Very particular question... The '97 Spider I bought did not come with a boot-cover for the convertible top, the previous owner neglected to include it. Long story. The dealer had some upholstery place make one for me....it seems to look great and fit right...but: The interior "snaps" total 4, which means 4 points of connection: 2 lower-down well behind the seats towards the outside of the car AND 2 towards the center between the seats. Problem is...my '97 only has 1 point just below the center glove box. So I went to Mike's '99 and he has 2 points in the center, so my boot would fit his year. So what do other '97's have....one or two points of connection for the center snaps? Thanks!
There were two different types of covers, with the change point being from assembley number 25278. within these two types there were two further variations they either come with black buttons or chrome buttons
My '97 has 2 on the lower interior , 2 at the base of the backlite , 2 at the trailing edges of the "flying buttresses " and 2 on the outside corners at the door cut.
My 98 has two in the middle. Also, what about the mystery snap in the middle near the rear deck? Does anybody know what thats for?
Not a clue! There also seems to be a bit of velcro on my cover that doesn't stick to anything on the hood ...
EXACTLY.....now that's what I'm talking about!!! Mine has only 1 single snap point post in the middle as well....the cover that was made for me was designed for a car that has 2 snap-post in the middle. I figured I could perhaps just get away with having nothing connected in the center at all...but that plan went to hooey when yesterday I took the car upto 70 mph and the huge flapping noise started generating from the cover: it NEEDS to be fastened down!! My options are: 1) To simply have a single snap installed on the cover so that it can fit the center and I can use my single existing post..... But I'm curious why they went to 2 post/snaps instead of 1: did the single post design not hold tight enough and cause buffeting/chattering with wind at higher speeds?????...and so a 2-post design was developed? 2) My other option is to remove the one single post currently in my car and install 2 post...thus bringing my car upto the newer design and not having to modify my cover. This means getting those darn post and having them installed....probably not too difficult. Any thoughts? Does anybody's single-post design make noise under higher speeds?????
Tut Tut ! Tony You've lost a bit of your car mate! The velcro on the hood cover/tonneau attaches to a 4 inch piece of velcro which has a press stud on the reverse which fits to the centre press stud at the rear of the hood, thereby forming a 3-way attachment for securing the cover. Or at least it does on my 99 car! I wouldn't worry about having misplaced it, 'cos it's pretty useless anyway!
SteveR, I have a 97 also...only one snap in the middle....the later 2 snap thing must be a later upgrade. Yes, mine will occaisionally flap at speed, I just move the passenger seat back against it, and it "traps" it and keeps it from flapping. Works for me.
I know I've said this before....but I'm always so impressed with the wealth of knowledge and friendliness you find here on F-chat! I suppose my next question is to ask how those snap-recepticles are attached to the firewall. Since my top has the newer 2-attachment-point design...I may as well leave the top alone and upgrade the situation on the firewall. Gershwin...some local interior hot-shot made it custom. The leather appears to be of excellent quality and the fit is perfect: this cow must have ate well and enjoyed a good life up until it was converted into serving our food/upholstery needs
Steve - wouldn't mind a PM to whomever made yours for you. I want to have a dark blue one made for my 348 at some point, and if you're happy with the workmanship I'd be interested. FWIW my 348 has two outside and two inside, but it also has a hole in the middle for the inboard seatbelts to go through which yours doesn't. Whoever had my car before me also added three additional snaps over the engine cover and one on each side between the back of the flying buttress and behind the door. Helps I reckon. Cheers Kevin
I thought mine was vinyl, but it is really very good leather. Yours might be the same. I was told by Nick at WWoC that the factory never made vinyl boots for 355s.
When I bought the car, the boot was not with it. The dealer told me he'd get the owner to send it...but after months of flaking the dealership had some shop make one and send it to me: no idea who made it. BUT I've heard that there is a guy named Fernando near North Hollywood who is the Lord of Leather....that's the man to contact. I'm kickin' around the idea of having a black horse embroidered on the boot so that it's just between the seats and seen as you look right through the windshield. Something classy and not over-the-top.
