Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Recommendations for new hood?

I'm new here having just imported a rhd Plus 8 from France. It is fitted with a vinyl easy fit hood which unfortunately has a small (10") tear.

I would like a mohair hood anyway, so rather than repair the existing hood I thought I would go the whole hog and have a new mohair one fitted. I know of Simmonds and have been recommended another place in Sussex/Kent (whose name escapes me) but wonder if any of you can recommend any other manufacturers/fitters who can be relied upon to do a good job.

Perhaps you can also share your views about whether it is worth changing to mohair, maybe you think the vinyl hoods are just as good or better.

Thanks in advance.

flowman

I have a Simmonds mohair hood & it is great.
Try the MG Owners club I think from memory when I had an MG that they recommend someone is SE London.

Allon White.

A google search will find them - Bedfordshire.

Cheers,

Oh and welcome to the forum!!

Thanks chaps, I'm off to investigate:

As a few of the guys have said, you might try Shaun at Allon White- They are in the centre of Cranfield

G

Mohair (Twillfast) will rub on itself when lowered and make shiny/bald patches. I use felt pads to help prevent this.
Light colours will also show dirt and be difficult to clean properly. PVC is much more practical, but mohair looks so much better.
So it's swings & roundabouts.

My 4/4 has Everflex standard hood. I just fitted swivel levers to make putting hood up easier. Wow! what an improvement!
As a future upgrade I have listed easyfit hood but since the levers are there its lower on my list!
As for material - mohair looks great so may figure in the future - whether to go for STD or easy fit though.... depends on my budget at the time!!
Car was bought from Allon White and they have good workshops there so may stick with them. Thats in future though

I had an AW Easy-Up on Tinkerbelle ('98 +4).
TBH I was 50/50 about it. Very handy to put the hood up if it started raining while out. But, took time to lower, getting it folded up correctly and then it would prevent the inertia reel seatbelts from operating correctly if one wasn't careful. It also takes up room in the storage space behind the seats, so although there was more space than in my '76 4/4, with the hood folded there was probably less.
I would fit the swivel levers to my '76 tomorrow, but with a bench seat, this isn't possible...
Cheers,

I would have gone with a mohair item (for looks) but the timings with the fitter just didn't work out. The Morgan dealer in Belfast (Parkgate garages) whilst very pleasant failed to come up with even a quote. So I was left with the vinyl item, I had the tear repaired very successfully through BHM so it keeps the rain and wind out. I have to say though (3 months later)that I have rarely driven the car with the hood up so, whilst I had plans to "upgrade" to a mohair item, I would say I will just stick with what I have. It does the job perfectly well when required and when it is stowed (most of the time) who cares what it is? That leaves me 2 or 3 grand to spend on other areas of the car. Hmmm, that's a tasty proposition. Any recommendations?

I agree with not spending a lot of money for expensive hoods. The one I have - Everflex original - does the job on the occasions its used.
I would rather spend on other upghrades etc.
I have an everflex covered dashboard so money spent on walnut replacement seems a nicer option than an easy fit hood.
Already have stainless wire wheels and Motolita steering wheel.
Other interior upgrades will be looked at.
Again - any suggestions?