custom tonneau which would not be all that complicated but custom work in Knoxville is not easy to get done.

After much trial and error I have found an attractive band-aide, though. It is cheap and sun, wind, water and pelican proof. While not perfect it is not unacceptably ugly.

The cover is a thick silver/gray vinyl back seat protector with the American Kennel Club logo. It features a buckling strap at each corner which I use to secure it to the roll bars and wipers. I found mine in a close out store, Bargain Hut.

 

"...one picture is worth one thousand words..."

 

 

MiamiTVR,
I totally agree with all your sentiments about open top driving "English style", as everyone knows i am from England and had 2 Triumph TR6's during my early 20's and used a tonneau cover if i needed to park for any length of time without putting the hood (English term for roof) up. Also, i like you always drive with the top down unless its raining, thats what roadsters are made for, hence my tag "OPEN TOP".
Here is a picture of the type of tonneau cover i used.

 

Surely it would not be that hard to get one just like that made for our cars that we could share with all others. Have you looked into it? I would be a buyer.

 

A lot of folks would like to see your tonneau. Why no pic?

 

It is basically a rectangle with four straps. It ain't pretty.

That said, if we do not get our expected snow tomorrow I will uncover the car. Get it out. Put the cover on. Take a picture. And post it if I can figure out how.

I Googled it and found the exact cover (now offered in black and tan I note):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/400619101877?lpid=82

 

Again, not the best nor final solution but a start.

http://imgur.com/a/g7Drc

 

I found another source for what appears to be a similar product. I am not sure if it offers four securing straps or not but it is priced at $14.

L4P-205864 is the item number on the Sportsmansguide.com site.

 

Google "Cockpit cover for Chrysler Crossfire".

Autoanything has Covercraft for one.

http://www.autoanything.com/car-cove...0&AID=10375065

 

Certainly better but at a significant premium.

What I would like is one that lies flat hooking to the defroster vents in the front with pockets for the roll bars in the rear, a short flap on each side and a zipper to allow use of half while driving like the English ones.

 

That picture of the burgundy TR6 brought back poignant memories of my 1974 that I drove 90k miles, parked before it completely rusted out, and sold in 1990 before a move to FL. I put the top down in May and it seldom goes up until October. My secret is to garage it (where it also sits under a full cover) and only drive it on nice days. have not seen a lot of pelicans in MI, but we do have other flying defecators.

 

Something along the lines like this...

c527-tonneau-remote.jpg

 

I used to have a friend who did boat covers. He could cover anything. With just about any material with piping and buttons if you wanted them. Being in FL....I would look at custom shop... The fasteners are stainless to resist rust and look good if you use button covers for them when the cover isn't on. He made me a cover for an EL Camino I had years back, and it lasted until I sold it... Just a thought....

 

Does anyone on the forum have any experience with any of these covers? I would be interested in fit and how it attaches.

 

with a well made cover that was quick, easy and "user" friendly, I would also be a buyer- I would be able to keep the top down more often.

 

I'm still hoping that someone on the forum has used the tonneau cover from Covercraft mentioned above. Anyone?

 

I looked at the web page on that. It's NOT a tonneau cover, it's a CONVERTIBLE cover.
The windshield is covered when in use, that may prove problematic at any speed over 0 MPH.

 

I can speak to the ease of use and affordability of the Kennel Club cover I use. Only for use when stopped though.

 

I just contacted CarCoverUSA and they say they don't make a tonneau cover.