Hmmm, Dave, I don't know if we are all talking about the same thing...
The tonneau cover is the full length cockpit cover, extending from the
rear deck to the top of the dashboard. Yes, you are supposed to use the
bar with this, it keeps it from sagging onto the seat backs (if you don't
have headrests and headrest pockets). You can open just the driver's side
and tuck the flap down behind the seat over the bar; it is designed to do
this, and to fasten at the front of the battery shelf if the snaps have
been fitted. A properly fitted tonneau will be drum tight when snapped
down in this position; one of mine even has a snap on the excess portion
(the zipper flap) that snaps to the inside quarter panel in front of the
wheel bulge to seal off the outer edges as well as the bottom.
The small cover for just the folded top is sometimes called a "short
tonneau", but is more usually called a "top boot". I assume it also uses
the bar but I don't know, since I have a packaway top.
I can understand how owners of MGs with folding tops would not get into
the habit of using the bar, since it would get in the way of raising and
lowering the top, and have to be stowed in the cockpit (or equally
inconveniently in the trunk). For packaway top roadsters, it's a
no-brainer in my opinion, although I know at least one lister has a
prejudice against driving with the tonneau fitted at all (you know who
you are...)
; )
Max
Dave Wood had this to say:
>Dan,
>
>The tonneau bar is actually for a top cover that fits over the top when down
>to hold it in up across the width of the car, not for the usual meaning of
>tonneau cover which covers the whole area from windshield to hooks where top
>connects to back of car. I rarely use that top cover as I have a regular
>tonneau that I put on when summer arrives and take off when the rains
>descend on Western Oregon. I haven't tried using it as suggested to put the
>bar on backwards to hold the middle of the tonneau up to keep the rain from
>pooling. I may have to try that. Since I am the original owner of my 72 B,
>I am a bit set in my ways so may not try it also. I just tuck my tonneau
>back behind the seats under the top and let it flap a bit in the breeze.
>When we have a misty morning, I will just unzip the driver's half of the
>tonneau and it tends to keep the wind from whistling around the legs.
>Couldn't do that with the bar in place. And no, I don't roll up the
>windows, we leave that option for Miatas.
>
>Dave 72 B
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dan DiBiase <d_dibiase@yahoo.com>
>To: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>; MG List <mgs@autox.team.net>
>Date: Monday, June 26, 2000 5:56 AM
>Subject: Re: MGB Tonneau
>
>
>>Well, I have no bar for my tonneau cover - can't seem
>>to put my hands on my Moss catalog at the moment so
>>I'll ask - does it fit into the vertical channel that
>>is immediately behind the rear edge of the front door?
>>It is rectangular in shape, with the open end facing
>>up... I like having the tonneau cover with me in case
>>of rain but did not like the way the front edges of
>>the top are exposed, so maybe this bar solves that
>>problem...?
>>
>>
>>
>>=====
>>Dan D
>>Dayton, NJ
>>76 MGB Tourer - Brooklands Green
>>Looking for a 67-70 MGB Tourer Project Car!
>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
>>http://mail.yahoo.com/
>>
>
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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