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Re: [Tigers] Correct/most original soft top material for an early Mark 1

To: Alex Haugland <ahauglan@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tigers] Correct/most original soft top material for an early Mark 1 Tiger
From: Jay Laifman <jay.laifman@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 09:20:17 -0700
Cc: tiger list <tigers@autox.team.net>
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: tigers@autox.team.net
References: <7630E6DD-0FAB-4EBB-BB2C-0C3D4F2A7483@gmail.com>
It depends on which year.

That said, I was at Sunbeam Specialties probably 20 years ago now, if not
more, when Rick was working with a new top supplier trying to get their
product to fit right, and help them change their pattern to work better.
So, keep in mind that material is only a small fraction of the product.
The fit is also critical.

Personally, I would just go to Rick or Curt and get what they have that is
closest - and avoid VB on this stuff like the plague.  That way you'll have
generally the best that is out there, even if it is not exact.  You might
even consider talking to them and asking what they have now, and what
issues they have with them, and what might come in the future.

Sadly, the demand and thus suppliers for this stuff drops every year.  I
was just talking to a Porsche 356 restorer - a car that can go for many
$100,000s and where you'd think the suppliers would be readily available
with high quality parts for people willing to spend that kind of money on
the cars.  He said that since so many of the cars have been restored by
now, the demand for parts has dropped off, and so too the suppliers.  Sure,
there will continue to be restorations, and cars that are driven will need
further maintenance and restoration - but that later group of cars is by
far the minority.  The moral of this story?  We all need to drive these
cars into the ground so that they will need restoration and suppliers will
stay in business!



On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 9:21 PM, Alex Haugland <ahauglan@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello!  I'm actively restoring a pretty original early mark 1 Tiger
> (B9470334LRXFE) and want to bring it back to as close to original
> condition as
> is reasonable for a car I intend to actually drive.  As the car is in need
> of
> a complete repainting, I'm planning the teardown and gathering the pieces
> that
> need to be replaced for when I start putting it back together.  To that
> end,
> the top on the car is a replacement in pinpoint vinyl which has some tears
> and
> other issues leading it to needing to be replaced.
>
> To that end, I've seen different sites listing conflicting or at least
> unclear
> information as to what material is closest to the original.  I'm not sure
> if
> it should be a pinpoint vinyl or a crushed grain vinyl.  The Everflex at
> least
> has the grey interior, but I don't know if its texture is at all correct
> and
> would appreciate whatever guidance all of you can give.  Thank you very
> much!
>
> --Alex Haugland
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