I've found a 355 Spider that I'd like to buy but I think the tonneau cover may be a replacement of some kind. The thing is, I've noticed that the fasteners on its tonneau cover are bare metal (which is slightly corroded). On the other 355 Spiders that I've seen the fasteners are black (plastic coated metal?). Also, these fasteners don't seem to be as easy to attach/remove as the ones on other Spiders.
Mine has the plain (chrome) Tenax fasteners. You can get replacements at most any automotive/boat upholstery shop. They are not expensive. They are commonly used by other manufactures to secure covers for cars and boats. If you get the black style ones (I have not seen them) they may be like the ones used on the 328 covers, they had a horsey molded into the black plastic, where only available from the dealer, and where expensive. If yours are rusty looking, I would just get fresh ones and call it good. If they are hard to install/remove, I would suggest putting a single drop of oil inside each fastener, it should help.
Dave, were the Tenax ones original? Do you know if the factory changed over from metal to black (or vica versa) at some point or did they always just use different suppliers?
I have only seen the chrome Tenax fasteners...but most of the 355 spiders that my friends have (me included) are 97's. Maybe on the later cars they used the black ones. I would just replace the ones you have...if you get them from a boat upholstery shop, I doubt they will be more than a dollar or two each. I needed one once, and the local shop gave me one for free. I'm surprised you are seeing corrosion though, as they shouldn't since they are used on boats, which see salt water... They are easy to replace, you will need a split ring pliers...insert the tips into the two holes on the back to unscrew them.
The fasteners originally supplied by Ferrari for the 355 are chrome. I own a 98 355 Spider and friends own 355's from 95-99 and they are all chrome. Either your fasteners were replaced at one point or perhaps the tonneau cover is from another vehicle.
I have looked through various magazine road tests from when the 355 Spider was in production, and it appears they used both silver and black fasteners on different cars at random throughout the 355's life. I need to get mine replaced, as some of them are broken/inoperative/coroded, and The Ferrari Centre have advised that there are actually three types listed by Ferrari: silver, black, and black with a prancing horse logo. there are also different internal diameters apparently. The prancing horse ones are the most expensive (GBP12 each). My cover - it's always possible this isn't the original one for my car - has the silver ones. I think I'm going to get black ones put on though, as I prefer the way they look, and at least they won't corrode. Does anyone have a view on whether the ones with/without the prancing horse are easier to operate?
Chrome ones will not (should not?) corrode, as they are designed for boating, and being around salt air/water. Dave
I don't think the 'chrome' ones are actually chrome, or stainless steel. They are bare metal with a dull finish - the colour is more like nickel. Could be mazac or aluminium I suppose. Mine look like they have picked up some kind of corrosion, although I don't think it's rust. The surface looks slightly pitted from what I remember. Remember, my car has spent its life in England, Wales and Scotland where it tends to be rather damp...
