A
New Hood for my Chariot
I remember the film which featured Charlton Heston
as El Cid and his untimely death at the end of the movie driving his chariot
towards the Moors in an epic scene. Fortunately my El Cid has not died yet and
has been given a face lift with a new soft top. It has undergone a
transformation with different fittings and means of attachments to make it more
usable, quieter and faster than before. It was a job that had to be done. I
could no longer see clearly out of any of the vinyl windows making driving
difficult at night and when raining. I searched for quotes and visited a number
of manufacturers. I needed a personal approach, just replacing like for like
was not the solution I was looking for. I wanted things differently. There was
a year of searching and at the 2CV
National in 2022 I was introduced to “Coops” who was working on a tonneau cover
and would be able to do it after he had finished another job. Success a major
step forward and the beginning of a good friendship. About a year passed before
it finally got going with delays in having work to be done on the industrial
sewing machine, ill heath that plagued us both through 2023, but in 2024 things
got moving. I had already ordered the acrylic canvas and clear vinyl plus turn
buttons, thread, velcro and press studs and were delivered with the car. Autumn
and winter were very wet in 2023 and I was pleased the El Cid was warm and dry
in Coops garage.
During 2024 there planned visits to progress the project. Coops had made a start with the cab section with a general shape fitting the luff tape and velcro to attach the rear section. The main central section needed most work and zips and windows had to be somehow sewn in. With the help on “Point North” supplier of nearly all materials I was introduced to Sailrite a You tube site specialising in marine covers and sails showing every technique needed. We poured over videos until finding the most suitable. The most used one Installing a zipper 102 hhtps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVpsV8RlY3Y closely followed by installing a fully dressed curved zipper https //www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVdMQer1vaUhttps and how to install a window. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF7i-iAgzZc. Following the instructions of using 6 mm double sided tape proved the most valuable being able to hold the composite parts together for sewing with no pining. In the process we decided upon using binding tape provide the basic support for every installation. Care at every stage with measuring, marking out and checking before cutting. Coops had a nifty tool that would attach “U” shaped staples over the material to make a hem for stitching. Cutting the acrylic canvas was easy to do with scissors or knife and for an outside edge a hot knife was best sealing the cut and stopped fraying.
The cab section needed securing tubes and weather
flaps and press studs to complete the hood in time for Registers Day in May but
not the sidescreens for the door. The weather over that weekend tested the
weatherproof capabilities and there were no leaks. A bonus for the construction
method. I was well pleased with that. Coops had done a meticulous job in
ensuring all threads were tied off and flame sealed but the next stage would be
just as challenging.
I had made
the sidescreen frames copying the original construction, fitting them closely
as I could to the opening. It is a three dimensional frame a shape that
conflicts with sewing on a machine. Construction on the inside was again sectional
sewing in panels to hold a portion of the frame before moving on to the next
one until the whole frame was covered both sides with a window and zip. New
hinges were fitted and securing straps on the back edge to hold the screen in
place. All of which held together very well with no flapping even at speed, testament
to the workmanship of Coops to achieve exactly what I wanted.
