tanneau cover

[fifthkid]

I would like to know if anybody has ever put a tanneau cover from the dashboard and around the open area of 124 spider? Perhaps with a zipper area for only the driver to use if needed.
I've seen these covers on other sports cars, and would like to do something similar as I drive my car to work and don't want
to put the top up and down. I realize that if it starts to rain, I will have to hustle to get home or put the top up.
I was thinking about having a professional do this, maybe using velcro on the dash, and snaps around the perimeter.
What do you fellows think?
Thanks,
Fifthkid

[azygoustoyou]

NJFiat1981 had one for sale. His name is George.

[Curly]

Nice idea, I have a tonneau on my Austin Healey Sprite like the one you have described and use it regularly. The problem with the Spider is attaching the tonneau at the dashboard end - there's nothing substantial there which could take the tension of a stretched cover, certainly not the dash itself . Maybe something could be rigged up using the lower section of the windscreen frame.

[mdrburchette]

The 70 I had in my garage had the attachments added on the body for one but I'm not certain how it attached to the inside of the dash area.

[Zippy]

I had a tonneau cover on the 1959 MGA I drove when I was in the navy. While the tonneau cover looks cool, it was a PITA to put on because the rings in the snaps got rusty. I think it's a lot easier to roll up 2 windows and flip the top up on the Fiat.

[courtenay]

I suspect the British Sports cars had them because their tops were such an PITA to put up quickly. That's the biggest advantage of a Fiat - you don't need an hour and an engineering degree to get the top up!

[spiderrey]

I bought an nos one a few years ago. Its by amco, still in the box, maybe one day Ill install it. It zips down the middle.

[leftfield6]

I had a tonneau cover on the Miata I owned a few years back. Loved that thing. It saved a lot of wear and tear on the top, since I would leave the top down for weeks at a time.

[ChrisSRT]

The 70 I had in my garage had the attachments added on the body for one but I'm not certain how it attached to the inside of the dash area.

I don't see anywhere that it attached inside the dash area.

[baltobernie]

My friend John has a Spider with attachment points on the dash and doors for a tonneau cover. They are pin studs on the dash and male snaps on the doors.

[Tobi]

Two minutes ago one got sold on e-bay. My bid was to low and it sold for $82 (new in a box)

[SpiderJim]

I'm just in the process of making them. Two different types with both being fitted to look nice. One for parking the car at shows or if you just want to go shopping without putting the top up. This one fits over the windshield and runs to the rear of the soft-top and attaches with the rear hooks and elastic loops over L&R side mirrors (if you have them. Also uses a left and right strong magnet to the door top.

Number two is a fitted driving tonneau cover. Will post pics soon.

[Ken]

I am in the process of making a tanneau for my spider, like Curly said the Fiat dash will slide back when the tanneau is stretched. I have installed the GT250 dash and had to put shims under it to hold the dash to the windshield seal and I fastened the shims to the dash mounts with screws from underneath then used “lift the dot” screw mount post through the dash into the shim. The problem is with the angle of the glass and you are so close to the front you don’t have a lot of working room. With the stock dash you need to come up with a way to keep it from coming back when the tanneau is tightened. I have pictures of a Fiat 850 tanneau I used for a pattern idea.

[SpiderJim]

We made this for short wait parking rather than put the top up. Thick vinyl held with magnets on sides and the rear hooks. 20 second install and will keep medium rain out.