Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Replacement Hood.

Have tried searching the posts about this but probably not putting in right search as not the info I wanted.
After seeing how good the easy up hood us on my brothers later car I have been looking into getting my 92 car converted. Seen the ones by Allon White and Simmonds which look pretty good. Can I ask for comments on the best type.
Yes I know it's a better drive with the roof down and I have only driven mine 3 times with the roof up in 3 yrs. But think I would use the car even more if the roof was quicker to put up if any rain got really bad. Have got wet a few times when just carried on.
Any thoughts please. Many thanks.

We had the Allon White conversion on our 1985 4/4 around 12/13 years ago and were very pleased with it - we traded the car into AW in Dec-13 so cannot comment on longevity. A chum has recently had an AW conversion done on his 1985 4/4 and it looks very good - he is very pleased.

Another chum has the Simmonds Dicky-Coupe conversion on a 4/4 4 seater and is very pleased.

In your shoes, I would speak to both and ask for a price. The conversation and the price could make your decision an easy one.

Like Paul I went for the AW EastFit option.

A quality product, which we have had for about 15 years. At the time it was much better value than the Simmnds option.

I went to Allon White, some 12 years back for a converson to easy up on my 86 4/4 4str. Very happy, probably helped them sell it for me within a few days; 10 yrs ago, as far as I know its still going strong, er easy up!

I had a car with the Simmonds hood it worked well but the rear clips on to the back board inside the cabin means it can be tricky with luggage. Also the PO had paid a lot fo it. The AW top bar & op bar for the screen is cheaper from memory.

I've got a Simmonds hood on my 4/4 and it does its main job of being waterproof and not leaking very well, and it is very quick indeed to erect. I was a bit concerned about lack of internal headroom and visibility on his standard hoods, so Steve swopped the rear two hoops around on mine and fitter a full width rear window with a zip-out facility. This gives much better access to the rear shelf when you're inside and much better rearward visibility, but at the cost of looks, it looks a bit upright and old fashioned compared to an Easy-Up hood which I think look better - but on the other hand when you're sat inside it's absolutely fine and it's not like you actually use it much anyway.

The other key advantage of a Simmonds hood is that it folds away really neatly and doesn't intrude on rear load space. The other disadvantage is that the windscreen clips do tend to generate a bit more wind noise when it's up.

The AW version shares the first advantage. The windscreen fixing is more elegant than Simmonds though and doesn't have external windscreen clips. You need to see one.

Yes, the AW hood is an excellent thing indeed. When I had Steve make my hood back in 2008 I did consider going to AW, but TBH Steve was just up the road from me whereas it's a long haul over to Allon White. Having lived with the Simmonds hood for the last 14 years I'm pretty happy with it. I think if I were to go for a replacement I'd go for an easy type design with better framing, but it's completely moot really as my current hood works absolutely fine and will last longer than I will.

A Morgan looks better with the traditional studded hood!

The factory replaced mine in late 2009.
I booked it through my local dealer. It was completed in a day and included a free factory tour.
Lovely job and sensibly priced.
I’m not sure if they still offer this service.

Bud
4/4 - Stanley